John Martin – GWM Water
Industry Cluster Evening November
Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water!GWMWater!
Sustainable Water and Infrastructure
John Martin Executive Manager, Sustainable Water and Infrastructure
GWMWater
November 24, 10 3
About GWMWater
19 Vic WAs 4 metro 13 regional urban 4 rural 2 rural and urban
GWMWater Fully integrated business Headworks Bulk water Rural D&S Irrigation Urban Wastewater Reuse Licensing of resource mgt
70 000 customers 70 000 km2
74 towns Largest popʼn = 13 000
Smallest = 5
November 24, 10 4
November 24, 10 5
November 24, 10 6
November 24, 10 7
About John Martin
Agricultural Engineer SRWSC / RWC much of northern Victoria Irrigation research / salinity management Red Cliffs Operational development – statewide role Horsham since 1993
Water resource management Headworks and catchment management Technical services since 2004
Carlton supporter – two-eyed
November 24, 10 8
Current Issues Drought Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Capital Works
November 24, 10 9
November 24, 10 10
Dry Conditions Across the State
November 24, 10 11
November 24, 10 12
November 24, 10 13
November 24, 10 14
November 24, 10 15
November 24, 10 16
November 24, 10 17
November 24, 10 18
November 24, 10 19
The Future
Building a New Social Contract Adapting to a Drier Future Climate Supporting Sustainable Growth Reducing the Environmental Footprint
November 24, 10 20
Strategic Directions Building a New Social Contract Meeting future needs of
customers Fit for purpose products and
services Water market Third party access
Adapting to a Drier Future Climate
Being able to manage under a range of climate scenarios
Identify new sources of water
Supporting Sustainable Growth Sale of growth water from
WMPP savings Intelligent operating systems Integrated approach to water
resource management
Reducing the Environmental Footprint
Development of GWMWater energy projects
Manage septic tanks as part of the resource
November 24, 10 21
Sustainable Water & Infrastructure
The offer of drinking water for all Renewable energy The next source of water
November 24, 10 22
Drinking Water for All Many small “towns” or villages 10 – 100 people Cost of water treatment is not viable for small towns Various classes of towns, fully treated, disinfected only, raw water supply Lowest percentage of towns / customers supplied in Victoria
WMP creates the opportunity of centralised treatment 30 towns on main system – some already treated – many not Central treatment considered in business case
Economics didnʼt stack up then Benefits for rural customers not clear Cost of treatment for water not needing to be treated
Approaches / Options Central treatment – e.g. membrane – significant head available in parts of the
system Point of use – small towns / rural industry e.g. where export requirements
necessitate this Other?
November 24, 10 23
Renewable Energy WMP will triple GWMWaterʼs energy use – 40 000 MW hr WMP was Victoriaʼs first major water saving project
Commenced before the focus on renewable energy GWMWater Board considers that “climate is our business”
We should play our role in managing our impacts on climate as we are critically dependent on climate
Current Board has recently managed major capital project $680 M WMP Experienced in managing major capital investments Keen on the idea of owning own infrastructure Understands risk profile, e.g. compared to PPA
Approaches / Options Regional scale - e.g. wind farm - 6-8 turbines, phasing Participation in joint schemes, e.g. solar
Affordability Major issue for economic regulator Essential Services Commission
November 24, 10 24
Next Source of Water WMP and earlier NMP
Saved 150 GL of water Recent climate sequence shows that these savings may not be enough under
some scenarios MDB Plan - will constrain further development of traditional sources
Water Supply-Demand Strategy 50 year plan for sources vs use Integration of other elements
Septics Stormwater “New” pockets of groundwater Desalination Water savings - leakage, evaporation Demand management Water market
Plenty of experience in many areas with these We will be seeking know-how to feed into this development
November 24, 10 25
Wiastream.wordpress.com @WIAJoe @WIAteam