environment compliance and performance report 2018-19 · environment compliance and performance...

Environment

Compliance and

Performance Report

2018-19

Environmental Management System

Environmental Indicators Report

Environment Compliance and Performance Report 2018-19 | SWEMS0004.04v12 Page 1

Introduction Under our Operating Licence 2015–2020, Sydney Water must prepare, for each financial year, a

compliance and performance report on our Environmental Management System (EMS) and our

performance against a set of regulatory environmental indicators.

We must provide this report to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) by

1 October each year. The report is also made available on sydneywater.com.au.

Sydney Water has incorporated a statement on the implementation of its special objectives, in Part

A of this report, as required by the Sydney Water Act 1994 (the Act). The Act requires Sydney

Water to publish its statement as part of its annual report on its environmental indicators.

Reporting requirements are listed below and addressed in the relevant parts of the report.

Operating Licence 2015-20

Reporting manual requirements (IPART, 2018)

Environment compliance and

performance report section

Sydney Water’s statement on the implementation of its

special objectives, as required by the Sydney Water Act 1994

Part A

Statement on the implementation of

our special objectives

• A summary of the objectives and targets of the EMS.

• The environmental management activities and programs

completed by Sydney Water in the financial year to meet

the objectives and targets of the EMS.

• The results and outcomes from those activities and

programs.

Part B

Delivering our environment plan

2018–19

A report on Sydney Water’s performance against the

environmental indicators set out in Appendix D of the

Reporting Manual and National Water Initiative performance

reporting indicators for the environment.

Part C

Environmental indicators report

2018–19

Any non-conformances with the EMS and the actions taken

to resolve those non-conformances.

Part D

EMS Non-conformances

Any proposed significant changes to the EMS. Part E

EMS Proposed significant changes

The environmental management activities and programs

proposed to be undertaken by Sydney Water to meet the

objectives and targets of the EMS in the future, including the

timetable for completion.

Part F

Environment Plan 2019–20

http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/index.htm


Part A

Statement on the implementation of

our special objectives Our business is underpinned by the three principal objectives outlined in the Sydney Water Act

1994 (the Act):

1. To be a successful business.

2. To protect the environment by conducting its operations in compliance with the principles of

ecologically sustainable development (ESD).

3. To protect public health by supplying safe drinking water to its customers and other

members of the public in compliance with the requirements of any operating licence.

These objectives enable us to achieve a sustainable future by balancing social, economic and

environmental considerations.

In addition to this, Section 22 of the Act states that in implementing the principal objectives, we

have the following special objectives:

1. To reduce risks to human health.

2. Prevent degradation of the environment.

These objectives are to be interpreted and implemented by reference to the means specified in

Section 22 of the Act and Section 6 of the Protection of the Environment Administrations Act 1991,

so far as they are relevant to our business.

This statement on the special objectives has been prepared to meet the requirements of Section

22 (6) of the Act. It is intended to serve as a summary and demonstrate how we addressed the

means identified in the Act between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019. It should be read in

conjunction with other publicly available reports published on our website.

1.1 Implementing the special objectives

Sydney Water integrates environmental and public health management into its business decision-

making and operational activities. The special objectives are implemented within a total business

context, rather than as separate considerations. This approach ensures that balancing social,

economic, public health and environmental considerations is part of the usual way we provide

services.


We have established a number of management systems, plans and frameworks to support our

business operations and ensure we continue to address the special objectives. These include our:

• ISO14001 certified Environmental Management system, which provides a systematic, planned

approach to managing environmental risks

• Environmental Policy, which outlines our commitment to environmental protection using

principles of ESD and sets the framework for continual improvement in our environmental

performance

• Environment Strategy and Plan, which provides clear objectives, targets and actions to enable

us to protect the environment while we address the challenges of our growing cities

• Drinking Water Management System, aligned to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

2011, which describes the methods we use to ensure the quality and quantity of drinking water

we supply to our customers

• Recycled Water Management System, aligned to the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling

2006, which describes the methods we use to ensure we supply high quality recycled water to

our customers and minimise risks to human health.

• Quality Management System, certified to the ISO9001 standard, enables us to continually

monitor and measure how we are performing so we can improve and be more effective.

1.2 Reporting against our Special objectives

To meet our special objectives and support our Environmental Policy, we have summarised and

aligned our special objectives to the following four broad environmental objectives in our

Environment Strategy:

1. We’ll contribute to healthy waterways and clean beaches in delivering our services to

safeguard ecosystems that our communities can continue to enjoy.

2. We’ll increase our resilience to a changing climate, connect with customers and use water

in the landscape to shape liveable places.

3. We’ll protect and restore valuable biodiversity and share the natural spaces, land and

heritage in our care with the community.

4. We’ll use our resources wisely, work with customers to save water and increase our

recovery of energy towards net-zero emissions.

Part B of this report, Delivering Our Environment Plan 2018–19, provides a summary of our

performance in implementing our special objectives. To provide a year-to-year comparison of

performance, we also report against a set of environmental performance indicators (Part C) as

listed in our Operating Licence Reporting Manual regulated by the Independent Pricing and

Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

Sydney Water’s environmental performance has been impacted in recent years by factors

including drought, population growth and urbanisation, which have increased pressure on the

http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/water-the-environment/what-we-re-doing/environmentalprotection/index.htm



infrastructure servicing the city. At the same time our assets are ageing, contributing to additional

challenges for achieving environmental standards. Last year we operated outside of the

performance standard limits related to water continuity and dry weather overflows to waterways,

with an increased number of sewer main breaks and chokes (blockages). We are committed to

improving our performance through a comprehensive Environmental Performance Improvement

Program, including optimising our maintenance programs and resourcing to improve asset

reliability and performance.

Table 1 below lists the special objectives means specified in the Section 22 of the Sydney Water

Act 1994 and Section 6 of the Protection of the Environment Administrations Act 1991. It also

references the sections of the Delivering Our Environment Plan 2018–19 report that address the

means listed in the two Acts.

In addition to this report, we publish several comprehensive performance reports on our website

that demonstrate our implementation of, and performance against, the special objectives. Please

refer to the following documents available at sydneywater.com.au for more information.

• Sydney Water Annual Report – provides a summary of Sydney Water’s overall performance.

• Water Conservation Report: outlines how we are meeting our water conservation requirements

and contributing to water efficiency, leak management and water recycling initiatives.

• Sewage Treatment System Impact Monitoring Program (STSIMP) Report: a summary of

wastewater discharge quality, quantity and loads data for key pollutants relating to regulatory

limits. This report also contains inland and ocean receiving water quality, wastewater overflows

and recycled water data.

Table 1 – Reporting against Special Objectives requirements

Sydney Water Act 1994 means1 POEA Act 1991 means1 Delivering our environment plan

Report 2018–192

Reducing the environmental impact of its discharges into or onto the air, water or land of substances likely to cause harm to the environment.

Adopting the principle of reducing to harmless levels the discharge into air, water or land of substances likely to cause harm to the environment Setting mandatory targets for environmental improvement Promoting pollution prevention

1. Healthy waterways and clean beaches

Contribute to healthy waterways and clean beaches in delivering our services to safeguard ecosystems that our communities can continue to enjoy

4. Efficient and sustainable resource use Use our resources wisely, work with customers to save water and increase our recovery of energy towards net-zero emissions.

Re-using and recovering energy, water and other materials and substances, used or discharged by it, by the use of appropriate technology, practices and procedures Reducing its use of energy, water and other materials and substances

Encouraging the reduction of the use of materials, encouraging the re-use and recycling of materials and encouraging material recovery

4. Efficient and sustainable resource use Use our resources wisely, work with customers to save water and increase our recovery of energy towards net-zero emissions.

1 Only the means relevant to Sydney Water’s activities are listed 2 Numbers in bold refer to chapters in Part B report

http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/about-us/our-publications/reports-and-publications/index.htm


Sydney Water Act 1994 means1 POEA Act 1991 means1 Delivering our environment plan

Report 2018–192

Minimising its creation of waste by the use of appropriate technology, practices and procedures

Minimising the creation of waste by the use of appropriate technology Regulating the transportation, collection, treatment, storage, and disposal of waste

4. Efficient and sustainable resource use

Use our resources wisely, work with customers to save water and increase our recovery of energy towards net-zero emissions.

3. Care for nature, land and heritage Protect and restore valuable biodiversity and share the natural spaces, land and heritage in our care with the community.

Promoting community involvement in decisions about environmental matters Conducting public education and awareness programs about matters. Ensuring the community has access to relevant information about hazardous substances arising from, or stored, used or sold by, any industry or public authority

2. Create resilient and liveable places Increase our resilience to a changing climate, connect with customers and use water in the landscape to shape liveable places.

1.3 Review of the Special Objectives Statement by the NSW Environment Protection Authority

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) reviews Sydney Water’s statement on the

implementation of the Special Objectives each year (in accordance with section 22(7) of the Act)

and provides feedback on whether it considers that Sydney Water has achieved the best

environmental outcome in carrying out its operational activities.

The EPA’s feedback on our 2017-18 special objectives statement, commended Sydney Water for

taking a broad view of environmental protection and noted that our approach to waste

minimisation, energy efficiency and the trialling of new technologies is sound. The EPA also

commended Sydney Water for works undertaken to reduce the impacts of litter from the

stormwater system and from wipes in the wastewater system.

However, while the EPA noted progress to address the management and reporting of wet weather

overflows, it expressed concern about an increase in the frequency of dry weather overflows and

our response to these incidents. The EPA raised two main concerns:

1. The need for quantitative indicators that demonstrate the impact of our discharges on the

environment.

2. Performance issues related to effluent discharged from wastewater treatment plants and

the wastewater reticulation system.

We are working to improve our reporting by including appropriate quantitative data and trends into

future iterations of our special objectives statement. We have also committed to improving the

management of our wastewater assets and response to wastewater overflow incidents through

implementing a comprehensive Environmental Performance Improvement Program.

Part B

Delivering our

Environment Plan 2018-19

Delivering our Environment Plan 2018-19 | SWEMS0004.04v12 Page 2

Table of contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3

1 Healthy waterways and clean beaches .................................................................................. 4

1.1 Progress on Environment Plan actions ............................................................................................ 4

1.2 Key performance indicators ............................................................................................................... 8

2 Create resilient and liveable places ....................................................................................... 9

2.1 Progress on Environment Plan actions ............................................................................................ 9

3 Care for nature, land and heritage ....................................................................................... 14

3.1 Progress on Environment Plan actions .......................................................................................... 14

3.2 Key performance indicators ............................................................................................................. 17

4 Efficient and sustainable resource use ............................................................................... 18

4.1 Progress on Environment Plan actions .......................................................................................... 18

4.2 Key performance indicators ............................................................................................................. 23


Introduction Sydney Water is committed to protecting the environment and each year we document new

actions and how we plan to do this better in our Environment Plan. In Delivering our Environment

Plan 2018–19, we are reporting on our progress in implementing these actions during the last

financial year.

Sydney Water has been delivering against an environment plan for over 20 years. We update our

Environment Plan every year to remain resilient against emerging environmental risks and to

ensure that it reflects our business focus. The plan addresses recent challenges and identifies

actions to be undertaken to improve our environmental performance.

