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Summer 2016

Diary SA Branch Calendar

Please check our website for updates and to register for events, and look out for emails sent to Branch members.

Friday 18 March

Industry and Students Careers Networking

UniSA Mawson Lakes Campus, 3.00-5.00pm

Tuesday 22 March World Water Day

Tour of Bolivar WWTP upgrades, 2.00-6.30pm

Wednesday 20 April

YWP Mentoring Breakfast

Time and location TBA

Thursday 28 April

AWA-WIA South Australian Water Policy Dialogue

All day event location TBA

Welcome to the summer edition of Waterworks for 2016. It is with great pleasure that the South Australian

branch committee of the Australian Water Association can bring you another year of fun, thought-provoking

and relevant events, industry discussion and member information.

Waterworks this year will of course report on all of our industry events held in SA. In this edition you will

find out more about the new Royal Adelaide Hospital from our Young Water Professionals who were

recently treated to a site tour, and be reminded of all of the amazing water work that happened over the

last 12 months with a wrap up of our 2015 water awards.

Waterworks this year will also bring you inspiring and insightful stories from some of South Australia’s

great leaders. In the start of this leadership series we talk about staying relevant.

Waterworks will also bring you information about emerging water industry policy and topics of interest.

The Australian Water Association gratefully acknowledges the support of our many generous sponsors. In

this issue we recognise SA Water and Trility for their contribution to the South Australian branch.

We look forward to sharing 2016 with you.

Alex and Katharine

Australian Water Association SA Branch:

Kerrie Akkermans

SA Branch Manager

Australian Water Association

Tel: 0439 893 304

Email: sabranch@awa.asn.au

c/- Tonkin Consulting

2/66 Rundle Street

Kent Town SA 5034

www.awa.asn.au

Please send contributions to Waterworks

SA to:

Alex Donald

0417 832 728

alex.donald@sawater.com.au

Katharine Ward

0400 972 341

katharine.ward@sa.gov.au

or to our Branch Manager

Contact details…as above

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Annual AWA South Australian Water Awards Gala Dinner held in the National Wine Centre

South Australian Annual Water Awards 2015

The annual AWA South Australian Water Awards Gala Dinner was held in the National Wine Centre

on the 20th of November 2015. The theme for the night was Rock 'n' Roll.

The AWA South Australian Water Awards were established in 1996 to

recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions related to water in SA.

The aim of the AWA Awards Program is to firstly provide recognition and

celebration of excellence of achievement and innovation in the SA water

industry and secondly to raise the profile of the South Australian water

industry, the AWA and of the importance of the varied roles played by all

those working in the sector. We were pleased to welcome the Hon. Ian

Hunter, Minister for Water and the River Murray both as a guest and to

present various awards, including the prestigious Premier’s Water Medal.

The award winners will have the opportunity to be considered for the

national awards to be announced at OzWater, which will be held in

Melbourne in May 2016.

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South Australian Annual Water Awards 2015

Young Water Professional

of the Year Award

Winner: Michael Webber

SA Water

SA Premier's Water Medal

Winner: Marc Fabig, Osmoflo

(accepted by Annie Fabig)

Postgraduate Prize

Winner: Kelly Hill (University of

South Australia) for the project:

The development of low-

clogging permeable pavements:

A laboratory study into the

mechanisms of sediment

accumulation

Research Innovation Award

Winner: Ben Van den Akker

(SA Water) for the project:

More from less: the development

of granular sludge to increase the

capacity of Sequencing Batch

Reactors used in wastewater

treatment

Undergraduate Water Prize, the Hodgson Medal

Winners: Rebecca van der Pennen, Cameron McPhail,

Bonnie Heidrich and Sean Vial (University of Adelaide)

for their project: Optimisation of Water Sensitive Urban

Design Practices using Evolutionary Algorithms

Infrastructure Innovation Award

Winners: Tonkin Consulting and Leed Engineering

for the Capelli Road Sewer Pump Station project

Program Innovation Award Winner: Allwater for the Allwater Energy Management Program

High Commendation: Trility for Victor Harbor

Mixed Liquor Screening project

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Leadership Series: Staying relevant

In the first of our new leadership series Waterworks co-editor

Katharine Ward speaks with Andy Roberts, CEO, Water Industry

Alliance, about leadership and how he ensures the organisation he

leads stays relevant to its members.

