Australian water awards

Council receives national recognition for Water Management Program

This year, Council was the proud recipient of the Australian Water Association Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Regional) at both the Queensland and National levels. The award recognises ‘significant and innovative water infrastructure projects driving prosperity and sustainability’ and was granted in recognition of the Mer Water Network Management Program, ending over 20 years of water restrictions. The award-winning program, a collaboration between Council and demand management specialist Asset Life Alliance, implemented an integrated plan to first stabilise the water network to lift water restrictions through onsite leak detection, and then install a range of smart technologies to ensure the water network can be sustainably managed. The issue

The Mer community has endured over twenty years of strict water restrictions. At commencement of the project, residents only had water access six hours per day due to major water losses in the network, leading to ongoing water supply shortages. Mer has a permanent desalination plant and a covered lagoon for water storage; however, the lagoon was regularly at critically low levels and had never reached capacity. During times of critical water supply, extra mobile desalination plants were barged in from other islands to assist with demand. Approach The first stage of the project was to implement a leak detection and repair intervention program to stabilise the network. Following this, a range of innovative new industry technologies for network monitoring and regulation were adopted. These include installation of remote monitoring and automated technologies including smart meters, a bulk flow meter, inline acoustic leak sensors and automated pressure reduction valves. Outcomes

At the completion of the leak intervention program, the Mer water network was stabilised, and water restrictions were lifted for the first time. Within two months, the covered lagoon reached 100 per cent capacity for the first time. The permanent desalination plant can now be turned off intermittently, significantly reducing the need for mobile desalination units. Sustainability of outcomes The reduction in demand for desalination has significantly reduced operational costs and diesel usage.

Daniel Harrington giving his acceptance speech

Acknowledgements Council acknowledges the hard work and dedication of staff and the support from the divisional Councillor in this significant achievement and the ongoing protection of the community’s water supply. Council also acknowledges project funding partners and supporters of our water management plans, Growing Queensland, Torres Strait Regional Authority, former Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs, Queensland Health and Griffith University.

David, Jerry & Daniel with the Water Award