The plan aligns to our Environment Strategy. Our strategic approach enables us to anticipate and

respond to the environmental expectations of our customers and prepare for environmental

challenges in the future. Each year, we plan our actions to work towards our environmental

objectives, aiming to meet set targets and priority outcomes. Once we complete new initiatives, we

consider them to be part of business as usual and remove them from our next environment plan.

This document should be read in conjunction with our Environmental Indicators Report (Part C

within the Environment Compliance and Performance Report 2018–19), which provides additional

environmental performance information and compares key environmental indicators, selected by

the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) and the National Water Initiative (NWI),

on a year-to-year basis.

We update our environment plan every year to consider emerging environmental risks, our

business focus and stakeholder feedback. Our revised environment plan aligns with our 2015–

2020 corporate strategy of putting the customer at the heart of everything we do. We have

identified ongoing and new actions to continually improve our environmental performance.

Our Environment Plan 2019–20 outlines the next steps in our journey, and is available separately

on our website.

https://www.sydneywater.com.au/web/groups/publicwebcontent/documents/document/zgrf/mdk5/~edisp/dd_099791.pdf

http://www.sydneywater.com.au/web/groups/publicwebcontent/documents/document/zgrf/mdu0/~edisp/dd_054966.pdf


1 Healthy waterways and clean

beaches

Objective: We’ll contribute to healthy waterways and clean beaches in delivering our services to safeguard ecosystems that our communities can continue to enjoy

1.1 Progress on Environment Plan actions

2018-19 action Progress

Target 1: Contribute to developing a new framework for licensing of nutrients to maintain and

protect the health of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system.

Support the Environment Protection

Authority (EPA) in developing a new

regulatory framework for nutrient

management in the Hawkesbury-

Nepean River System. Continue

investigating a suite of measures

including nutrient offsets to protect the

river.

Support the EPA in the development

of the operational protocol for nutrient

offsets in the Hawkesbury-Nepean

River system.

Work with IPART to determine an

appropriate approach for the

regulatory treatment of expenditure on

various forms of nutrient offset

projects.

Sydney Water continues to work with the EPA to finalise and

trial the new framework for nutrient management in the

Hawkesbury-Nepean River System. Nutrient load caps were

provided to inform the new framework and we are progressing

four pilot projects to inform how nutrient offsets can be used to

mitigate the impacts of nutrient discharges from sewage

treatment plants in the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment.

Sydney Water is continuing to work with the EPA to develop a

nutrient offset protocol and the methodology for incorporating

the outcomes of offset projects into the conditions of

Environmental Protection Licenses.

Sydney Water's Price Proposal 2020-24 submitted to IPART

includes pricing principles to guide IPART's treatment of

Hawkesbury-Nepean nutrient offset costs. We are also working

with IPART and the EPA to shape the scheme and the

recovery of the costs.

Target 2: Establish a new framework to plan, deliver and evaluate water sensitive urban design

projects in collaboration with local government and catchment groups.

Build our capability to plan and deliver

integrated water cycle management

and water-sensitive urban design

solutions that our communities’ value.

Progress waterway health

improvement projects, consistent with

the Waterway Improvement Strategy.

We have developed a draft guideline on integrated water cycle

management (IWM) that incorporates lessons learnt, tools and

case studies. Sub-regional and precinct planning projects such

as the south-western Sydney growth area, Greater Parramatta

to Olympic Peninsula, Metro North-West, Wilton and Sydney

Science Park have applied the IWM approach, assessing the

benefits realisation from water-sensitive urban design options.



The waterway health improvement plans for Cooks, Georges

and Parramatta Rivers were completed. These plans form the

basis for candidate projects for the Waterways Health

Improvement Program. We have commenced our

first stormwater system plans at Marrickville (including Mackey

Park) and Rouse Hill. These plans are scheduled to be

completed in 2020.

Target 3: See our work contribute to over 90% of coastal and estuarine beaches classified as

having ‘very good’ or ‘good’ recreational water quality (as measured by Beachwatch).

Assess the following six catchment

areas to verify the risk of wet weather

overflow impacts to the environment

and community and identify works to

reduce risk:

• Lane Cove River

• Upper Parramatta River

• Mid-Parramatta River

• Prospect Creek

• Lower Middle Harbour

• Mosman Peninsula

In 2017-18, Beachwatch reported 92% of beaches in our area

of operations have 'very good' or 'good' suitability for

swimming. The NSW Government, State of the beaches 2018-

2019 report is yet to be released.

Sydney Water has developed a works program to reduce the

risk of impacts from wet weather overflows to the environment.

Assessment reports for the following areas have been

submitted to the EPA:

• Prospect Creek

• Upper Parramatta River

• Mid Parramatta River

• Lane Cove River

• Foreshore Beach

Design work is complete for Upper Parramatta River

improvements and delivery will commence in August 2019 and

be complete by mid-2020. The Mid-Parramatta River and Lane

Cove River design work is currently in progress.

Sydney Water has provided technical support to Randwick

Council to improve the quality of stormwater runoff to Coogee

Beach. This is expected to increase the proportion of years this

beach has "Good" suitability for swimming.

The occurrence of wet weather overflows to Rose Bay Beach is

being reduced to assist in improving the suitability for

swimming at this beach to "Good".

Target 4: Develop and share our capability in innovation monitoring and modelling to protect

aquatic environment and public health outcomes for major Sydney waterways.

Continue to develop online and

analytic monitoring of water and

Sydney Water is installing sensors across our water and

wastewater systems to enable greater proactive monitoring.



wastewater systems to enable

proactive management of our

networks to reduce impacts to our

customers.

Continue scientific pilot studies to

inform a new monitoring approach for

wet weather overflows. Pilot studies

are required to obtain statistically valid

data to determine the sensitivity of

proposed methodologies.

Work has commenced on the top two priority cases, Digital

Metering and Dry Weather Overflow (DWO) detection. Bangor

and North Epping catchments have been identified as highest

priority for DWO detection.

In 2018, we completed Stage 1 pilot studies into eDNA,

passive samplers and trash nets. Stage 2 of the monitoring

program has been mobilised and samples commenced

collection based on the successful technology and method

outcomes of the Stage 1 pilot studies. The initial success of the

public health pilot study collaboration with CSIRO has led to

the expansion of the program to develop a much wider

understanding of microbial source tracking techniques which

may be applicable to other Sydney Water activities.

Target 5: Continue to work towards 100% of wastewater volume treated that is compliant with our

environment protection licences.

Develop and apply a planning

framework to inform the capital works

optimisation process, including an

assessment of lifecycle costs,

environmental factors and wider

economic values and benefits.

Implement a tertiary nitrogen removal

process unit and wetland treatment

pilot project at Picton Water Recycling

Plant (WRP).

In 2018-19, 95% of wastewater volume treated was compliant

compared to 98% in 2017-18 and 99% in 2016-17. We

acknowledge our wastewater discharge performance has

deteriorated and are investigating the cause and effect of the

non-compliances to ensure we are compliant with our EPLs. In

2018-19, the decrease was mainly due to the increase in non-

compliance with limits for oil and grease at ocean plants and

total suspended solids at Picton WRP.

In March 2019, construction of the pilot wetland at Picton WRP

was completed. As wetland plants establish, we will continue to

monitor and measure the effectiveness of the wetland as a

treatment technology. Concept design for the tertiary nitrogen

removal project is complete and following a cost-benefit

analysis of detailed design, the completion target is estimated

for December 2020.

Sydney Water’s planning portal is now operational and includes

templates and artefacts as well as planning process

documents, produced as part of the planning framework

project. We are now working towards ensuring the planning

framework aligns with our ISO55001 certified Asset

Management System.

Target 6: Enhance our prevention and response to dry weather overflows.

Introduce new approaches to

detecting, predicting and improving

In 2018-19, Sydney Water experienced 19,978 wastewater

chokes of which 428 resulted in sewage overflows to the

environment (2.1%). This compares with 18,546 wastewater



prevention and response to dry

weather overflows.

chokes in 2017-18 with 353 overflows to the environment

(1.9%), and 16,556 wastewater chokes in 2016-17 with 300

overflows to the environment (2%). To improve prevention, we

partnered with CSIRO’s Data61 group to develop a model that

considers the causes of overflows to predict where they are

most likely to occur.

We commenced an Environmental Performance Improvement

Program to improve dry weather overflow performance and to

help identify where key improvements are needed to better

predict, prevent and respond.

Our maintenance strategy and choke management program

were revised to support achievement of the prevention of dry

weather overflow targets. This is where we have a rolling

inspection and assessment program, which ensures that we

are working on the most critical overflows. In addition, we are

including remote sensing on sewers in sensitive areas. The

technology provides early warning and allows maintenance

crews to remove obstructions before spills occur. This new

direction follows the highly successful prevention of 22 spills

across Liverpool by deploying 400 sensors. The first areas to

be protected are sensitive natural areas in Bangor and North

Epping.

To improve our response, we have increased our workforce,

changed our procedures and invested in new equipment to

contain overflows. Spills are now attended by a dedicated site

manager who works with our maintenance crews to implement

a site specific remediation plan. Our responses match the local

needs and are comprehensive.

Target 7: Work collaboratively to support the swimmability goals for the Parramatta River by

2025.

Collaborate with State government

and local councils to integrate

Parramatta River Masterplan

outcomes (swimmability) into our

servicing strategies.

The Parramatta River Masterplan is now complete following

public exhibition in October 2018 by the Parramatta River

Catchment Group as part of the International River symposium.

Sydney Water is now running the Parramatta River Delivery

Engine and leading the delivery of the masterplan outcomes.

Target 8: See our work contribute to increased proportion of waterways meeting community

expectations and environmental objectives1.

1 Key indicators in Sydney Water’s Sewage Treatment System Impact Monitoring Program



Review and update the Sewage

Treatment System Impact Monitoring

Program (STSIMP) to better target the

impact of wastewater discharge on the

environment.

We are in the process of engaging an independent expert to

review our existing water quality monitoring program.

The intent is to improve our understanding of the impact of

Sydney Water's wastewater discharges on the environment,

taking into consideration cost and community values.

Target 9: Enhance integrated water planning by working collaboratively to deliver the WaterSmart

Cities program2.

Apply integrated water management

principles to regional water supply

planning, to identify and realise

financial, environmental and social

opportunities.

The Western Sydney Regional Master Plan is complete

including the analysis of four servicing pathways and the

related economic assessments. Work has started examining

concepts as part of the Eastern Sydney Regional Master Plan.

Key concepts include resource recovery at the ocean treatment

plants and placed based concepts such as greening and

cooling. Sub-regional planning for the Aerotropolis and South

West regions, the Greater Penrith and Eastern Creek region

and the Greater Macarthur region all commenced in 2019. We

are taking an adaptive and integrated approach to planning in

all these regions and subregions. Planning for Greater

Parramatta to Olympic Peninsula, Metro North-West and

Sydney Science Park has moved into either option

specification or concept design.

1.2 Key performance indicators

Our key performance indicators help measure our progress and assess performance each year.

The following indicators within Sydney Water’s Environmental Indicators Report 2018–19 (Part C)

are relevant to this objective.

Key performance indicators Environmental Indicators Report 2018–19 (Part C)

Wastewater treatment and system discharges Page 5

2 WaterSmart Cities program detailed in 2017 Metropolitan Water Plan, Metropolitan Water Directorate


2 Create resilient and liveable

places

Objective: We’ll increase our resilience to a changing climate, connect with customers and use water in the landscape to shape liveable places



Target 1: Assess 100% of our climate risk interdependencies with transport, power and other

services.