What is the Water Industry Alliance?

The Water Industry Alliance is a not-for-profit membership organisation

established to support the South Australian water industry with a focus on

business outcomes.

We were established in 1998 following extensive research into the best

industry models for collaboration.

Who are your members?

Our members span the entire water sector, including: utilities; councils; South Australian

government departments; consultants specialising in engineering, law and finance; service

providers; construction companies; manufacturers; and retailers.

Broadly speaking what does the Water Industry Alliance do?

Our mission is to facilitate the growth of the South Australian water industry in business, research

and education by: informing and connecting members; promoting member and industry successes;

liaising with and informing government; and providing frameworks to facilitate entry to new markets.

We are probably best known for our regular member nights and our awards event, which has been

celebrating and promoting the successes of South Australian water businesses for 13 years.

How long have you been CEO?

I became CEO in August 2011, so have been in the position for 4 and a half years now.

How would you describe your leadership style?

In industry leadership, I like to think that I do more work behind the scenes and let my results speak

for themselves. I have always felt that the Water Industry Alliance has to continually prove its worth,

earn the respect of its members, and has no entitlement to any particular profile or influence beyond

what it has earned from results.

You need to have something worth saying to expect people to listen to you.

As a leader of a small team of staff, I aim to be more of a coach and try to empower each member

of the team to continue to learn and grow. It of course helps that I already have a great team.

As a leader, how do you ensure that the alliance stays relevant to and for your members?

We have one main measurement - how do our members benefit from what we do.

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As a not-for-profit membership organisation, it is not about our staff but about our members. Our

members are ‘the alliance’. We need to continually ensure that we are aiming to deliver benefits to

our members first and only take money from them if necessary, as that is actually contrary to our

goals to help them grow.

I personally meet with many of our members each year and know the majority of the key contacts.

Communication in person is crucial.

Under my leadership I have also built a team of staff who are very experienced in the water industry

(half of them have more than 10 years of industry experience). This helps us to know the ups and

downs and the subtleties of how the industry works.

Do you see yourself and the alliance as an advocate (or something else) for your members?

The WIA does advocate on behalf of our members, but behind closed doors and as a trusted

advisor. We regularly meet with policy makers, politicians and other influential people in industry and

point out the range of concerns we know our members have. We can only afford this because we do

not take public positions and more importantly do not grandstand in the media. It is about

relationships and trust and it is critical to maintain these with integrity. If a decision is made that we

don’t like, usually we have had our input and it has been considered. Complaining after the fact is

very unlikely to change that decision, but is very likely to damage that relationship and prevent being

able to influence in the future.

What are some of the big challenges you face as CEO of the Water

Industry Alliance?

We have 150 members, they cover a broad spectrum of the sector and

span throughout the entire value chain, from manufacturing to end client.

Ensuring that we provide benefits to this range of members is a real

challenge. I have to be careful not to misrepresent these members,

because with such a large cross-section there is very seldom any single

point of view.

Waterworks would like to thank Andy for sharing his leadership experience.

In the next edition of Waterworks we look forward to hearing from Sandy Pitcher, Chief Executive,

Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

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Sustainability in the Willunga Basin Region

Young (and young at heart), South Australian water professionals,

converged on the SA Water Learning Centre in December 2015

for the last AWA event of the year, Sustainability in the Willunga

Basin Region. Hosted by the South Australian Young Water

Professionals (SA YWPs), the event aimed to bring together water

professionals from across the industry to farewell 2015, and to highlight

the rising importance of recycled water in agriculture, particularly in the

Maclaren Vale wine region.

Rudi Regel, Recycled Water Specialist at SA Water, was the first

speaker of the night and highlighted the complex challenges of operating a wastewater treatment

plant in conjunction with a recycled water irrigation scheme. Christies Beach Wastewater Treatment

Plant (WWTP) is responsible for producing recycled water for the Maclaren Vale wine region. In

doing so, it must comply with strict health-based targets for pathogen removal to ensure the water is

safe for agribusiness. The plant is required to assist in meeting demand from irrigators, however

demand is greatly dependent on climate patterns and the weather. In times of low irrigation demand,

wastewater treatment plant effluent is discharged into the Gulf of St Vincent. However, there are

limits on the nitrogen load able to be discharged into the gulf. All of this must be balanced against

energy consumption. Indeed, operating Christies Beach WWTP is a “vat” of challenges!

