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Feature Article monitoring includes activities such as microbiological (E. coli) monitoring, routine catchment surveillance and inspections, which have historically been carried out at most catchments throughout WA. The observational monitoring approach described in ADWG 2011 includes Recreational activities such as boating are only allowed in assigning targets recreational or irrigation waterbodies. against which Petroleum and DEC to provide input into observational the management of fraccing activities within data can be assessed, implementing water resources. There are long-standing operational responses (corrective action) and effective working arrangements in place for abnormal conditions, as well as feeding with these agencies, but the Corporation back these results into the risk assessment has the greatest level of knowledge and review process. regarding management of impacts to Setting targets for catchments in WA is water quality at an operational level. a challenging task, with difficulties arising The Corporation is currently examining from the diversity of the types, locations, its risk assessment approaches to include remoteness and differing climates of fraccing in order to better manage catchments managed by the Corporation. and prevent contamination of public It is not always evident whether the level groundwater supplies. Working in close of activity in a catchment is normal or conjunction with industry and government abnormal, or whether it is acceptable on fraccing regulation and policy will enable or unacceptable, if the comparison must drinking water-specific concerns to be be made across all catchments (i.e. taking raised and appropriately addressed using a ‘one size fits all’ approach), rather than a proactive approach. being assessed individually. The Corporation’s source protection Historically, catchments in WA have strategies have also been tested by the been assessed individually through intrinsic challenges presented by a changing climate. knowledge of the catchment combined with The winters of 2011 and 2012 were the driest the results of surveillance reporting. The on record, and several catchments in the Corporation is currently working towards state, notably in the south-western corner of setting ‘in specification/out of specification’ WA, experienced reduced rainfall capture. A limits for activities in catchments that pose number of drinking water supplies have been the greatest risk to water quality. augmented by short-term sources. Alongside water efficiency efforts, source protection measures at existing drinking water catchments are even more crucial when faced with the threat of a drying climate.
IMPLEMENTATION OF ADWG 2011 – OBSERVATIONAL MONITORING The release of ADWG 2011 sees a move away from compliance monitoring and a focus towards the use of short-term and long-term evaluation of water supplies. ADWG 2011 includes a framework for observational monitoring as part of the overall operation of a water supply system. In terms of source protection, observational
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By comparing observational data to historical surveillance and water quality monitoring, it will be easier to determine when activities are outside the ‘norm’ for a specific catchment, and when an operational response (e.g. additional surveillance) must be triggered. As the Corporation shifts towards a target-based approach it will need to mimic and enhance the outcomes provided through current process. With catchment activity being a key driver in source risk classification, observational monitoring will provide a more robust process for not only assessing overall source risk, but also for providing a trigger for initiating a review of the risk assessment.
CONCLUSION The Corporation’s source protection measures are based on the ADWG principle of the primacy of drinking water over all other land uses. This model has stood the test of time. Its validity has been proven in the 2010 Parliamentary Inquiry into recreation and in the Corporation’s learnings from actively implementing source protection measures over the last 10 years. The guiding document for the Corporation, the Source Protection Operations Manual (SPOM), has been effectively applied to a diverse range of sources throughout WA. Each source has its own unique challenges, however from our experience, a clear and consistent model based on the principles of the ADWG is effective in the management and protection of water sources in WA. Source protection is a key component of a multiple barrier approach in the provision of safe drinking water. By reducing the risk of contamination to sources, the Corporation has effectively contributed to the community’s confidence in the provision of safe drinking water in WA, without the requirement for extensive treatment at most of our sources. As the Corporation moves forward it will seek to continuously improve its source protection processes to meet future challenges posed by emerging issues such as recreation within drinking water catchments, a drying climate and commercial fraccing activities. WJ
REFERENCES Department of Health, Government of Western Australia (2012): Hydraulic Fracturing in the Onshore Gas Industry and Drinking Water. Available at www.public.health.wa.gov.au/ cproot/4474/2/Hydraulic%20fracturing%20 and%20drinking%20water.pdf. Last accessed January 2013. Department of Mines and Petroleum, Government of Western Australia (2012): Draft Western Australia’s Onshore Unconventional Gas Development Framework. Department of Water (2012): Government of Western Australia. Operational Policy 13: Recreation Within Public Drinking Water Source Areas on Crown Land. Report 13, September 2012. Legislative Council, Western Australia (2010). Report 11 – Standing Committee on Public Administration. Recreation Activities Within Public Drinking Water Source Areas. September 2010. NHMRC, NRMMC (2011): Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Paper 6 National Water Quality Management Strategy. National Health and Medical Research Council, National Resource Management Ministerial Council, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.