Partner with the NSW Office of

Environment and Heritage and other

NSW government agencies on the

Cross-Dependency Initiative (XDI) to

identify interdependency risks to

critical city infrastructure from extreme

weather events and climate change.

The Cross Dependency Initiative (XDI Sydney) addresses the

challenges of building resilience by assisting adaption of

Sydney’s broader infrastructure to future climate impacts.

Water, power, communications and transport sector asset

information have been tested for the effects of sea level rise,

flooding, bushfire, wind storms, heat waves and subsidence, up

to 100 years into the future. XDI Sydney has now delivered

State of Asset Resilience Reports to Sydney Water, Roads and

Maritime Services, Sydney Trains, Office of Environment and

Heritage and the City of Sydney. A set of high priority

collaborative adaptation locations have been identified by

processing nearly 160,000 participant assets. Where multiple

participants are exposed to the same risk there is opportunity

to collaborate on a risk mitigation solution. Currently data

sharing agreements are being prepared to enable the shared

risks to be freely discussed and to showcase

interdependencies using three case studies. Based on the

success of XDI Sydney, an agreement has been reached for a

state-wide version to be rolled out over the next two years, XDI

NSW.

Target 2: Engage with our customers to understand what they need and value, including

environmental considerations, from across our services.

Implement customer engagement

plan.

Our Customer Engagement program for 2018 was completed,

giving us customer preference and willingness to pay data on

selected environmental outcomes (including waterway health,

overflows, and wastewater ocean outfalls) which will be used to

inform our IPART submissions and strategic planning.

Engagement on these topics and broader customer



preferences regarding environmental outcomes will continue in

2019-20.

Target 3: Measure increased customer satisfaction (positive environmental responses),

awareness and behavior with our customer research.

Develop a communications program to

increase community understanding of

their role in keeping Sydney’s

wastewater system healthy.

Work with industry, associations,

retailers and other stakeholders to

reduce pollutants affecting waterways

and beaches.

Run community engagement

programs supporting Sydney Water

projects focused on improving

waterway health.

Educate the community about the

environmental, health and financial

benefits of tap water.

'Clean up not down' is a new wastewater campaign which was

launched in July 2018. It was designed as an evolution of the

‘Keep wipes out of pipes’ campaign to incorporate fats, oils and

greases (FOG). We targeted key choke hotspots and suburbs

with high FOG concentration levels and used Government

owned outdoor media across rail and bus networks for eight

weeks which was supported by social media with an extended

‘what to do’ message. We continue to advocate for ‘Do not

flush’ labels on non-flushable products, such as wet wipes.

Non-flushable products continue to be a problem for our

wastewater system and the environment.

We held 16 community waste collection events across our area

of operations as part of our ‘Beat the Bottle’ Initiative. In

partnership with local councils, community collection groups

and local businesses, our events resulted in the collection of

1.06 tonnes of rubbish from our waterways and beaches, with

over 169 community members participating and direct

exposure of the event to over 11,000 people. These events

reached 698,543 through social media resulting in 66,981

positive reactions to the events and generated significant

digital, television and press coverage.

In 2018-19, the Sentiment Monitor reporting showed a positive

increase in the satisfaction with tap water. Our portable and

permanent water stations programs have provided access to

water that otherwise would not have been available when

people are out and about, dispensing 1.2 million litres of tap

water to communities across Greater Sydney. This equates to

almost 20,000kg of plastic waste saved from production and

landfill and two million standard plastic bottles saved from

purchase ($6 million). The water stations had consistent

messaging that reminded people to ‘Make tap water your drink’

as it’s ‘Better for the environment’ which were translated into 11

different languages depending on the council cultural diversity.

A further 20 water stations are scheduled for installation in the

near future pending council development projects.

Our 50 portable water stations that we loan free of charge for

community events have been used at 145 separate events in



2018-19 as well as 81 days of partnered events like Easter

Show and Sculpture by the Sea with an exposure to over three

million people. These portable stations dispensed over

100,000 litres of tap water. This equates to almost 1,615kg of

plastic waste saved from production / landfill and 168,000

standard plastic bottles saved from purchase ($500,000).

Our ‘tap’ cafes continue to serve tap water to a conservative

eight million patrons over the full year. In the January to June

2019 period, community messaging continued to focus on our

water efficiency campaign (encouraging people to save and not

waste water).

Sydney Water’s formal education tours and excursions

continue to have a focus on our wastewater system in 2018-19,

with 5481 students engaged with us to understand they have a

shared responsibility in protecting the environment. Our

project-based schools initiative, ‘Brand without a bottle’, is

designed to engage students, schools, families and the wider

community to build sustainable behaviours and create a more

informed community, that contributes to improved positive

reputation and perceptions of tap water. In 2018-19 over 1,000

students spent the term studying the story of Sydney’s tap

water, uncovering the real story behind bottled water and

creating digital content that empowers youth to make more

informed drinking water choices.

Target 4: Work closely with agencies to include an integrated water management approach in the

infrastructure strategy for the South Creek corridor.

Support and influence the

Infrastructure NSW (INSW) South

Creek Corridor Sector Review.

Prepare a strategic business case for

a different approach to greenfield

urban development and water

services.

We have collaborated with INSW and other agencies during

the South Creek Corridor Sector Review. The

recommendations of the strategic options business case were

noted by the NSW Government Cabinet Infrastructure

Committee (CIC) on 13 November 2018.

Sydney Water is providing updated planning and investment

information to ensure alignment in the detailed economic

testing of recycled water investment. A review of waterway

governance and management continues, Sydney Water has

been actively working in this role to support government

planning for the Aerotropolis and demonstrate capability to

perform an expanded role for the South Creek catchment.

We are supporting the Western Sydney Planning Partnership

Office in the process of embedding South Creek Planning

Principles into planning and development controls. This



includes a body of work to model the waterway health

outcomes from different levels of Water Sensitive Urban

Design, this will inform consistent development controls and

engineering standards.

Target 5: Deliver programs that manage the odour, noise and visual impacts of our operations.

Complete the strategic management

plans for Sydney Water’s odour

management strategy to proactively

address odour issues for Wollongong,

Bondi, Cronulla, Shellharbour,

Glenfield and Malabar systems.

Sydney Water continues to monitor and manage odour, noise

and visual impacts of its construction works and asset

operations. In 2018-19, there were 531 environmentally related

customer complaints, a slight reduction from 2017-18 with 541

environmentally related customer complaints.

A total of 410 odour complaints were received, with over 85%

from our network (pipes and pumping stations). Odour

complaints decreased 3% from 2017-18. Implementation of

odour management strategies for Wollongong, Bondi, Cronulla,

Shellharbour and Malabar systems progressed with concept

and detailed designs for the additional chemical dosing and

odour control units are completed. The additional units are

scheduled to be constructed and commissioned from 2021 to

2024.

Target 6: Be recognised by our stakeholders as working in partnership with them, as measured

by our annual corporate stakeholder perception audit.

Determine opportunities for Sydney

Water to support the delivery of

priorities identified in the Greater

Sydney Region and District Plans and

engage with planning authorities such

as Councils on strategic planning

decisions related to water sensitive

cities.

We have continued working with planning authorities in

planning for water services in Western Sydney and the Greater

Parramatta to Olympic Peninsula (GPOP) as well as the South

Creek Corridor Sector Review. We aim to ensure that planning

and investment in water management, and communication

about urban water issues, supports the Region Plan and

District Plans. We are working collaboratively with the Greater

Sydney Commission on our jointly agreed Water in Western

Sydney Workplan during 2018-19. We began actively working

with Western City Councils in the Planning Partnership on

matters such as stormwater during 2019.

Target 7: Be a benchmark leader for climate readiness and service continuity to contribute to our

communities being more resilient to a changing climate3.

Continue to implement the Climate

Change Adaptation Implementation

Plan including incorporating outcomes

Sydney Water's Climate Change Adaptation Implementation

Plan was approved in 2018 with actions being rolled out over

the next two years to embed adaptation planning into key

3 Objective identified in NSW Climate Change Policy Framework, 2016, Office of Environment and Heritage



from the AdaptWaterTM tool to embed

climate change preparedness within

Sydney Water.

business processes. The Implementation Plan consolidates all

adaptation initiatives across the organisation under one single

framework. We are prioritising opportunities to integrate climate

change adaptation responses including the use of the

AdaptWaterTM Tool into planning and embedding adaptation

considerations in design, operations and maintenance of

current assets and asset life cycle processes.

Target 8: Deliver servicing strategies that support the Green Grid4 priority opportunities and

future connections. Deliver programs that provide multiple benefits from flood planning and

management.

Investigate alternative supply of water

and wastewater services in the

Greater Parramatta to Olympic

Peninsula (GPOP) area.

In 2018-19, alternative water and wastewater supply pathways

were identified for the GPOP area and communicated with the

Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) and INSW to include in

their Strategic Business Case (SBC).

The adaptive plan will support the GSC’s vision for GPOP area

for greening and cooling through maximising the water

recycling opportunities.

4 Green Grid for Greater Sydney in the draft Greater Sydney Region Plan and District Plans, 2017, Greater Sydney Commission


3 Care for nature, land and

heritage

Objective: We’ll protect and restore valuable biodiversity and share the natural spaces, land and heritage in our care with the community.



Target 1: Consolidate and renew our strategic plans of management for cultural heritage and

natural environments (including riparian lands and wetlands).

Routine grounds maintenance

incorporating the protection and

enhancement of environmentally

sensitive sites.

Revision of Sydney Water's Strategic

Heritage Asset Management Program

(SHAMP); prioritised projects aligned

to IPART determination periods.

We have reviewed and updated 72 property environmental

management plans (PEMP) and have linked these to our

routine scheduling of grounds maintenance work orders.

Implementation of requirements including weed control

activities are underway at 36 sites. Biobanking areas have

been identified across 12 sites with Picton WRP to be the initial

site to trial the biobanking program.

All riparian land and wetland sites have up to date plans of

operations which are being implemented by Natural Asset

Contractors. A new Botany Wetlands Plan of Management

(POM) was approved in December 2018 and actions are being

implemented through Network Programs. The Rouse Hill POM

is currently under review, with a new POM to be developed by

November 2020.

A revised version of Sydney Water’s SHAMP was approved in

September 2018 including a priority matrix for the next 3 years.

Additional condition assessments have also been determined

to assist in further program planning and prioritisation for

IPART pricing reviews.

Target 2: Implement programs to reinstate more natural conditions in highly modified waterways.

Achieve net gain in area of native vegetation restored year on year.

Progressing the naturalisation of

stormwater channels at Powells

Creek, Homebush; Johnson Creek,

Glebe; Whites Creek, Annandale;

Muddy Creek, Rockdale, St Lukes

Park, Canada Bay and Iron Cove

Creek.

Powells Creek naturalisation works was completed in 2018 and

is currently under a 24-month maintenance period with the

construction contractors before hand over to existing natural

asset contractors. Naturalisation works at Johnstons Creek

have been approved with tenders being reviewed to complete

the work over the next 12 months.