Craig Heidenreich, General Manager of Willunga Basin Water (WBW), discussed the important role

of WBW in state development. The Maclaren Vale grape growing region is a significant economic

region for South Australia generating upwards of $500 million of revenue in wine sales and tourism

per year. In accordance with its pillars of reliability, sustainability, and cost effectiveness, WBW

provides recycled water from Christies Beach WWTP for grape vine irrigation. Groundwater

reserves in the region are increasing in salinity and are insufficient to keep up with irrigation

demand. Christies Beach WWTP can provide recycled water of consistent quality throughout the

whole year. To better serve the Maclaren Vale grape growing region, and its increasing demand for

irrigation water, WBW has recently expanded its distribution network, and has also produced a

clever new contract model which allows its customers to use water in the off peak season without

risk of penalties.

Paddy Atkinson, Wastewater and Reuse Manager at Allwater,

closed the night with a discussion of wastewater reuse from a

global perspective. Wastewater reuse is not a new thing with

more than 2,000 wastewater reuse plants in operation

worldwide and 1/10th of the world’s population consuming

produce from crops irrigated with recycled water. As droughts

become more frequent and sustained, wastewater reuse plays

an ever increasing role in establishing food security, particularly

in developing countries. It was also interesting to learn that

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applications for recycled water are not limited to agriculture. Recycled water has a myriad of uses

from groundwater replenishment to snowmaking! Paddy concluded his presentation with a

discussion of the challenges for sustainable growth of wastewater reuse. There is a need for

streamlining of policy around wastewater reuse, and improvement of its perception by the public.

Efforts to improve efficiency, reliability and water quality must continue, as must efforts to establish

appropriate recycled water pricing.

Attendees were treated to a selection of wines donated by WBW customers, Hugo wines and

Paxton. Needless to say, the wines were exceptional, with not a whiff of wastewater detected! The

SA YWP Committee would like to thank the event sponsors Itron, Willunga Basin Water, Water

Utilities Group, SA Water and Allwater for their support of this event, and the speakers, Rudi Regel,

Craig Heidenreich, and Paddy Atkinson, for an informative and entertaining evening.

AWA Young Water Professionals visit new RAH

A small group of AWA Young

Water Professionals gather in

one of those ubiquitous

construction site transportable

offices. After a short safety

briefing we’re escorted toward the

new Royal Adelaide Hospital,

third most expensive building in

the world (Reference).

Before entering the hospital we

stop at a collection of tanks and a

pump station. We’re water professionals so pumps aren’t too exciting until we hear that this fully

commissioned pump station is for firefighting and is capable of servicing the whole hospital or

running the deluge system for a twin helicopter landing pad. We learn that this is the western

firefighting pump station and it’s duplicated, like most of the services we’re about to visit.

We are led into the bowels of the new hospital. We see the western water chiller room and western

diesel generator room, again these are duplicated. The chiller room cools water and feeds a ring

main for the air conditioning systems. The diesel generator is capable of supplying the hospital with

power and can restore power in 3 seconds of a failure.

We see one of five internal water 0.42 ML water tanks, the hospital uses recycled water for toilet

flushing, most of the hospital draws potable water and for medical purposes some of this is further

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treated by filtration and reverse osmosis. Rainwater is also harvested from the site and collected.

We learn that 40 people took 40 hours to commission the potable plumbing through the building just

like a new water main.

The building transforms from the concrete corridors of the facilities areas to something that we

recognise as a hospital, almost complete with floor coverings, doors, signage, wall paper, fresh paint

and furnishings. As the tour progresses we recognise a hospital but it’s also different, everywhere

we go we see gardens, nature and bright natural light that isn’t usually associated with a big

hospital.

Our first look at the futuristic technology in the hospital comes after passing through a security check

point when we stop at a robot charging station. The new RAH has a fleet of automated guided

vehicles (AGVs) which take care of logistics in the building. AGVs will be able to transport bulk

items, up to 500kg at a time through the hospital unaided and safely avoiding people, each other

and any other obstacles. We tracked down a video of some of these AGVs for your information

available on YouTube here.

