Environment
Great idea, Bill. Damning report for water corporations
As the UTAS Sustainability Manager, I applaud the efforts of Alderman Harvey’s and welcome his challenge especially given the fact that UTAS has been working steadily for over a year to minimise the quantity of commercial bottled water sold at UTAS.
In fact, early in 2010, we installed filtered water bottle filling stations at our three main campuses (Sandy Bay, Newnham, and Cradle Coast) similar to those mentioned by Alderman Harvey and commenters on his media release. If you observe these stations, you will note the great numbers of people using them to re-fill their drink bottles so we see them as an unqualified success.
Also in early 2010, we instituted sustainable events guidelines for those using our facilities. We encourage those holding meetings and conferences to provide carafes of water (rather than bottles). I understand there are also student-led initiatives underway that may indeed lead to bottled water-free sections of UTAS.
Rest assured that UTAS is well aware of the issue of bottled water and the fact that there are more regulations concerning the quality of our tap water than those for bottled water. We understand that it makes little sense to use our precious fossil fuels to make the bottles and then transport them long distances when we have great water to the tap at our facilities provided in a highly energy efficient manner.
The idea is to minimise use through education and provision of infrastructure and processes to facilitate moving away from bottled water use whenever and wherever practical.
Damning report for Tas water corporations
Tasmania’s independent economic regulator has released a damning report into the performance of the state’s new regional water corporations.
The review looked into the service, quality, reliability and pricing across Tasmania’s urban water and sewerage industry last financial year.
It found around four per cent of the population connected to a water supply network received drinking water that did not meet safe standards.
The review also found 71 wastewater treatment plants were polluting rivers and coastal waters with effluent containing more than the recommended levels of organic loads and faecal bacteria.
The Chairman of the independent regulator Glenn Appleyard says it is going to take time and money to make improvements.
“This is the first year 2009/10 in which the corporations have been responsible for the water and sewerage industry,” he said.
“Whilst in a sense it’s disappointing to report the standard of the outcomes, nonetheless, they have made some progress from the previous arrangements which were in existence.”
The Premier Lara Giddings says years of under investment in infrastructure is to blame and the system had to change.
“This is critical reform for the benefit of the wider Tasmanian community,” she said.
The regulator also found the three water corporations are not financially sustainable at the current levels of revenue.
Damning report for Tas water corporations, HERE
Download the Regulator’s Report HERE
Southern Water responds …
Media Release
State of the Industry Report: Where to from here?
The CEO of Southern Water, Mr Mike Paine, said today that Southern Water was in full agreement with the findings released in the Economic Regulator’s State of the Industry report.
“When the water and sewerage corporations were created, we were charged with the formidable task of raising water and sewerage infrastructure performance meet the regulated standards,” he said.
“The major deficiencies that have been outlined in the State of the Industry report are currently shaping our planning priorities.
“Bringing the services for our customers up to an acceptable level is a long term project – there are no quick fixes. Southern Water has a capital expenditure objective of $170M just for the 2010-2013 period to improve services for our customers and start to bring Tasmania’s infrastructure in line with national standards.
Providing better drinking water, region-wide
“Water quality issues remain a top priority. Our capital expenditure priorities align with these public health priorities, with new facilities in Swansea and Ellendale are nearing completion. New facilities will provide a reliable potable supply in these areas. The extensive reservoir roofing program, which includes covering 20 open water storages, is well under way and this will significantly reduce the likelihood of water quality issues occurring in other areas.”
Reducing pollution
“The Economic Regulator, Mr Glenn Appleyard, is rightly concerned that our industry continues to pollute the State’s rivers and coastal waters with effluent.
“This is, of course, an unacceptable state of affairs, especially considering our reputation as a pristine clean, green island.
“As detailed in the report, most of our wastewater treatment plants do not meet environmental standards and continue to pollute our waterways. Focusing our capital expenditure funds on these issues will improve environmental outcomes for the River Derwent and other water catchments which currently bear the brunt of overburdened facilities and undertreated sewage.
Taking a broader, regional approach
“The first year of our plan has been focused on delivering water and wastewater improvements that take advantage of our ability to take a broader cross-regional approach to providing services. This focus on planning for regionalised solutions to deliver cost savings and greater efficiency will continue, such as the sewerage upgrade now under way at Taroona where we will pipe sewage to Self’s Point rather than building new treatment infrastructure at Taroona.
“Regionalisation of our services, particularly in the area of sewerage, will allow us to improve our levels of environmental compliance in line with the requirements of the Environment Protection Authority and regulatory requirements.
“We will continue to keep our customers informed on these and other important initiatives.”
A table detailing some of the projects currently underway to raise water and sewerage infrastructure performance standards follows:
Southern Water – Capital expenditure projects underway – 2010/11
Total Project Cost
Huon Valley Regional Water Scheme
To upgrade and expand water supply infrastructure to service demand in the Huon Valley.
$33 million
Water Metering Project
Installation of 70,000 water meters across the south of the state.
$30 million
Swansea Water Project
A program to remove the permanent boil water alert and provide improved water quality for Swansea.
$8.5 million
Ellendale water treatment plant upgrade
A program to remove the permanent boil water alert and provide improved water quality for Ellendale.
$140,000
Margate Bulk Water Duplication
Pipeline duplication to overcome water supply issues in Margate, Blackmans Bay and Snug due to population growth and dry seasonal periods
$7.3 million
Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades
A three year upgrade program of the wastewater treatment plants commencing with the Cambridge, Ranelagh, Rosny, Orford and Maydena Wastewater Treatment Plants followed by Kingborough and Brighton rationalisations to reduce pollution and improve wastewater (sewage) treatment standards
$51 million
Reservoir Roofing Program
A program to reduce water quality issues like boil water notices by putting a roof on 20 uncovered water storages.
$7 million
Berriedale to Elwick Duplication
A bulk pipeline section duplication to provide a backup mains line and address the risks inherent in an ageing pipe, including corrosion and increasing pipeline failures.
$6.3 million
Bulk Water Pump Station Renewals
Improvements to the pump stations that deliver water throughout the Greater Hobart network
$4 million
Bowen Bridge Pipeline Duplication
A bulk pipeline section duplication to provide critical backup for supply on the Eastern Shore.
$2 million
Laud3erdale Sewerage Scheme – Phase 1
A scheme to provide residents of Lauderdale with a new reticulated, wastewater system.
$2.7 million
Sewage Rationalisation Taroona
Using excess capacity at Self’s Point Wastewater Plant to facilitate the de-commissioning of the Taroona Wastewater Treatment Plant
$5.2 million
Fairfax Terrace Bulk Water and reticulation
Upgrades to improve water supply in both the bulk and reticulated systems in New Norfolk
$1 million
Gateway Sewerage upgrades
Upgrades to sewerage systems in New Norfolk to improve wastewater removal
$350,000
Lenah Valley Water Supply Augmentation
A new reservoir and associated pipe works to improve supply in Lenah Valley and allow for development
$4.5 million
Sewage Pump Station Electrical Switchboard Renewals
$1 million
Salamanca Pump Station
$0.5 million
Bryn Estyn Water treatment plant – Pump 1 Replacement
$350,000
Snug Reservoir
A new reservoir to provide surety of supply in Snug
$400,000
Wastewater Pump Station upgrades
Upgrades to sewerage pumping facilities in Claremont; Brighton and Swansea.
$1.64 million