Designs are progressing for Muddy Creek (95% detailed

concept design), St Lukes Park (80% detailed concept design),

Iron Cove Creek (80% detailed concept design) and Whites

Creek (flood investigations currently underway).

Target 3: Have clear outcomes and milestones for site clean-up or management established for

all declared contaminated sites on our land.

Further develop technology to capture

and access hazardous building

material information for our properties.

Undertake a Contaminated Land Risk

Ranking of our property portfolio.

Assess all potentially high-risk sites

(detailed site investigations) in FY 18-

19.

Sydney Water has completed a review of its facilities for

hazardous building material (HBM). A total of 1,865 HBM

registers have been revised where needed and uploaded to our

document management system for distribution. This program

is ongoing, in 2018-19 a total of 255 properties were inspected,

64 investigated and 25 remediated.

Contamination risk ranking for 4,042 lots was completed

through a desktop review of our property portfolio. A total of

576 lots have been ranked in the top 30% of the range. Of

these lots, 339 require site inspections and it is estimated 80

will require detailed site investigations (DSI). In 2018-19, 55

instances identified as high and very high risk have been

removed from facilities and the property portfolio.

Target 4: Have over 90% of staff complete environmental awareness training and communicate

how we care for the environment.

Roll out refreshed Environmental

Accountabilities eLearning, and further

develop our environmental

communications program.

We continue to build organisational awareness, maintaining

95% completion for core Environmental Accountabilities

eLearning. In July 2018, our refreshed Environmental

Accountabilities eLearning was released together with an

ongoing communications campaign to target staff who have not

completed the eLearning within the last three years.

Improving environmental performance is one of Sydney

Water’s key priorities. A targeted internal communications

program has been developed to engage staff on current and

emerging environmental issues.

Target 5: Increase the availability of our land for agreed community use or public open space

year on year.

Identify opportunities to develop

community assets on our land and

form land-use agreements for priority

sites with local councils, developers

and government.

We reviewed a total of 80 sites specifically for lease or licence

opportunities as ‘community use’ sites. Of these, we are now

working on 15 sites that are likely to have a high community

use value for Councils and enter into agreements to use the

sites as open space. Sydney Water is also in negotiations with



Potential community assets on our

land include bike paths, greenspace,

urban gardens, bush care and public

walkways. Identify sites that may be of

value to local community.

the Office of Strategic Land to transfer three sites from Sydney

Water control for use as public recreation open space.

Target 6: Identify and where feasible, create biobanking, green offset or other opportunities to

fund green infrastructure.

Develop Sydney Water’s biodiversity

offset portfolio.

In October 2018, the Sydney Water Board approved Sydney

Water to participate in the Biodiversity Offsetting scheme as a

land holder. A portfolio of sites has been developed, with the

first initial site assessment at Picton WRP due in August 2019.

Internal stakeholder discussions are underway and further

assessments of other high value sites are identified.

Target 7: Collaborate on shared responses, as needed, to risks to land and waterways from

microplastics and emerging chemicals of concern.

Identify and prepare for contaminants

of emerging concern to protect

Sydney's waterways.

Assess and identify risks from

emerging contaminants (PFOS /

PFAS) to our sites - risks to site users.

We are collaborating with the NSW Environment Protection

Authority (EPA), NSW Health, Water Service Association of

Australia, WaterRA and other water utilities to develop a

common understanding and approach for managing the risks of

per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

During 2018-19, we formed an internal PFAS working group,

which includes subject matter experts from across the

organisation, to understand and manage the risks of PFAS to

our customers and the environment. A review of our PFAS risk

assessments was undertaken and screening level guidelines

developed. The review concluded that the likelihood for Sydney

Water’s drinking water, wastewater, recycled water or biosolids

to be affected by PFAS contamination is low. However, further

investigation is needed to understand the range of

concentrations of these chemicals that may be present. In

December 2018 we hosted a national workshop on 'Managing

PFAS in Wastewater' which included representatives from 29

utilities across Australia. This provided the opportunity to share

experiences and learnings to inform future management and

regulation.

We are collaborating with the NSW EPA and CSIRO to better

understand the type and quantity of microplastics being

released via wastewater treatment plants and the potential

effects (based on a hazard assessment of five co-occurring



chemicals) on the marine environment. The results from this

study should be available in early 2020.





Key performance indicators Environmental Indicators Report 2018–19 (Part C)

Flora and fauna Page 16


4 Efficient and sustainable

resource use

Objective: We’ll use our resources wisely, work with customers to save water and increase our recovery of energy towards net-zero emissions.



Target 1: Develop and implement a Water Conservation Program.

Implement Water Conservation Plan

initiatives.

Introduce new technologies to improve

leak detection in our water network.

The 2018-19 Water Conservation program focused on

engaging with our residential and non-residential customers to

drive adoption of behaviours, products and services that

enable a sustained reduction in potable water demand.

Sydney Water designed and tested initiatives including council

partnerships, rainwater tank services, school pilots and staff

engagement to better understand the opportunities and

potential water savings. We continue to deliver and expand

water efficiency initiatives, such as WaterFix, and improve

customer awareness through our community awareness

campaign. We are continuing to support leak management and

operate our recycled water schemes.

We have secured funding for research of new leakage

detection technology. Trials will include Quantum Gravity,

Optical Solar sensing and improving use of existing acoustic

technologies.

Target 2: Maintain our grid-sourced electricity demand below 1998 levels.

Develop cost-effective energy

efficiency and renewable energy

projects.

In 2018-19, Sydney Water purchased 371GWh of grid

electricity; about 8GWh (or 2%) over the target of 363 GWh for

this period. The exceedance was mainly due to the Northern

Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer (NSOOS) rehabilitation project,

which consumed about 10GWh of unanticipated grid-supplied

electricity. Additional water pumping from increased water

supply due to the drought also pushed electricity consumption

up.

In 2018-19, 1.3 GWh of energy efficiency projects were

approved for implementation in this period, along with 1.7GWh

of energy projects commissioned (including



Liverpool cogeneration upgrade) in accordance with the

Energy Master Plan.

We continue to work towards the Environment Strategy targets

by looking at options to improve performance and reduce

consumption. The below graph shows how we are tracking

against our 2030 energy targets.

Update the National Australian Built

Environment Rating System

(NABERS) energy ratings for our

offices.

Potts Hill, Homebush, West Ryde, Liverpool and Parramatta

(tenancy) assessments are complete or near completion.

Target 3: Identify alternative uses for biosolids recovered from wastewater treatment to maintain

100% beneficial use of biosolids. Improve our overall solid waste recycling rate by responsible

re-use of our recoverable resources.

Increase re-use of different types of

waste collected from Sydney Water

activities, excluding biosolids.

Develop a Resource Master Plan to

define our approach to recovery, re-

use and disposal of resources to meet

Sydney Water’s strategic objectives.

We continue to invest in and trial alternate re-use options for

resources collected from Sydney Water activities. In 2018-19

we:

• Commenced an agreement with a new facility, Mainstream

Recycling, who started receiving stormwater material in

July 2018 for recovery and use in landscaping.



• We also commenced a trial with Downer for processing

street sweeping and/or drain cleaning material in their new

Detritus facility. The facility received 76.38 tonnes of

product and diverted 56.75 tonnes (74.3%) from landfill for

repurposing into the circular economy as road base and

asphalt.

• A framework has been developed to classify wastewater

residuals generated from process unit cleanout activities in

order to direct these to a suitably licenced facility and

maximise beneficial reuse opportunities. In 2018-19, we

directed over 5,000 tonnes of material to composting

facilities. These products would otherwise be treated as grit

and screening or gone to landfill.

• We have formed a cross functional team to investigate the

intrinsic value of the different resource material streams

generated, different end use markets, resource recovery

options and processing opportunities, and are working with

NSW EPA and processors to secure resource recovery

orders and exemptions.

We are developing our Bioresources Master Plan, which will

include Biosolids and other recoverable resources from our

collection systems. The Concepts Report, Plan-on-a-page and

Implementation plan will be finalised in 2019-20 following

further stakeholder consultation.

Target 4: Obtain sustainability benchmark ratings for all major infrastructure projects. Reduce

our ecological footprint per customer year on year.

Progress an independent sustainability

rating using the Infrastructure

Sustainability (IS) Tool administered

by the Infrastructure Sustainability

Council of Australia (ISCA) for St

Marys and Quakers Hill Water

Recycling Plants PARR project, part of

the Lower South Creek treatment

program.

Progress preliminary ISCA scorecard

containing indicative credit weightings

and target performance levels for the

proposed Prospect Water Filtration

Plant upgrade project.

In April 2019, the Lower South Creek Treatment Program

received an 'Excellent' ISCA Design Rating for the St Marys

and Quakers Hill Water Recycling Plants PARR project. This is

the highest rating for a water infrastructure project.

A preliminary ISCA scorecard assessment for the Prospect

Water Filtration Plant upgrade project was completed in 2018-

19. A final assessment will be completed following design

changes and the Environmental Impact Statement for the

upgrade.

Sydney Water continues to measure and report impact on the

environment through its carbon and ecological footprints.

Sydney Water's carbon footprint for 2017-18 is 930,000

tCO2e, a 3% increase on 2016-17 but a similar result to 2014-

15. Sydney Water's ecological footprint for 2017-18 has



remained stable at 110,00 ha. An increase in capital works in

coming years is likely to increase the carbon and ecological

footprints.

Target 5: Develop innovative servicing solutions that make the best use of water for priority

growth areas, considering recycled water, stormwater and decentralised approaches.

Develop our Water Masterplan.

Deliver Sydney Water's actions in the

Metropolitan Water Plan.

A draft Water Master Plan has been developed in collaboration

with WaterNSW and the Department of Planning, Industry and

Environment and was delivered in May 2019. The draft plan is

currently being aligned with other Master Plans and the

Sydney Water’s integrated Strategic Capital Investment Plan

(SCIP) and will be used to inform the Greater Sydney Water

Strategy (next iteration of the Metropolitan Water Plan).

Sydney Water has worked closely with NSW Government

agencies and WaterNSW to respond to the drought and

manage and plan for Sydney's future water sustainability and

resilience. We are collaborating on the review and

development of future water security and integrated water

strategies for Sydney. In 2018 we began implementation of the

Drought Response Strategy in the Metropolitan Water Plan -

including boosting our water efficiency programs, reducing

water leaks and breaks, maximising recycling from existing

schemes. We conducted awareness campaigns and

commenced water restrictions in June 2019 to reduce

demand. We have continued to provide key inputs to water

planning such as updated demand forecasts and delivering our

Annual Water Conservation Report. We implemented drought

operational readiness activities including start-up of the

Sydney Desalination Plant and completed a study with

WaterNSW into what drought infrastructure may be needed in

case of a prolonged drought.

The draft Western Sydney Regional Master Plan, completed in

May 2019, has developed Sydney Water’s long term strategic

direction for integrated water services that support a liveable,

productive and sustainable Western Sydney. Central to the

master plan’s development was collaboration with key state

and local government agencies, whole of urban water cycle

analysis, and an integrated review of servicing solutions

(across drinking water, wastewater, recycled water and

stormwater) and urban form beyond traditional water servicing

approaches. The master plan also considered the

Government’s aspirations for the emerging Western Parkland

City for increased amounts of blue and green open spaces to



promote amenity, waterway health and urban cooling for the

region while catering for housing and job growth. The plan’s

vision, developed in collaboration with our stakeholders, is that

‘Our customers enjoy affordable and essential water services,

healthy waterways, and vibrant, cool and green places’. The

master plan’s adaptive planning approach also includes

opportunities for decentralised servicing for remote

development fronts, and future consideration of a climate

resilient water supply through potable reuse if our customers

support a move in that direction.

