2018 CHURCHILL FELLOWSHIP to investigate proven low-cost innovative water treatment solutions for regional and remote Australia AWARDED BY THE WINSTON CHURCHILL MEMORIAL TRUST AWARD STATE: NORTHERN TERRITORY | YEAR OF AWARD: 2018 CHURCHILL FELLOWSHIP REPORT | ERIC VANWEYDEVELD | JULY 2019 Key words: water treatment, water management, water security, innovation, water treatment technologies, desalination, demand management, water conscious culture, regional and remote Australia. 1 We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill Eric Vanweydeveld Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-vanweydeveld/ Report available via https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellows/ detail/4419/Eric+Vanweydeveld 2 Attachment 3 Letter of support from CEO THE WINSTON CHURCHILL MEMORIAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA Report by Eric Vanweydeveld, Churchill Fellow. 2018 Churchill Fellowship to investigate proven low-cost innovative water treatment solutions for regional and remote Australia. I understand that the Churchill Trust may publish this report, either in hard copy or on the internet or both, and consent to such publication. I indemnify the Churchill Trust against any loss, costs or damages it may suffer arising out of any claim or proceedings made against the Trust in respect of or arising from publication of this report submitted to the Trust and which the Trust places on a website for internet access. I also warrant that my Final Report is original and does not infringe the copyright of any person, or contain anything which is, or the incorporation of which into the Final Report is, actionable for defamation, a breach of any privacy law or obligation, breach of confidence, contempt of court, passing-off or contravention of any other private right or of any law. Eric Vanweydeveld 23 July 2019 Information in this report related to sites was obtained by interviews or on institutional websites unless noted otherwise. While the information in this report is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information. Dated 23 July 2019. 3 When the well is dry, we will know the worth of water” Benjamin Franklin 4 CONTENTS Acknowledgments 7 Executive summary 9 Definitions and explanatory notes 12 Introduction 15 Diagnosing the problem 16 Fellowship objectives 19 Outcomes sought 19 Itinerary 19 Part 1: United Arab Emirates 20 Part 2: Israel 30 Part 3: Oman 54 Part 4: Key findings and recommendations 70 Appendix A: Summary of activities carried out in UAE 84 Appendix B: Summary of activities carried out in Israel 86 Appendix C: Summary of activities carried out in Oman 90 Appendix D: Overview of relevant new technologies applicable in remote/rural Australia 92 References 96 Aerial photo of the MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia 5 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 6 7. 8. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank the Churchill I am particularly grateful (in no particular order) to: Trust for this amazing and unique Xavier Baron (Proposals Director Middle East at opportunity. This experience has had Suez - UAE); a profound impact on me. I learnt a Dr Hassan Arafat (Director of the Center for lot personally and professionally and Membrane and Advanced Water Technology - UAE); Udi Zuckerman (Director Global Business I gained many great insights. It was a Development at Mekorot - Israel); truly enriching experience. Professor Avner Adin (Chair Professor of Environmental Sciences & Head of water I am deeply committed to sharing my treatment technology at the Hebrew University learnings with the Australian water of Jerusalem - Israel); industry and the broader community Raanan Adin (CEO of Adin Holdings and President of the Israel Water Association - Israel); and apply the learnings in a practical Hezi Bilik (Former water engineer at Israel Water way to influence and shape future Authority - Israel); water projects in Australia. Shifka Seigel (Project Manager - Israel-Australia, New Zealand & Oceania Chamber of Commerce - I would like to thank everyone I met Israel) along the way who supported me, Oved Idan (Farmer in Paran Moshav- Israel); inspired me and shared their views Chris Smith (Water Operations Advisor - Policy and Strategy Directorate at the Public Authority for and knowledge. Water - Oman); Richard Lakey (Hydrogeologist at Water Resources and Environment Group - Oman). I would like to also thank Power and Water Corporation, the Australian Water Association and Engineers Australia for their great support. And, last but certainly not least, I am particularly grateful to my wife Sara, my daughter Gabrielle, my parents Alice and Michel and my mother in law Susan who supported me and encouraged me during my journey. 