Annual Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment is an unincorporated joint venture between: ACTEW Corporation Australian Water Quality Centre Australian Water Services Pty Ltd Brisbane City Council Centre for Appropriate Technology Inc City West Water Limited CSIRO Curtin University of Technology Department of Human Services Victoria 2005 - 2006 Griffith University Annual Report Melbourne Water Corporation Monash University Orica Australia Pty Ltd Power and Water Corporation Queensland Health Pathology & Scientific Services RMIT University South Australian Water Corporation South East Water Ltd Sydney Catchment Authority Sydney Water Corporation The University of Adelaide CRC for Water Quality and Treatment The University of New South Wales Private Mail Bag 3 The University of Queensland Salisbury United Water International Pty Ltd SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5108 University of South Australia Tel: (08) 8259 0211 University of Technology, Sydney Water Corporation Fax: (08) 8259 0228 Water Services Association of Australia E-mail: [email protected] Yarra Valley Water Ltd Web: www.waterquality.crc.org.au 2005 - 2006 Annual Report To assist the Australian water industry produce high quality drinking water at an affordable price. Mission To assist the Australian water industry produce high quality drinking water at an affordable price. Vision By 2010, the Australian water industry will have achieved a high level of community confidence in the safety and We Received Other quality of the country’s water supply systems. Research 9% Cash from Grant undertaken by the Centre will have laid a solid foundation 16% for evidence based investment decisions for water infrastructure, as well as providing innovative solutions for achieving enhanced aesthetic water quality that meets community needs. Objectives In-Kind from Cash from • Undertaking a high quality, targeted research program Participants Participants 13% that seeks to provide the knowledge and innovative 62% solutions required to meet national and water industry objectives for drinking water quality in the major urban 2005 - 2006 centres and in regional Australia, including small rural and Indigenous communities. • Building on the success of the existing cooperative We Expended Communication & activity between the Parties to incorporate evidence- Commercialisation Administration based guidelines into the Australian drinking water 3% 8% regulatory system. • Involving a high proportion of the water industry end- users in the development, conduct and utilisation of 2005 - 2006 the research and other activities of the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment. Education Research • Enhancing the strategic international alliances to ensure 13% 76% that CRC for Water Quality and Treatment activities are well founded on the best experience and knowledge already available, and to provide, where appropriate, the benefit of Australian experience and opinion in the formulation of international water quality management strategies and guidelines. We Received $M • Providing high quality, well trained and informed Cash From Grant 2.50 professionals as future leaders in the industry through an extensive postgraduate student program. Cash From Participants 2.03 • Effectively communicating the outcomes of the CRC In-Kind From Participants 9.69 for Water Quality and Treatment research activity to Other Income 1.40 the industry and the community. Total 15.62 To assist the Australian We Expended $M water industry produce Research 11.89 Education 2.04 Administration 1.18 high quality drinking water Communication & Commercialisation 0.55 Total 15.66 at an affordable price. OUR CRC Executive Summary 2 Governance, Structure and Management 3 Research Projects 9 Context and Major Developments 13 Commercialisation, Technology Transfer and Utilisation 14 Assessment of Track Record 17 RESEARCH Program Group One: Health and Aesthetics 22 Program Group Two: Catchment to Customer 36 Program Group Three: Policy, Regulation and Stakeholder Involvement 76 Research Grants 84 SHARING KNOWLEDGE Education and Training 85 Communication Strategy 92 Performance Measures 95 Specified Personnel 106 Publications 107 FINANCE Budget and Resources 114 Auditor’s Report 133 Abbreviations 136 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This annual report details the activities and achievements of the water shortages are not particularly high. Details of the study have eleventh year of the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality been published as Research Report 28: Community Views on Water and Treatment. The continuing pressures of a sustained drought and Shortages and Conservation. increasing awareness of the consequences of climate change are changing the way Australians think about and use water. These changes As research outputs grow, the Centre continues to seek ways of continue to impact the Australian water industry, and therefore the transferring knowledge and technology to the Australian water Centre, as we strive to assist the water industry to provide high quality industry. To further this aim the Centre held two series of national drinking water at an affordable price. technology transfer workshops, known as ‘roadshows’, during the reporting period. These events travel to most major capital cities in This Centre also underwent several significant changes during the Australia to present the Centre’s research outcomes. The Distribution reporting period. The most notable was the resignation of CEO, Systems Roadshow covered Centre research on disinfection Professor Don Bursill which came into effect on 22 December 2005. management and biofilms. A case study approach was used to Professor Bursill has been CEO of the Centre since its inception in demonstrate the benefits of the computer-based tools which have 1995. He was also involved in paving the way for the Centre in the four been developed. To complement this event a publication known as a years previous to its operation. It is a fitting tribute to his leadership technical fact sheet was developed on disinfection management. This and abilities that he was awarded the inaugural South Australian publication was downloaded over 63,000 after being placed on the Premier’s Medal by the Minister for Environment and Conservation, website in November 2005. The Natural Organic Matter Roadshow the Honourable John Hill MP for outstanding individual achievement presented information produced during the Centre’s eleven years of in the water industry at the South Australian Branch of the Australian operation. The event focussed on how NOM affects water treatment Water Association Awards. Professor Bursill has achieved a significant and disinfection, complicates manganese problems and more. In national and international reputation in the field of water science as total, over 400 people attended these events. applied to the water industry, both in respect of the utilities sector as well as the natural resources management sector. He forged Keith Stallard and Tony Priestley attended a meeting of the Global valuable links with counterpart individuals and organisations, which, Water Research Coalition (GWRC) and the Emerging Technologies in some cases, led to the development of significant interstate and workshop in Switzerland in May 2006. The Centre is currently international cooperative arrangements for research in water quality playing a lead role in a GWRC project on endocrine disrupting and water treatment. compounds. The Emerging Technologies workshop highlights key technical developments in urban water and is a useful mechanism for The beginning of a new year also saw the commencement of a new international communication in this area. Tony Priestley delivered a CEO for the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment. Mr Keith Stallard paper outlining a number of Centre developments in water treatment began his new role on the 23 January 2006. Mr Stallard’s primary and distribution. In addition, two USA/Australian collaborative projects training was in Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies at the on pathogen movement in catchments and storage reservoirs, which University of Wales before completing a number of postgraduate were led by Centre researchers, were highlighted at the specific qualifications. He held varying positions in the water industry request of the American partners. The Centre continues to maintain internationally before setting up his own water consultancy business close working relationships with the GWRC and is currently developing in Sydney in 1997. a research collaboration on amoebae in water. In other significant personnel changes the Centre welcomed Adam The Centre continues to have a constructive relationship with the Lovell to the position of Deputy Chairman of the Governing Board American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AwwaRF). after the resignation of Jack McKean from SA Water towards the end The Centre secured one project in response to requests for proposals of 2005. The Program Leaders for both the Rural and Regional Water call and agreed to jointly fund two other projects of mutual interest. Supplies and Toxicology Programs also changed during the reporting period. The Education and Training Program of the Centre continues to grow. In line with a Governing Board decision to accept a new intake of PhD Chairman of the Governing Board, Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis, students another eleven students joined the Centre. A further three was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from La Trobe students will join in 2006. The Centre is also pleased to announce a University.