Target 6: By 2030, provide 75% of our electricity demand from net-zero emissions sources, and

100% by 2050.

Implement our Energy Masterplan

initiatives.

Implementation of our Energy Masterplan is underway with

each Program Delivery stream (renewables, energy

efficiency, food waste to energy, demand response and

purchasing) prioritising and developing work plans for the next

12 months. Projects are currently underway to increase

renewable generation to meet 2030 targets, develop energy

efficiency benchmarks and design standards and,

development of food waste to energy as a viable business

model within Sydney Water as part of the Food Waste

Lighthouse Project. These projects will inform Sydney Water's

long-term planning direction and ensure energy is

considered at all steps in the planning process.

We generated 77GWh from renewable sources (about 17.5%

of energy consumption), of which 8GWh was exported to the

grid. In 2018-19, the percentage of our electricity demand from

net-zero carbon emission sources was 19.9%, comprising of

17.5% from self-generated renewable energy and a 2.4%

reduction in emissions since the Energy Master Plan baseline

of 2015-16 (0.84t CO2e per MWh of grid electricity in NSW).

Target 7: Achieve 35% of our electricity demand from self-generated renewable electricity.

Support precinct-based initiatives to increase renewable energy, and energy and water

efficiency.

Develop knowledge in innovative

renewable energy storage to operate

critical assets off the grid in extreme

weather events.

In September 2018, the initial 30kWh lithium ion battery and

6kW hour of solar PV were successfully installed and

commissioned at Bondi Wastewater Pumping Station as part

of a four-year ARENA trial. This achieved the original ARENA

milestone. The system was officially launched on 26 October

2018 with representatives from ARENA, the University of

Wollongong, Sydney Water and battery manufacturers in



attendance. This phase of the trial (about two years) involves

benchmarking the site with the lithium ion battery before

installing the sodium ion battery. Sydney Water and the

University of Wollongong are monitoring the operation of the

PV and battery system. The next milestone for Sydney Water

will be early 2020 when the sodium ion battery pack is planned

to be installed and commissioned.

Further research and position papers will be developed as the

trial progresses and findings are made.

Target 8: Increase our recovery of energy using externally-sourced organic wastes. Move

towards energy self-sufficiency at our major wastewater treatment plants.

Improve scientific knowledge of food

waste co-digestion by continuing the

food waste research program and

commencing research into improving

biogas quality

Sydney Water's Shellharbour Water Recycling Plant food

waste co-digestion research facility has tested a range of

different food waste streams (beer, wine, soft drink, juice, food

waste and, grease). The results are currently being assessed

and reviewed for publication in academic journals and other

forums. The research team is also developing a model to

estimate the benefits and costs with co-digestion of a waste

with given characteristics.





Key performance indicators Environmental Indicators Report 2018-19 (Part C)

Greenhouse gas emissions Page 7

Energy Page 10

Biosolids Page 12

Waste Page 13

Part C

Environmental

Indicators

Report 2018-19 Our environmental

performance

2018-19 Environmental Indicators Report l SWEMS0004.04v12 Page 1

Table of contents

1 Executive summary ................................................................................................................. 2

2 Our environmental indicators ................................................................................................. 3

3 Wastewater treatment and system discharges ..................................................................... 5

4 Greenhouse gas emissions .................................................................................................... 7

5 Energy .................................................................................................................................... 10

6 Biosolids ................................................................................................................................ 12

7 Waste...................................................................................................................................... 13

8 Flora and Fauna ..................................................................................................................... 16

Tables

Table 4-1 Sydney Water’s greenhouse gas emissions by fuel type in 2018–19 .............................................. 8

Table 7-1 Waste recycled or reused by category ........................................................................................... 13

Table 7-2 Waste generated by category ......................................................................................................... 13

Table 8-1 Native vegetation clearing and rehabilitation for capital works projects 2018-19 ........................... 17

Table 8-2 Rehabilitation projects for Sydney Water owned and managed properties 2018-19 ..................... 18

Figures

Figure 4-1 Greenhouse gas emissions per 1,000 properties ........................................................................... 9

Figure 5-1 Total electricity used or generated ................................................................................................ 10

Figure 7-1 Waste generated by category 2018-19 ......................................................................................... 15


1 Executive summary

Sydney Water is governed by the Sydney Water Act 1994 (the Act) and conducts its activities

under an operating licence granted by the NSW Government.

The Act and the Operating Licence require us to report each year on indicators of the direct impact

of our activities on the environment.

The Environmental Indicators Report 2018-19 details our performance against the environmental

indicators required to be reported to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) in

accordance with clause 8.2 of our Operating Licence Reporting Manual. These include:

• 10 environmental indicators set by IPART (Reporting Manual July 2018 - Appendix D)

• 15 National Water Initiative (NWI) indicators relating to the environment, from the National

urban water utility performance reporting framework (Indicators and Definition Handbook –

January 2018).

The National Water Initiative (NWI) indicators are part of the National Urban Water Utility

Performance Reporting Framework. The NWI is a shared commitment by Australian state and

federal governments to improve water resource management and use water resources more

efficiently. Data from all Australian water utilities is collated annually and published in a National

Performance Report prepared by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). The report provides a national

comparative ‘report card’ that enables consumers and governments to assess how well water

utilities are performing.

For more information on our environmental objectives and this year’s achievements, please see

our annual environment plan report, Delivering our environment plan, which is the part B of this

Environment Compliance and Performance Report. The full report is available at

sydneywater.com.au.

http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/index.htm


2 Our environmental indicators

Category Indicator

Wastewater

treatment and

system

discharges

NWI IE1 Volume of wastewater only treated to a primary level (ML)

NWI E1 Percentage of wastewater treated only to a primary level

NWI IE2 Volume of wastewater only treated to a secondary level (ML)

NWI E2 Percentage of wastewater treated only to a secondary level

NWI IE3 Volume of wastewater treated to a tertiary level (ML)

NWI E3 Percentage of wastewater treated to a tertiary or advanced level

IPART E3 Total number of controlled wastewater overflows that occur in dry weather

that are discharged to the environment, per km of sewer main

IPART E4 Total number of uncontrolled wastewater overflows that occur in dry

weather that are discharged to the environment, per km of sewer main

Greenhouse gas

emissions

NWI IE9 Net greenhouse gas emissions: water supply

NWI E9 Net greenhouse gas emissions per 1,000 properties: water supply (tonnes

CO2 equivalents per 1,000 properties)

NWI IE10 Net greenhouse gas emissions: wastewater

NWI E10 Net greenhouse gas emissions per 1,000 properties: wastewater (tonnes

CO2 equivalents per 1,000 properties)

NWI IE11 Net greenhouse gas emissions: other

NWI E11 Net greenhouse gas emissions per 1,000 properties: other (net tonnes CO2

equivalents per 1,000 properties)

NWI IE12 Total net greenhouse gas emissions

NWI E12 Total net greenhouse gas emissions per 1,000 properties (net tonnes CO2

equivalents per 1,000 properties)

Energy IPART E1 Total energy consumption by the water utility (electricity, fuel and gas) in

units provided on energy bills

IPART E2 Electricity consumption from renewable sources or generated by the water

utility expressed as a total percentage of electricity consumption

Biosolids IPART E5 Estimated total mass of biosolids produced by water utility

NWI E8 Percentage of biosolids reused


Category Indicator

Waste IPART E6 Percentage of solid waste recycled or reused expressed as a percentage of

solid waste generated

IPART E7 Estimated total mass of solid waste generated by water utility

Flora and fauna IPART E8 Total area of clearing of native vegetation

IPART E 9 Total area of native vegetation rehabilitated, including due to replanting,

weeding and protection by Sydney Water

IPART E10 Total area of native vegetation gain due to rehabilitation, replanting,

weeding and protection by Sydney Water


3 Wastewater treatment and system discharges

Indicator 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018-19

NWI IE1 Volume of wastewater only

treated to a primary level (ML) 387,977 407,262 397,194 315,657 341,249

NWI E1 Percentage of wastewater

only treated to a primary level 73% 73% 68% 68% 68%

NWI IE2 Volume of wastewater only

treated to a secondary level (ML) 22,421 22,780 46,437 34,858 44,788


only treated to a secondary level 4% 4% 8% 8% 9%

NWI IE3 Volume of wastewater

treated to a tertiary level (ML) 122,344 125,567 138,743 104,156 116,728


treated to a tertiary or advanced level 23% 23% 24% 23% 23%

PART E3 - Total number of controlled

wastewater overflows that occur in dry

weather that discharged to the

environment, per km of sewer main *

0.002 0.002

IPART E4 - Total number of

uncontrolled wastewater overflows

that occur in dry weather that

discharged to the environment, per km

of sewer main *

0.012 0.012

* new indicators from July 2018.

IPART E3 and E4

In 2018-19, Sydney Water operated 26,177 km of wastewater main network.

There were:

• 63 controlled network overflows (from designated - designed overflow structures); and

• 365 uncontrolled network overflows.

Dry weather sewage overflows generally occur when tree roots block pipes or pipes collapse due

to soil movement. Sewage overflows either affect downstream of designed overflow structures or

result in uncontrolled discharge to the local environment. In 2018-19, the total number of controlled


and uncontrolled sewage overflows during dry weather has increased in line with the increasing

trend in overall wastewater blockages (sewer chokes) in Sydney Water’s area of operations.

With more urbanisation and population growth, the pressure on waterways increases. Sydney

Water’s choke management program of works targets the reduction of chokes and resulting

sewage overflows. A key component of the strategy is a program involving the inspection and

repair of assets subject to repeat failures or assets from which a wastewater overflow could impact

on waterways. Sydney Water has also improved its field response to sewer chokes by

implementing equipment that provides immediate containment (where possible), minimising the

volume of sewage overflow that can reach a waterway.


4 Greenhouse gas emissions

Indicator 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018-19

NWI IE9 Net greenhouse gas

emissions: water supply (tonnes CO2

equivalents)

117,571 114,713 126,199 132,411 122,326

NWI E9 Net greenhouse gas emissions

per 1,000 properties: water supply

(tonnes CO2 equivalents/1,000

properties)1

63 60 65 67 61


emissions: wastewater (tonnes CO2

equivalents)

230,189 204,585 193,949 189,206 219,624

NWI E10 Net greenhouse gas

emissions per 1,000 properties:

wastewater (tonnes CO2

equivalents/1,000 properties)1,2

126 110 103 98 111


emissions: other (tonnes CO2

equivalents)

-190,529 -44,918 19,863 20,764 22,295

NWI E11 Net greenhouse gas

emissions per 1,000 properties: other

(tonnes CO2 equivalents/1,000

properties)1,4

-102 -24 10 10 11

NWI IE12 Total net greenhouse gas

emissions (tonnes CO2 equivalents) 157,231 274,379 340,011 342,381 364,245

NWI E12 Total net greenhouse gas

emissions per 1,000 properties (tonnes

CO2 equivalents/1,000 properties)1,3

84 144 176 173 180

1 Scope 3 emissions are excluded. Scope 3 emissions are defined in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, see ghgprotocol.org

2 Includes recycled water use.

3 Total net emissions don’t equal the sum of NWI E9, NWI E10 and NWI E11, because the numbers of properties with

water and wastewater services differs. NWI E10 is calculated using the number of properties supplied with wastewater

services. NWI E9, E11 and E12 are calculated using the number of properties supplied with water services.

