AWE Special Edition | 2017WATERLINESSPECIAL EDITION Water management in South AustraliaImage: Greg ScalesAustralian Water Environments joins Water Technology 2 : WATERLINES : AWE Special Edition 2017This special edition of Waterlines celebrates Australian Water Environments (AWE) joining Water Technology on 1 October 2017. AWE and Water Technology have been working together almost from the inception of our two companies. This has included numerous flood studies, including the Gawler River Flood Study, which we have been working on together in various forms since 2001. Over this time, it became apparent that both companies share similar values and have a strong culture focussed on our staff and the delivery of high quality and high value solutions to our clients. We were also aware of strong synergies between the two businesses. Now that we are one, these synergies are being captured and are providing exciting opportunities for expanding the AWE's groundwater, hydrogeology and natural resource management capabilities into the rest of Australia, and for further extending Water Technology’s coastal, floodplain, integrated stormwater, waterways and ecology capabilities into South Australia. AWE will continue to trade as Australian Water Environments for the time-being, and transition to Water Technology over the next year or so.ANDREW McCOWAN - Managing DirectorWelcome to our Special Edition of WaterlinesArticles in this special edition that highlight some of the key capabilities of the new and expanded Water Technology, include:• A flood and flood hazard study carried out jointly by AWE and Water Technology• Hydrogeology and managed aquifer recharge (MAR)• A combined surface and groundwater investigation for a major wind farm development• Coastal and coastal process investigations in South Australia We are all very excited about the way in which our expanded capabilities will enable us to provide better services to our clients, throughout Australia and internationally. WATERLINES : AWE Special Edition 2017 : 3 Australian Water Environments has a long history of delivering surface and groundwater solutions in South Australia and beyond. The approach that AWE has taken to translating science and knowledge into technically sound and evidence-based management and engineering outcomes is core to the business and aligns well with Water Technology’s approach to project delivery.In 2001, Water Technology and Australian Water Environments delivered our first project together; it was the beginning of a great working relationship that has provided many benefits to our clients over subsequent years. The established and highly regarded hydrogeology, hydrology, water resources and wastewater capabilities of AWE complement our surface water, coastal, waterway and ecology skills. Local presence and expanded capabilities For more information, contact +61 8 8378 8000 Andrew Telfer (andrewtelfer@austwaterenv.com.au) Geoff Fisher (geofffisher@austwaterenv.com.au)“The numerous projects we have worked on together have combined Water Technology's expertise in surface water management with Australian Water Environments’ groundwater and hydrogeology expertise.” Andrew McCowan, Managing Director and founder of Water TechnologyThe joining of the two organisations is a great cultural fit. Like-minded values, operating approaches and synergies of capability and technical excellence are important elements when considering bringing two organisations together. In this case, these factors were paramount. “The two proven expert teams combine a broad range of water management skills and capabilities and provide our clients with a nationally distributed, holistic and integrated team of water and environmental professionals.” Andrew Telfer, Director and co-founder of AWE.Images: Geoff BorgFlooding of the Northern Adelaide Plains associated with the Gawler River is a significant constraint for further development within the region and an ongoing risk to existing development. The Smith Creek catchment comprises urban and rural areas, extending into the Adelaide Hills, and is affected by flooding and localised stormwater impacts. Urbanisation has occurred along the eastern portion of the floodplain area and there is ongoing pressure for further expansion of the urban areas. Over several years, Australian Water Environments and Water Technology have worked together to deliver numerous floodplain and mapping studies within the Gawler River floodplain. The ‘Smith Creek Flood Plan and Flood Hazard Study’ for the City of Playford is the most recent. The study team developed detailed one and two-dimensional hydraulic models and flood hazard maps of urban and rural areas in the catchment to provide a representation of key flooding processes.The City of Playford and the SA State Government are using the flood models and mapping outputs to assess the impact of the development of future growth areas and associated impact mitigation