1. Oved Idan, Paran Moshav, Israel 2. Mekorot operator (left) and Hezi Bilik (right), Hatseva, Israel 3. From left to right: Udi Zukerman, Zvi Livni, CQM Engineer & Isak Duenyas, Tel Aviv, Israel 4. First row: Shifka Seigel (left) and Raanan Adin (right),Tel Aviv, Israe 5. Mekorot operator (left) and CQM technician (right), Jerusalem, Israel l 6. Dr. Jauad El Kharraz, Muscat, Oman 7. Sara & Gabrielle before my departure, Alice Springs 8. Tea time with a farmer in Al Hamra, Oman 7 It always seems impossible until it is done” Nelson Mandela 8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY While there is almost universal The Middle East presents an interesting comparison to Australia because it faces similar water scarcity access to drinking water across challenges, provides water services delivery to a large Australia, many small regional number of small regional and remote communities and is at the forefront of a series of water innovations and remote communities often in operational practices, technologies and institutions. experience inadequate water I spent eight weeks in the United Arab Emirates, quality and water security. Israel and Oman investigating innovative water treatment technologies and water management Existing advanced water treatment solutions, solutions and assessing the value for regional and designed for larger cities, are not an economically remote communities in Australia, in providing viable solution for replication across Australia’s potential alternatives to improve water quality and to hundreds of remote communities and small regional achieve water security. centres. In addition to a considerable technological The key findings from my experiences in Israel, gap between urban and remote systems, there Oman and the United Arab Emirates have been is consequent social and economic inequity and developed into nine recommendations that may be disadvantage. applicable to regional and remote communities in Significant differences between urban and remote Australia and are worthy of further exploration and contexts (economies of scale, logistics challenges, discussion across the water industry. long distances, etc.) don’t allow for transfer of innovation from urban systems to remote systems. There is potential for new insights to be gained from small scale systems overseas. My motivation to apply for a Churchill Fellowship was to discover what other nations, facing similar water scarcity challenges, are doing successfully to manage their small regional and remote communities’ water supplies and learn about their expertise and experience in dealing with similar challenges (remote, small-scale and water-scarce). Panoramic photo of Paran moshav’s farms where cutting-edge methods of farming are used 9 to grow fruit and vegetables in the arid region of the Arava Desert using brackish water, Israel We know water is wealth and stored water is a bank. Water is a vital resource for Australia, but we need to strategically plan our future water infrastructure so we can better utilise this precious resource to drive prosperity and improve sustainability in rural industries and regional economies.” Former Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce (from the National Roundtable on Water Infrastructure, 29 October 2014) 10 Recommendation 1 Numerous innovative water treatment technologies have been developed by Israel’s water sector in recent years and they could have major benefits for remote and regional Australia including enhanced operating performance, no reliance on chemicals, simplicity and low operating and maintenance costs. Recommendation 2 High-performance brackish water desalination technologies are becoming more practical, economical and energy-efficient and can represent a good option for regional and remote water systems facing water quality and water scarcity issues. Recommendation 3 Renewable energy desalination, which combines energy efficient desalination technology with renewable energy power, is showing great promise to supply affordable, reliable and safe drinking water to regional and remote areas. Recommendation 4 Establishing smart artificial groundwater recharge systems by using flash floods and water run-off to preserve and enhance groundwater resources as a practical measure to store and augment the availability of fresh water for future use and to enhance adaptative water management in response to climate change. Recommendation 5 The use of smart data collection and management tools, using leading-edge technologies, to drive a comprehensive, probabilistic and integrated management approach has potential to revolutionise the way regional and remote water sources and services are managed. Recommendation 6 Fostering the development of new technologies specifically designed