4 For the period up to 2016–17, this includes surrendering NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificates (NGACs) to

offset greenhouse gas emissions.

http://www.ghgprotocol.org/


Table 4-1 Sydney Water’s greenhouse gas emissions by fuel type in 2018–19

Source Tonnes CO2 equivalent % of total

Electricity 301,377 82.7

Natural gas 281 0.1

Stationary fuel 8,154 2.2

Transport fuel 5,838 1.6

Fugitive emissions 48,596 13.3

Sub-total tonnes CO2–e (gross) 364,245

Surrender of carbon credits 0

Total tonnes CO2–e (net) 364,245

Sydney Water’s operational greenhouse gas emissions

Sydney Water reports its greenhouse gas emissions (that is, the equivalent carbon dioxide (CO2e)

emissions) by measuring its electricity, fuel and gas consumption and fugitive gas emissions (NWI

E9 and E10). This greenhouse gas emissions figure reported in NWI E11 includes emissions from

corporate overheads and the surrender of carbon offsets.

In 2018-19, our gross greenhouse gas emissions were 364,245 tonnes CO2e, an increase of 6.4%

compared to 2017-18.

A comparison of greenhouse gas emissions per 1,000 properties for water and sewage services is

shown in the figure 4.1 below. Greenhouse gas emissions for water supply (NWI E9) have reduced

by around 10% due decrease in water demand. Greenhouse gas emissions for wastewater

collection and treatment (NWI E10) has increased by 14%. This increase was due to an increase

in estimated fugitive methane emissions (which are historically variable) and maintenance activities

within the North Head wastewater catchment area.

Sydney Water no longer has any NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificates (NGACs) or other

carbon credits to offset emissions.


Figure 4-1 Greenhouse gas emissions per 1,000 properties

-

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19Ton

nes

C0

2eq

uiv

alen

t (C

O2e

) p

er 1

,00

0 p

rop

erti

es

Greenhouse gas emissions per 1,000 properties

Water services Sewerage services


5 Energy

Indicator Unit 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018-19

IPART E1 - Total energy

consumption by the water

utility in units provided on

energy bills* #

Electricity

(kWh) 354,980,726** 372,070,420

Fuel (L) 2,246,257 2,280,393

Gas (MJ) 5,459,495 5,458,816

IPART E2 Electricity

consumption from renewable

sources or generated by

Sydney Water expressed as

a percentage of total

electricity consumption*

17.5% 21% 15.9% 18.7% 17.5%

* Electricity consumption data only includes energy used by assets under Sydney Water’s control.

# New indicator from July 2018

** 2017-18 figure corrected to align with the Reporting Manual definition.

Figure 5-1 Total electricity used or generated

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

-

50,000,000

100,000,000

150,000,000

200,000,000

250,000,000

300,000,000

350,000,000

400,000,000

450,000,000

500,000,000

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19

Per

cen

tage

of

elec

tric

ity

gen

erat

ed b

y sy

dn

ey w

ater

(%

)

Tota

l ele

ctri

city

use

d b

y Sd

ney

wat

er (

KW

h)

Total Energy used or Generated

Sydney Water electricity consumption Electricity produced by Sydney Water


IPART E1

Fuel usage and gas consumption have remained relatively constant over 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Electricity consumption for 2018-19 increased due to maintenance activities within the North Head

catchment and increased recycled water production at Wollongong Water Recycling Plant (WRP).

Furthermore, there was an increase in the volume of wastewater treated in 2018-19 compared to

the previous year.

IPART E2

Sydney Water has eight sites with biogas cogeneration facilities, three hydroelectric generators,

and several solar installations across Sydney Water sites.

In 2018-19, Sydney Water generated 77.5 million kWh of electricity which was equivalent to 17.5%

of the total Sydney Water usage of 442 million kWh.

Renewable generation in 2018-19 was 6% lower compared to 2017-18 due to a number of

maintenance and upgrade activities as well as unexpected outages of the biogas cogeneration

facilities at Malabar. This was partially offset by increased generation from Prospect Hydro and

North Head Hydro.


6 Biosolids

Indicator 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017-18 2018-19

IPART E5 Estimated total mass of

biosolids produced by Sydney Water

(dry tonnes)

40,627 39,370 36,623 36,148 41,379

NWI E8 Percentage of biosolids

reused 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic material produced when we treat wastewater at our water

recycling plants (WRPs) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Variations in wastewater

treatment processes, population and flows to WRPs and WWTPs can all affect yearly totals. Totals

may also include biosolids produced in the previous reporting period, as we don’t record the totals

until after the biosolids are removed from storage facilities.

Sydney Water has been consistently achieving 100% beneficial reuse of biosolids. Biosolids is

reused for agriculture and horticulture purpose.

To know more about biosolids use, visit sydneywater.com.au.


7 Waste

Indicator 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017-18 2018-19

IPART E6 Percentage of solid waste recycled

or reused expressed as a percentage of solid

waste generated (%)

88% 71% 70% 54% 59%

IPART E7 Estimated total mass of solid waste

generated by the water utility (tonnes) 329,055 190,230 201,296 154,242 193,261

Table 7-1 Waste recycled or reused by category

Waste category

Percentage of waste recycled or reused (%)

2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017-18 2018-19

Construction and demolition waste –

Sydney Water 48% 80% 77% 91% 89%


contractors 93% 73% 70% 34% 50%

Office waste 83% 46% 57% 40% 64%

Water, wastewater and stormwater

process wastes 64% 61% 71% 76% 61%

Total 88% 71% 70% 54% 59%

Table 7-2 Waste generated by category

Waste category

Total waste generated (tonnes)

2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017-18 2018-19


Sydney Water* 20,191 24,633 22,671 43,363 33,614


contractors* 277,823 133,597 145,762 88,024 129,938

Office waste 5,836 9,773 15,052 8,059 9,959


Water, wastewater and stormwater

process wastes 25,205 22,227 17,810 14,796 19,750

Total 329,055 190,230 201,296 154,242 193,261

* Data for 2014–15 and 2015–16 includes an estimated portion of waste

IPART E6 and E7

In 2018–19, Sydney Water generated 193,261 tonnes of solid waste, an increase of 25% from

2017-18. The overall recycling rate for 2018-19 was 59%, slightly higher than 54% from the

previous year.

Construction and demolition waste

The capital works programs undertaken by both Sydney Water and contractors were responsible

for over 84% of the total waste generated and continues to be the major contributor to the overall

lower rate of recycling in 2018-19.

The average recycling rate for construction and demolition waste generated by Sydney Water and

our contractors combined increased to 58% (53% in 2017-18). However, it was below the 80%

target set by the Office of Environment and Heritage for recycling construction and demolition

waste by 20211.

Recycling rates vary considerably during the life cycle of capital projects; as a project moves from

preparation to works and to handover, the types of waste material and their recyclability will

change.

The recycling rate for Sydney Water decreased by 2% due to a reduction in organic waste

collected from grounds maintenance and land management at Sydney Water properties. The

recycling rate for contractor’s construction and demolition waste significantly increased by 16%

(50% in 2018-19 compared with 34% in 2017-18). This is predominately due to a high proportion of

soil collected from projects that was able to be diverted from landfill and also a reduced volume of

acid sulfate soils and general solid waste, which are not classified as recyclable products.

Office waste

We report all mixed waste collected from our offices and depots as office waste, unless captured

specifically under construction and demolition waste or process waste. Because the work done at

our locations varies, the volume and type of waste generated, and the portion of recyclable

materials also varies from site-to-site.

In 2018-19, the office waste diversion rate increased to 64% which is the highest since 2014-15.

The rate is highly dependent on recycling from Sydney Water’s facility management contracts.

1 2014, NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2014-21, NSW EPA, Sydney.


Process waste

Process waste volumes increased by 33% compared to 2017-18. In 2018-19, waste collected from

our stormwater and wastewater networks increased by 65%, predominately due to a focus on

servicing stormwater gross pollutant traps, channels and culverts. Our process waste from the

wastewater network also increased due to an increase in the number of sewer chokes in 2018-19.

Water Filtration Plant residuals are generally stored in sedimentation ponds on site for several

years before being excavated and removed. This means there can be a significant fluctuation in

the volume of process waste from year to year. Recycling of waste from our water, wastewater and

stormwater processes has decreased from 76% last year to 61% in 2018-19. The recycling rate for

grit and screenings from our wastewater treatment plants is estimated to be 60%2.

The recycling rate remains highly dependent on the quantity and composition of wastes from our

stormwater system due to large amounts of litter collected, as well as the material that cannot be

recycled including wet wipes in the wastewater network. In 2018-19, changes in waste exemptions

for the use of mixed organic waste material in forestry and mining land application, has impacted

the disposal means of Sydney Water’s process waste, resulting in more being sent to landfill.

Figure 7-1 Waste generated by category 2018-19

2 This is a derived figure, given to Sydney Water by the receiving facility.

Construction and demolition waste – Sydney Water


contractors

Office waste

Water, wastewater and stormwater process

wastes


8 Flora and Fauna

Indicator 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017-18 2018-19

IPART E8

Total area of clearing of native

vegetation (ha)

7.99 2.92 2.36 1.77 0.64

IPART E9

Total area of native vegetation

rehabilitated, including due to

rehabilitation, replanting, weeding and

protection by Sydney Water (ha) #

19.03 6.23 8.95 63 112.1

IPART E10

Total area of native vegetation gain due

to rehabilitation, replanting, weeding and

protection by Sydney Water (ha) ^

11.04 3.31 6.59 2.8 0.98

# Indicator changed from 2017-18. Historical data from 2014 to 2017 only includes rehabilitation from capital works

projects. 2017 to 2019 data also includes rehabilitation projects for Sydney Water owned and managed properties.

^ Data reflects either the net gain or loss of native vegetation annually from capital works projects only.

The minimum area of native vegetation reported for each project is 0.01 hectares (ha), or 100

square metres. There are no targets set for these native vegetation indicators. The scale and

scope of capital works, the natural and built characteristics of a site, and the timing of reporting

influence Sydney Water’s performance.

Major capital works projects

Sydney Water conducts capital works projects to renew and upgrade its assets, deliver

government programs and support urban growth. We aim to limit the impact of works on native

vegetation and conserve biodiversity and essential fauna habitat.

From 2014-15 to 2018-19, a cumulative total of 15.68 ha of native vegetation has been cleared

and 40.4 ha has been revegetated or rehabilitated through construction project work. Most of the

clearing is temporary, with the disturbed land revegetated through site restoration with native

species. In 2018–19 there was a net gain of native vegetation, with a total of 0.64 ha of native

vegetation cleared and 1.62 ha revegetated or rehabilitated. As major capital works projects often

take longer than 12 months, there is a lag between reporting data on upfront clearing and reporting

the completion of rehabilitation, restoration or replanting works. Table 8-1 lists capital works

projects that involved native vegetation clearing or rehabilitation in 2018-19.