We learn about the earthquake protection which allows the building to move like an accordion, we

learn about the cogeneration power plant providing electricity to the building and heat for the hot

water system, currently the cogeneration plant is running and powering part of Adelaide as the

hospital isn’t yet operational. As we leave the site we look at the building receiving it’s finishing

touches with a new understanding, perhaps second to the phenomenal amount of technology and

self-sufficiency we’ve seen we realise we’ve walked what felt like kilometres through a giant long,

wide 10 story building and are surprised that the building fits in so well with the landscape and our

transforming city.

We thank our tour guides, HYLC Joint Venture, our guests, the YWP committee and the AWA and

look forward to upcoming YWP events and tours!

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The AWA YWP SA Division Mentoring Program

Thanks to the valuable feedback from participants in last year’s mentoring program, the SA YWP

Committee has been hard at work over summer reviewing and redesigning the SA Mentoring

program. Our new mentoring program now offers one year of structured mentoring for mentees of all

ages and experience.

As a mentee in the program you can expect:

To be matched with a suitable mentor from the water industry

An introductory meeting with a facilitator and your mentor

Regular mentoring sessions as agreed with your mentor

Two facilitated mentoring events for all program participants

A monthly program email containing news and a mentoring discussion topic to help you make

the most of your partnership

Access to the AWA Mentoring program portal

The AWA mentoring program is open to all AWA members interested in developing themselves

through having a mentor for just a $25 administration fee!

Have you considered being a mentor?

Being a Mentor is a great way to develop your interpersonal and teaching skills and support our

future water professionals! The mentoring program is looking for nominations from potential mentors

from across the Water Industry. You must have at least five years of employment experience,

previous involvement in a mentoring relationship, either as a mentor or mentee is desirable.

Nominating to be a mentor provides you full access to all mentoring events and emails during your

nomination. Nominations are for a period of two years or until the end of a mentoring partnership,

whichever is earlier. At the end of your nomination, you are eligible to re-nominate as a mentor.

Nominating to be a mentor as part of the program is free, however once you have been matched

with a mentee, it is expected that you will attend mentoring events and make yourself available for

regular meetings and other communication as agreed with your mentee.

If you would like to join the program, or simply want more information about the program, please

contact the SA Branch Manager, Kerrie Akkermans at kakkermans@awa.asn.au.

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Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2015

Dr Clive Jenkins

A/Principal Scientific Officer (Water Chemistry), EPA

The new Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2015 (the Policy) is the result of an

extensive review of the previous Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2003 and other

legislation and policies used in relation to the regulation and management of South Australia’s water

quality.

This new Policy provides a mechanism for ensuring that all activities, irrespective of scale of

operation and whether or not an activity is subject to licensing under the Act, operate under uniform

conditions regarding water quality in South Australia.

There are significant changes in the new Policy, which introduces the most specific and detailed

protection of South Australia’s surface, marine and underground water sources in South Australia.

New regulations will establish obligations for industry and the community to manage and control

different forms of pollution into our waterways, and provide the power to set discharge limits for

particular activities.

The Policy focusses on pollution prevention, by placing an onus on industry and business to take

steps to avoid potential environmental harm.

The key policy change regards the previous (2003) clause 13 which established an offence where a

person discharges or deposits a pollutant into any waters, and causes an exceedance of water

quality criteria (Schedule 2). This previous mandatory requirement was changed to a general duty

(2015 Policy Clause 9), which requires a person who discharges a pollutant into waters to take ‘all

reasonable and practicable measures’ to ensure that ‘any of the national water quality guidelines

applicable to those waters are met’. This obligation has no offence provision, but it can be enforced

where necessary by the issuing of an environment protection order. The new approach allows the

EPA to treat every matter on the basis of its potential environmental impacts and the extent to which

the discharges can be reduced to eliminate any impact. The ‘reasonable and practicable test’ will be

determined by what can be expected of the industry in the context of the receiving environment

sensitivity.

The full Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2015 and detailed Explanatory Report can be

found at the following website.

(http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/data_and_publications/standards_and_laws/revision_of_national_guidelines)

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Martin Bowens

Qualifications

FCA, BSc (Hons)

Current Employer

Ernst & Young

Current Position

Director

Describe a typical workday

I work on international as well

as local projects so, when in

Adelaide, the day can start

with calls from 6.30am, and when I am overseas the days

regularly end with calls at 8pm. My role is as much Business

Development as Project Delivery so I do get to meet a wide

range of senior client stakeholders which always interests me.

