Water efficiency, recycling and smart development

Many residential, commercial and industrial developments are now being planned and designed with water smart, water saving and other environmental and ecological aspects incorporated as part of the development.

More and more, the buying public is coming to expect these elements to be incorporated in their living spaces.

Some of the innovative aspects being incorporated in design include:

  • Integrated water cycle management including water sensitive urban design
  • Smart metering
  • On-site or “neighbourhood” wastewater management and reuse
  • Use of recycled water (treated effluent)
  • Rainwater collection
  • Stormwater treatment, harvesting and reuse
  • Water features, incorporated as part of stormwater treatment
  • Incorporation of habitat areas

Some approaches to improve water efficiency

Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM):

A catchment based approach aimed at determining the best way(s) to minimize the impacts of development on the natural water cycle, by integrating treated “town” water, treated wastewater, rainwater and stormwater into the water supply and sewerage systems installed. The process involves maximising reuse/recycling and engaging the community in demand management practices.

Water Sensitive Urban Design:

A suburban scale integrated approach to incorporating water management systems into buildings, urban transport routes and public open spaces. This is based on the principles of water efficiency and reuse, and, more importantly, it treats water as a resource rather than a waste product.

The process combines land use planning with water cycle management. WSUD can create new solutions and efficient systems that are more attractive to prospective purchasers, increase the value of adjacent land and avoid or defer expensive new infrastructure or augmentation costs.

Neighbourhood Treatment Systems:

This involves on-site treatment processes with design to incorporate on-site reuse, or “neighbourhood” or cluster treatment plants with a shared reuse concept near the source. The aim is to have no or minimal discharge from the site.

Sewer mining:

Sewage is collected from a sewer main, separating out and treating a ‘clean’ stream for irrigation, cooling or toilet flushing. The ‘dirty’ side stream is returned to the sewer for transport to, and treatment at, a centralised system.

Stormwater Reuse:

Converting stormwater disposal systems to capture, treatment and reuse systems. These systems can improve also improve the health of aquatic ecosystems as stormwater quality is actively managed. Wetlands and storages can become community water features and habitat areas.

Capability, Background & Experience

Some projects we have been involved in include:

Wetlands

  • Albury City: Wetland design, development and operation (Wonga Wetlands) for “polishing” tertiary treated wastewater. The wetlands have been developed as an aquatic education centre and community resource.
  • CSU, Thurgoona: Design & implementation of wetlands to treat “grey water” from a residential block and various offices on campus
  • CSU Winery, Wagga Wagga, Design of wetlands to treat winery wastewater, prior to storage and reuse to irrigate vineyards.

Reclaimed Water Reuse

  • Albury Water: Design of reuse facilities for tertiary treated effluent at a 500 lot subdivision – for irrigation of lawns/gardens and open space and use in-house for toilets/laundry
  • Wodonga Golf Club: design/documentation for reuse of treated effluent to irrigate the golf course
  • Mulwala, Corowa and Howlong Golf Courses: as above (Corowa is the only one to proceed – at this stage)
  • Towong Shire: Design/development of scheme to collect septic effluent, treat and reuse to irrigate local recreation reserve
  • Dubbo City Council: Concept for reuse of treated effluent to irrigate recreation reserve and open space for a village of approx. 800 people

Neighbourhood Treatment

  • North East Water: Concept development for cluster treatment systems for a number of villages, with reuse to irrigate local sporting fields, open space, etc.

Stormwater Treatment, Harvesting & Reuse

  • CSU Winery, Wagga Wagga: Design of stormwater collection system for reuse to irrigate vineyards
  • Murray Shire Council: Concept development for harvesting and reuse of stormwater for a number of sub-catchments in Moama, with reuse to irrigate recreation reserve and open space. Development of Stormwater Management Plan
  • Lower Macquarie Water Utilities Alliance: Development of brief for a Stormwater Harvesting Strategy (for Bogan, Warren, Narromine, Dubbo, Wellington, Bourke, Brewarrina and Cobar Councils)
  • Wodonga Golf Course: Concept design for stormwater harvesting on the golf course for reuse in irrigating the course

General

Studies (investigations & reports) for:

  • Towong Shire Council: various harvesting and reuse options for 12 towns & villages in the Shire (aimed at securing water supply to irrigate sporting grounds)
  • Wagga Wagga City Council: various reports on effluent and stormwater reuse
  • North East Water: Project management for the development of “innovative” wastewater management solutions for 9 towns and villages.

Water Infrastructure Audits, Strategic Planning and Valuations

The Australian urban water sector has been established as a mature industry since the latter half of the 20th Century. Much of the constructed infrastructure is now ageing and requiring strategic review and audit to determine where assets are within the total service life cycle, and whether the water and wastewater systems are operating at efficient levels with managed risk.

CPEa has as substantial track record of part and whole of system condition assessments and audits for regulatory, efficiency, risk management and environment compliance purposes.

CPEa team members completed 26 whole of system audits of regional urban water and wastewater systems in NSW between 2006 and 2010. Team members are currently undertaking system audits of wastewater treatment plants ranging from 500 to 60,000 population centres, and are currently ompleting risk assessments on pressure sewer systems for the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, a system with a current served population of 500,000.

Resource Recovery and Waste Minimisation

Waste and resource consumption is a major environmental issue and a priority for all levels of government within Australia. This is particularly the case as landfill sites become scarce and the environmental and economic costs of waste generation and disposal rise. Sustainable resource management and waste minimisation has emerged as a priority action area and a key in the quest for Ecologically Sustainable Development

Effective waste planning and management can also benefit developers and builders by:

  • reducing costs
  • improving workplace safety
  • enhancing public image
  • complying with legislation

Some approaches to improve resource recovery

  • Project design that incorporates waste generation and waste minimisation and processing strategies
  • Preparation of a waste minimisation and management plans as part of the subdivision design
  • Reuse of site materials and “waste” construction materials
  • Use of recovered and recycled or reprocessed materials during construction
  • Separation of “waste” material streams on site
  • Removing organic material (food and garden waste) from waste streams and processing into composts or worm castings on site.
  • Examining collection and disposal alternatives

Capability, Background & Experience

Some projects completed by our team include:

  • Preparation or waste management and minimisation plans for aged care clients including UnitingCare at Nowra and Woodhead International for Campbelltown Retirement Village
  • Preparation of “Waste Not” development control plans for Shoalhaven City, Cooma Monaro Shire and Snowy River Shire councils
  • Preparation of waste or resource recovery strategies for:
    • Booderee National Park
    • Upper Lachlan Shire Council
    • Snowy River Shire Council
    • Wagga Wagga City Council
  • Detailed business and operations planning and ongoing advice and assistance with the multi award winning resource recovery centre operated at Moss Vale by Wingecarribee Shire Council

In addition, the team has prepared environmental and operations plans for a number of landfills throughout NSW.