Table 8-1 Native vegetation clearing and rehabilitation for capital works projects 2018-19

Project Area of native

vegetation cleared (ha)

Area of native vegetation

rehabilitated (ha)

Status / expected completion date

Leppington wastewater – stage 2 0.18 0 Ongoing, 2019-20

Strangers Creek 0.087 1.618 On hold

Western Sydney Aerotropolis Growth Area 0.025 0 Ongoing, 2019-20

North West Priority Growth Area PK3 (Vineyard) 0.25 0 Ongoing, 2019-20

Marsden Park (SP 1173) 0.026 0 Ongoing, 2019-20

Kurnell Reservoir 0.0465 0 Ongoing, 2019-20

Lower South Creek (SWPGA South Western Front Package 1A)

0.0234 0 Ongoing, 2019-20

Total 0.6379 1.618

Sydney Water owned and managed properties

Sydney Water owns over 3,000 properties across its areas of operations, including properties with

significant threatened native vegetation, endangered ecological communities and locations with

threatened species of plants and animals. We also manage 452.58 ha of riparian lands, wetlands

and naturalised stormwater assets.

The total area of land owned by Sydney Water that has had natural area restoration work done in

2018-19 is 112.1 hectares. These projects are undertaken under our Property Environmental

Management Plans, Plans of Management, and in response to requirements to undertake weed

control works. Table 8-2 lists projects for Sydney Water owned and managed properties that

involved native vegetation rehabilitation in 2018-19.


Table 8-2 Rehabilitation projects for Sydney Water owned and managed properties 2018-19

Project Area of native

vegetation rehabilitated (ha)

Status / expected completion date

In-fill planting of provenance native species on the banks of Caddies Creek, Second Ponds Creek and Strangers Creek as part of Bush Regeneration

5.94 Completed in June 2019

In fill and enhancement planting at Botany wetlands using Eastern Suburb Banksia Scrub plants across Botany Wetlands


In-fill planting in the vegetation conservation areas at Potts Hill


Enhancement revegetation of a few sections of Smalls Creek bank in Kellyville and two sections of Smalls Creek in Beaumont Hills

0.26 Progressing – will be completed in

June 2020

In-fill planting as part of bush regeneration along the banks of Smalls Creek in Kellyville, Beaumont Hills and Eve Street Wetlands

0.06 Progressing – will be completed in

June 2020

Prospect Reservoir – Works commenced with primary weed control in the form of mechanical control (flailing) and herbicide treatment to be followed up with further control.

2.0

Revegetation yet to start. Ongoing work recommended for a minimum of five years as a minimum- ending

June 2023.

Fairfield WRP and Potts Hill Reservoir sites – ongoing weed control works, including flailing and treatment. Planting continued at both sites.

8.4 Ongoing June 2020 with view to

continue.

Multiple sites in the Blue Mountains and western Sydney, including reservoirs, sewage pumping stations, depots and former WWTP sites, extending from Mt Victoria to Glenbrook and Penrith.

75.0 Started during 2017. Ongoing until 2022 with view to continue, unless

properties are disposed of.

Weed management of two areas in the Warragamba township and Wallacia WWTP.

15.0 Started during 2017. Ongoing until

2022 with view to continue.

Weeding and replacement planting at the Riverstone Biodiversity Offset Area (BOA).

0.8 Ongoing in perpetuity. Area done

on the site is likely to increase outside the BOA eventually.

Weed management at Winmalee WWTP in upper and lower areas of the plant.


2022 with view to continue. Sweeps of entire site conducted in 2019.

Weeding and restoration at reservoir sites: Minchinbury and Rogans Hill


2022 with view to continue.

Restoration works across the lower areas of North Richmond Water Filtration Plant. Site to be used for trial burns for ecological outcomes.


2024 with view to continue

Total 112.1

Environment Compliance and Performance Report 2018-19 | SWEMS0004.04v12

Part D

EMS Non-conformances The Sydney Water Environmental Management System (EMS) is externally audited every year.

The external auditor, BSI Group ANZ Pty Ltd, conducted a surveillance audit of the Sydney Water

EMS in March 2019. The audit team concluded based on the results, that Sydney Water continues

to fulfil the standard and audit criteria identified within the audit report, and it was deemed that the

management system continues to achieve the intended outcomes. No non-conformances were

identified. The EMS is scheduled for recertification in February 2020.

Part E

EMS Proposed significant changes No significant changes are proposed for 2019-20.

Environment Compliance and Performance Report 2018-19 | SWEMS0004.04v12

Part F

Environment Plan 2019-20 This plan outlines the activities and programs we will take in 2019–20 to meet our environmental

objectives and our targets by 2020 and 2030.

We update our Environment Plan every year to remain resilient against emerging environmental

risks and to ensure that it reflects our business focus.

Since releasing the Environment Plan 2019-20, additional programs have been identified to

improve our environmental performance and address concerns raised by the NSW Environment

Protection Authority. The actions within this plan will be reviewed and amended where necessary

to ensure we are delivering the priority outcomes of our Environment Strategy.

Our Environment Plan 2019–20

Sydney Water’s environmental actions to

bring our lifestream strategy to life

Environment Plan 2019 – 20 | SWEMS0004.02v11 Page | 2

1 Introduction

This plan outlines the actions we will take in 2019–20 to meet our environmental objectives and our targets by 2020 and 2030.

We update our Environment Plan every year to remain resilient against emerging environmental risks and to ensure that it reflects our business focus.

The plan addresses recent challenges and identifies actions to be undertaken to improve our environmental performance.

The plan aligns to our Environment Strategy. Our strategic approach will let us anticipate and respond to the environmental expectations of our

customers and prepare for environmental challenges in the future. It also aligns our environmental commitments to our corporate strategy.

We have a vision to transform Sydney Water into a customer-centric, future-focused organisation that delivers great customer experiences and

sustainable shareholder value. This reflects our core purpose to protect public health and the environment by providing essential water and

wastewater services while remaining a successful business.

To meet this vision, we have the following environmental objectives:

1) We’ll contribute to healthy waterways and clean beaches in delivering our services to safeguard ecosystems that our communities can continue to

enjoy.

2) We’ll increase our resilience to a changing climate, connect with customers and use water in the landscape to shape liveable places.

3) We’ll protect and restore valuable biodiversity and share the natural spaces, land and heritage in our care with the community.

4) We’ll use our resources wisely, work with customers to save water and increase our recovery of energy towards net-zero emissions.

1.1 Reporting progress on our plan

Each year, we report on the results and outcomes of our actions as part of this plan. To provide a year-to-year comparison of performance, we also

report against a set of environmental performance indicators determined by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). Both reports

can be found in our Environment Compliance and Performance Report. This plan aligns with Sydney Water’s objectives as outlined in the Sydney

Water Act 1994 and reported in our Annual Report. We are also benchmarked against other Australian water utilities through the National Water

Initiative.


http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/about-us/our-publications/annual-report/index.htm


Healthy waterways and clean beaches

OBJECTIVE 1: We’ll contribute to healthy waterways and clean beaches in delivering our services to safeguard

ecosystems that our communities can continue to enjoy

We aim to meet this objective through establishing priority outcomes and targets. Aspirational short and long-term targets are listed below. We will

implement the following actions in 2019–20.

Timeframe Priority outcome Target Actions

By 2020 we

will:

1.1 Balance the needs

for healthy rivers and a

growing city by managing

water cycle outcomes.

Contribute to developing a new

framework for licensing of nutrients

to maintain and protect the health of

the Hawkesbury-Nepean River

system.

• Support the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in developing

a new regulatory framework for the Hawkesbury Nepean.

• Ensure new environmental management approaches are

appropriately funded and regulated.

1.2 Collaborate to

improve waterway health

and amenity and manage

access.

Establish a new framework to plan,

deliver and evaluate water sensitive

urban design projects in

collaboration with local government

and catchment groups.

• Complete relevant integrated water management (IWM) (adaptive

pathway) planning projects (including water sensitive urban design

considerations):

o Epping to St Leonards

o Wilton

o Menangle.

• Progress planning for waterway health improvement projects.

• Build capability to plan IWM (adaptive pathways).



1.3 Reduce

environmental impacts of

our discharges.

See our work contribute to over 90%

of coastal and estuarine beaches

classified as having ‘very good’ or

‘good’ recreational water quality (as

measured by Beachwatch).

• Finalise stage 1 planning work for identified wet weather overflow

abatement (WWOA) projects:

o Upper Parramatta catchment assessment

o Mid Parramatta catchment assessment

o Lane Cove catchment assessment

o Lower Middle Harbour and Mosman Peninsular catchment

assessment

o Prospect catchment assessment.

• Commence stage 2 planning work for identified WWOA projects:

o Source control works on Sydney Water assets for Upper

Parramatta, Mid Parramatta, Lane Cove, Prospect, Lower

Middle Harbour and Mosman Peninsular catchments

o Emergency Relief Structure (ERS) rationalisation for Lower

Middle Harbour and Mosman catchment

o Georges River Effluent Diversion Scheme (GREDS)

optimisation for Prospect catchment.

• Continue Malabar system planning to evaluate different servicing

concepts for the Malabar Wastewater System with an applied

adaptive planning approach.

1.4 Use leading edge

science and research to

benefit waterways.

Develop and share our capability in

innovation monitoring and modelling

to protect aquatic environment and

public health outcomes for major

Sydney waterways.

• Develop and commence a position statement as part of the

Waterways masterplan.

• Sample and analyse data for the monitoring approach for wet

weather overflows.

• Continue to develop online and analytic monitoring of water and

wastewater systems to enable proactive management of our

networks to reduce impacts to our customers.



1.5 Maintain reliability of

our infrastructure to

ensure we meet

environmental

obligations.

Continue to work towards 100% of

wastewater volume treated that is

compliant with our environment

protection licences (from current

performance of over 99%).

• Investigate the cause and effect of increased oil and grease inflow to

Bondi, Malabar and North Head wastewater treatment plants.

• Implement the pollution reduction program (PRP) study for the trial

pilot-scale wetland project at Picton.

• Finalise Picton effluent management strategy.

• Continue Malabar system planning to maintain reliability of North

Georges River Submain (NGRS) and Southern & Western Suburbs

Ocean Outfall Sewer (SWSOOS).

1.6 Incorporate

environmental

safeguards more

effectively to reduce risks

and communicate

incidents impacting

waterways.

Improve our prevention and

response to dry weather overflows.

• Continue rolling out new approaches to detecting, predicting, and

improving prevention and response to dry weather overflows.

• Review strategies and plans to support the achievement of our

desired outcomes for dry weather overflow to waterways.

• Implement the Environment Performance Improvement Program to

address dry weather overflows

By 2030 we

aspire to:

1.7 Support a risk-based

approach to manage

cumulative impacts of

development and

improve catchment and

waterway health.

Work collaboratively to support the

swimmability goals for the

Parramatta River by 2025.

• Act as the lead coordinating agency to drive delivery of the

Parramatta River Masterplan.

• Continue to integrate Parramatta River Masterplan outcomes

(swimmability) into our servicing strategies.



1.8 Understand impacts

and prioritise

improvements

considering all discharge

sources to waterways.

See our work contribute to increased

proportion of waterways meeting

community expectations and

environmental objectives1.