Do you have children?

Yes, 4 under the age of 11

How do you maintain balance between your work and personal life?

Friday afternoon to Sunday night are sacred - I try to spend

as much time as possible with family.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A doctor

What is your dream job?

What, there is an alternative? I still think being a doctor

would be cool.

Career path

Next target is Partner….

Career highlight(s)

Moving to Adelaide 3 years ago!

What's the most unusual thing that's happened to you at work?

I travelled into London on the morning of the Underground

Bombings – mass confusion followed by an eerily empty

London

What is the most important factor for success?

Patience and understanding your true abilities

What are important qualities of a good manager?

Consider others – you need to remember everyone is busy

What changes or trends are happening in the water industry?

Data analytics driving big changes in operating environment,

asset management and real time decision making

Rugby, AFL or soccer?

Rugby (Union)

Hobbies past or present?

Currently, house renovation as a need, not an option

Before children I used to Windsurf a lot, but children and the

shark sightings in Henley Beach have stopped that….

What’s in your music player currently?

James Blunt and Ed Sheeran are probably my favourites

just now

Who do you admire?

Richard Branson

What would your dream holiday be?

Somewhere with water (for water sports), no sharks and no

mobile reception. Remote as possible.

What was your first job?

Lifeguard at my local swimming pool

If you could invite four people to dinner who would they be?

Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Larry Ellison

What was a defining moment in your life?

I’ve had a few, to pick one is hard, but probably having our first

child, that was a reality check on what is important in my life

What advice would you give to a young person just starting out in our industry?

Be patient, be positive, be aware of your strengths and

weaknesses and treat every opportunity as an opportunity,

not a chore.

Meet the AWA SA Committee

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Alex Donald

Qualifications

BSc (UNSW) Master of

Environmental Management

(UNE)

Current Employer

SA Water

Current Position

Manager Environmental

Regulation and Sustainability

Describe a typical workday

I’m generally office bound, attending meetings, planning and

developing strategies and actions to improve the

environmental performance of SA Water. I also spend time

in the field around Adelaide and regionally.

Do you have children?

Yes, Tom aged 17 and Phoebe 16

How do you maintain balance between your work and personal life?

Schedule holidays and personal activities well in advance.

This allows me to organise work around that and have

things to look forward to.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

An astronaut of course.

Career path

Started career working at Australian Water Technologies,

water quality consulting, then NSW EPA. Spent 5 years

working in Northern Territory Power and Water Corporation

and now at SA Water where I have been for the past 7

years….

Career highlight(s)

Providing water and sewerage services to remote

communities in the NT. Making a tangible difference to

people’s lives.

What's the most unusual thing that's happened to you at work?

Rescuing a kangaroo stuck in a waste stabilisation pond.

What is the most important factor for success?

Having passion for what you do, recognising the capabilities

of others and harnessing this to achieve common goals.

What are the important qualities required to be a good manager?

Listening, empathy, and recognising and developing the

potential of others.

What changes or trends are happening in the water industry?

The continuing and rapid emergence of digital technology is

having a huge effect on the way urban utilities interact

with customers, and how they do business.

What can’t you do without?

My pushbike.

Rugby, AFL or soccer?

A rugby union and rugby league man (I’m from NSW).

Hobbies past or present?

A keen bushwalker. Used to enjoy wind surfing and

surfing when living in Sydney.

What’s in your music player currently?

David Bowie lately.

Do you have any other Volunteer roles?

AWA Sustainability Specialist Network.

What is your favourite film?

No favourite, but I recently enjoyed ‘Room’. It opens your

eyes to the vast differences in human nature. morals and

modern society.

Who do you admire?

Fred Hollows for his efforts in addressing a significant health

issue amongst Aboriginal Australians and those in the third

world.

What would your dream holiday be?

A trip to Antarctica

What was your first job?

Delivering early morning newspapers, paid $10 a week

What was a defining moment in your life?

Marriage. It set me on a wonderful life journey.

What advice would you give to a young person just starting out in our industry?

Look for a broad variety of experiences and build your

network. These things lay the foundation for a satisfying and

successful career.