• Complete trial stormwater ingress source control project to meet the

Wolli Creek pollution reduction program (PRP).

• Execute Final Waterways Masterplan Implementation Plan.

• Invest in monitoring and modelling tools to predict environmental

impacts, enabling us to be more proactive in our management

decisions.

1.9 Collaborate to

integrate water services

with city planning.

Enhance integrated water planning

by working collaboratively with

government agencies and

stakeholders.

• Continue applying integrated water management principles to help

identify optimal and adaptable servicing pathway(s) in the regional

servicing master plans.

1 Key indicators in Sydney Water’s Sewage Treatment System Impact Monitoring Program


Create resilient and liveable places

OBJECTIVE 2: We’ll increase our resilience to a changing climate, connect with customers and use water in the

landscape to shape liveable places




By 2020 we

will:

2.1 Enhance our resilience

to ensure continuity of

services in a changing and

variable climate.

Assess 100% of our climate risk

interdependencies with transport,

power and other services.

• Ongoing implementation of Cross-Dependency Initiative (XDI)

including identify initiatives for potential cost sharing solutions with

other critical infrastructure providers.

2.2 Incorporate customers’

environmental needs and

values into our decisions

and regulatory

submissions.

Engage with our customers to

understand what they need and

value, including environmental

considerations, from across our

services.

• Develop an ongoing customer engagement program.

2.3 Build sustainable water

and wastewater behaviours

through our education

programs.

Measure increased customer

satisfaction (positive environmental

responses), awareness and behavior

with our customer research.

• Continue customer research to measure increased customer

satisfaction, awareness and behaviour.

• Continue to roll out community awareness programs to increase

understanding of roles in keeping our wastewater system healthy.

• Working with media and industry stakeholders to encourage

informed coverage of environmental related issues.

• Continue to educate the community on water efficiency and the

importance of valuing water as a precious resource.



2.4 Play a leading role in

urban water infrastructure

strategy and reforms.

Work closely with agencies to include

an integrated water management

cycled approach in the infrastructure

strategy for the South Creek corridor.

• Support Infrastructure NSW to complete Stage 2 of the strategic

options business case to implement Cabinet recommendations.

• Work with WaterNSW and Department of Planning & Environment to

include an integrated water cycle management approach in the

Greater Sydney Water Strategy and supporting plans.

2.5 Improve local amenity

to support safe, healthy

and inclusive communities.

Deliver programs that manage the

odour, noise and visual impacts of

our operations.

• Continue to implement odour management plans.

By 2030 we

aspire to:

2.6 Collaborate and share

knowledge to enable water

sensitive cities of the

future.

Be recognised by our stakeholders

as working in partnership with them,

as measured by our annual

corporate stakeholder perception

audit.

• Support the delivery of water-related priorities identified in the District

and Regional Plans in collaboration with the Greater Sydney

Commission (GSC), and using our joint ‘Water in Western Sydney'

forum.

• Engage with Western City Councils, communities/developers, and

the Western Sydney Planning Partnership to be Master Planners

(collaborate, improve knowledge, make integrated cost effective

decisions) in the delivering of water infrastructure that aligns with the

vision for the Western Parkland City.



2.7 Collaborate on climate

adaptation to create shared

solutions for our

communities.

Be a benchmark leader for climate

readiness and service continuity to

contribute to our communities being

more resilient to a changing climate2.

• Continue to implement the Climate Change Adaptation

Implementation Plan including incorporating outcomes from the

AdaptWaterTM tool to embed climate change preparedness within

Sydney Water.

• Participate in the NSW Government's Sustainability Bonds

Programme to contribute to a low carbon economy and meet

broader environmental and sustainability goals.

2.8 Enhance liveability

through the use of water in

the landscape to help

connect, cool and green

our places.

Deliver servicing strategies that

support the Green Grid3 priority

opportunities and future connections.

Deliver programs that provide

multiple benefits from flood planning

and management.

• Continue project investigating alternative provision of water and

wastewater services in the Greater Parramatta to Olympic Peninsula

(GPOP) area.

• Complete adaptive pathway planning for the Western Sydney sub-

region.

2 Objective identified in NSW Climate Change Policy Framework, 2016, Office of Environment and Heritage 3 Green Grid for Greater Sydney in the draft Greater Sydney Region Plan and District Plans, 2017, Greater Sydney Commission


Care for nature, land and heritage

OBJECTIVE 3: We’ll protect and restore valuable biodiversity and share the natural spaces, land and heritage in our care

with the community.




By 2020 we

will:

3.1 Conserve natural

environments and cultural

heritage in our care.

Consolidate and renew our

strategic plans of management for

cultural heritage and natural

environments (including riparian

lands and wetlands).

• Routine grounds maintenance incorporating the protection and

enhancement of environmentally sensitive sites.

• Renew Plan of Management for Rouse Hill Trunk Drainage Lands.

• Deliver prioritised projects in line with Sydney Water's Strategic

Heritage Asset Management Program (SHAMP).

3.2 Reveal and restore

natural waterways and

landscapes.

Implement programs to reinstate

more natural conditions in highly

modified waterways.

Achieve net gain in area of native

vegetation restored year on year.

• Progress the naturalisation of stormwater channels at Johnson Creek,

Glebe; Whites Creek, Annandale; Muddy Creek, Rockdale, St Lukes

Park, Canada Bay and Iron Cove Creek, Haberfield.

3.3 Responsibly manage

land contamination and

hazardous building materials

to prevent risk of harm.

Have clear outcomes and

milestones for site clean-up or

management established for all

declared contaminated sites on

our land.

• Continue risk ranking and investigation of all land lots to manage

contaminated land risk.

• Continue assessment and remediation of hazardous building materials

across property portfolio.



3.4 Support our people to

live our environmental values

every day.

Have over 90% of staff complete

environmental awareness training

and communicate how we care

for the environment.

• Continue to encourage completion of Environmental Accountabilities

eLearning, and further develop our environmental communications

program.

• Deliver a tailored environmental awareness training program for

wastewater operational staff.

By 2030 we

aspire to:

3.5 Include learnings from

Aboriginal knowledge of

Country in our programs to

improve conservation

outcomes and build

relationships

Enhance our strategic

engagement with recognised

knowledge holders to inform our

planning and community projects

• Use the Aboriginal Places Decision Tool for proposed activities.

• Develop a framework for strategic engagement with Local Aboriginal

Land Councils (LALCs) and Indigenous Land Use Agreements

(ILUAs) to inform strategic/regional planning.

• Incorporate knowledge of Country in the design of the Port Kembla

seawall project.

3.6 Share our land and

heritage in our care with the

community to support

liveable places.

Increase the availability of our

land for agreed community use or

public open space year on year.

• Continue identifying opportunities to develop community assets on our

land and form land-use agreements for priority sites with local

councils, developers and government.

3.7 Look to create value from

our green infrastructure4 to

maintain ecological health.

Identify and where feasible,

create biobanking, green offset or

other opportunities to fund green

infrastructure.

• Continue to develop Sydney Water's biodiversity offset portfolio.

4 Green infrastructure principles identified in the draft Greener Places, 2017, Office of the Government Architect NSW



3.8 Identify and prepare for

emerging contaminants of

concern

Collaborate on shared responses,

as needed, to risks to land and

waterways from microplastics and

emerging chemicals of concern.

• Implement Research and Innovation strategy initiatives related to

emerging contaminants.

• Continue to assess and identify risks from emerging contaminants to

our sites - risks to site users.


Efficient and sustainable resource use

OBJECTIVE 4: We’ll use our resources wisely, work with customers to save water and increase our recovery of energy

towards net-zero emissions.




By 2020 we

will:

4.1 Work with customers

and invest in economically

efficient water

conservation.

Develop and implement a Water

Conservation Program.

• Annually update and report on our Water Conservation Plan.

• Establish a Water Efficiency Program with a focus on improving and

developing customer products, services and communications to help

reduce potable water usage in prioritised areas.

• Continue introducing new approaches to improve leak detection from

our water network.

4.2 Drive low-carbon,

energy efficient and

demand responsive water

infrastructure and services.

Maintain our grid-sourced electricity

demand below 1998 levels.

• Develop cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy

projects.

• Develop energy performance standards for planning and design of

facility projects.

• Continue to update the National Australian Built Environment Rating

System (NABERS) energy rating for our offices.

4.3 Beneficially recover and

re-use resources and

reduce waste to landfill.

Identify alternative uses for biosolids

recovered from wastewater treatment

to maintain 100% beneficial use of

biosolids.

• Implementation of the Bioresources Master Plan.

• Characterise material that has potential resource value.

• Engage with EPA to overcome regulatory barriers for new products

entering re-use markets.



Improve our overall solid waste

recycling rate by responsible re-use

of our recoverable resources.

• Engage with industry to identify potential markets.

• Continue to investigate alternate beneficial use markets (mine

rehabilitation & forestry) for biosolids with key suppliers.

• Continue to increase the re-use of different types of waste collected

from Sydney Water activities, excluding biosolids.

4.4 Work with suppliers and

contractors towards a

smaller ecological footprint.

Obtain sustainability benchmark

ratings for all major infrastructure

projects.

Reduce our ecological footprint per

customer year on year.

• Continue to progress an independent sustainability 'as built' rating

using the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Rating Tool administered

by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) for St

Marys and Quakers Hill Water Recycling Plants PARR project, part

of the Lower South Creek treatment program.

• Progress preliminary ISCA scorecard containing indicative credit

weightings and target performance levels for the proposed Prospect

WFP upgrade project.

By 2030 we

aspire to:

4.5 Contribute to future

sustainable and resilient

water supplies.

Develop innovative servicing

solutions that make the best use of

water for priority growth areas,

considering recycled water,

stormwater and decentralised

approaches.

• Continue to develop and implement Water Master Plan to feed into

2020 Greater Sydney Water Strategy.

• Develop a long term capital and operational plan jointly with

WaterNSW.

• Implement Sydney Water’s responsibilities under the Greater

Sydney Urban Water Framework, including contributing to

developing the Greater Sydney Water Strategy in collaboration with

Department of Planning and Environment and through the Water

Coalition.

• Deliver drought response management measures under with the

Metropolitan Water Plan, if the drought continues.



4.6 Reduce our carbon

emissions to help meet

NSW’s aspirational

objective of net-zero

emissions by 20505.

Provide 75% of our electricity

demand from net-zero emissions

sources, and 100% by 2050.

• Implement Energy Master Plan Initiatives.

4.7 Harness research and

innovation to increase our

use of renewable energy.

Achieve 35% of our electricity

demand from self-generated

renewable electricity.

Support precinct-based initiatives to

increase renewable energy, and

energy and water efficiency.

• Implement Research and Innovation Strategy initiatives to continue

to identify potential opportunities for innovative renewable energy

applications.

4.8 Explore innovative

waste management to

support the development of

a circular economy.

Increase our recovery of energy

using externally-sourced organic

wastes

Move towards energy self-sufficiency

at our major wastewater treatment

plants.

• Implement circular economy process.

• Continue improving scientific knowledge of food waste co-digestion

by continuing the food waste research program and research into

improving biogas quality.

5 Objective identified in NSW Climate Change Policy Framework, 2016, Office of Environment and Heritage

environment compliance and performance report 2018-19 · environment compliance and performance...

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