options. Following from this study, the team was recently commissioned by the City of Playford to develop an integrated stormwater management plan for the Smith Creek Catchment.Working together on integrated water management challengesWORKING Together For more information, contact +61 8 8378 8000Geoff Fisher (geofffisher@austwaterenv.com.au)Michael Di Matteo (michaeldimatteo@austwaterenv.com.au) Aaron Vendargon (aaron.vendargon@watertech.com.au)4 : WATERLINES : AWE Special Edition 2017 WATERLINES : AWE Special Edition 2017 : 5For more information, contact +61 8 8378 8000 Craig Flavel (craigflavel@austwaterenv.com.au)The need to utilise alternate water sources and water storage solutions has been an ongoing challenge across Australia. In an increasingly variable climate, with numerous pressures on access to water, innovative water storage and treatment solutions are needing to be considered. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is one of these solutions that is used for storing surface water at times of plenty underground for subsequent extraction and use at times of need. MAR is increasingly being used to improve water supply security where the pattern of supply does not fit the pattern of demand.When Bunyip Water needed to investigate hydrogeology and regulatory issues associated with developing a MAR project near Gawler on the Northern Adelaide Plains, irrigation engineers HydroPlan approached AWE. HydroPlan’s MD John Gransbury said Evaluating the storage of stormwater and treated wastewater in an aquifer Managed Aquifer RechargeThe MAR scheme will receive stormwater harvested from the Gawler River and treated wastewater from Adelaide’s largest wastewater treatment plant. Over the last 12 months AWE staff have assessed the potential impacts of the MAR scheme, using multiple lines of evidence and two model platforms. The work has enabled Bunyip Water to evaluate the potential for the storage of stormwater and treated wastewater in the Tertiary aquifer, minimising evaporation and maximising water availability for local irrigators.“We’ve worked with AWE before and appreciate their pragmatic, collaborative approach. It was good working with people who take charge and simplify the complex managed aquifer recharge science and approval processes.”WallarooMinesPrimarySchoolinKadina(SA)wasestablishedin1876.Theagingwastewatersystemattheschoolwasfailingandtheandstormwaterinfrastructurerequiredupgrading.TheDepartmentofPlanning,Transport&Infrastructure(DPTISA)engagedAWEtoundertakeaconditionassessmentoftheexistinginfrastructureandreportonthefindingsandrecommendations.AnefficientandinnovativesystemdesignandconstructionbriefwasdevelopedinconjunctionwiththeDepartmentandtheschool,providingdetaileddesign,engineeringandtechnicalspecificationrequirementstomeetDPTIstandardsfortheupgrade.Technicalsupportwasprovidedduringconstructiontoensurethatthesystemwasinstalledcorrectlytoourclient'ssatisfaction,budgetandtimeframe.6AWESpecialEdition2017Wastewatercanimpactreceivingenvironmentsduetoelevatedorganic,salinityandnutrientloads.However,whencarefullymanaged,theimpactsofwastewatercanbeminimisedthroughthedevelopmentofasuitableunderstandingofthelandcapacityofasiteandtheimplementationofsitespecifictreatmentsolutions.Landcapabilityisdescribedastheinherentphysicalcapacityofthelandtosustainarangeoflandusesandmanagementpracticesinthelongtermwithoutdegradationtosoil,land,airandwaterresources.AWastewaterandLandCapabilityAssessmentforarurallandsubdivisionwascarriedouttoassesstheimpactoflandusechanges.Theterrainofthesitewasgenerallysteepanddissectedbywatercoursesinasensitiveenvironment,requiringdetailedanalysesoftheimpactsofanincreaseindevelopment.Soilswereprofiledfortheproposednewallotmentsandusedtoverifygeologicalandgroundwatersystemdata.Siteconstraintswereevaluated,andanassessmentofthegroundwaterimpactundertakenusingexistingwaterboredataandlithography.Basedontheriskassessment,regulationsetbacksandterrain,suitableareasforwastewaterdisposalwereidentifiedandrecommendationswereprovidedforwastewaterapplicationandsustainablelanduse.Understandingthedynamicsofsurfacewaterandgroundwaterandthemovementofwaterwithinthelandsystemiskeyinhowweapplyourknowledgeofhydraulics,soilsystems,andvegetationtodevelopsitespecificwaterandnutrientbalancesforproposedlanddevelopmentsandchangesoflanduse.Ourphilosophyistoensurewhereverpossiblethatwastewaterhasabeneficialimpactonthereceivingenvironment.AWESpecialEdition2017:7Formoreinformation,contact+61883788000DavePennington(davepennington@austwaterenv.com.au)West Wind ENERGYGroundwater dependant ecosystemsINTEGRATION8 : WATERLINES : AWE Special Edition 2017 WATERLINES : AWE Special Edition 2017 : 9 West Wind Energy is proposing the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere. The project, consisting of over 228 turbines each over 230 m tall along 12 km of rolling plains north of the Otway Basin, will require excavations to depths of some 3.5 m to provide sufficient foundations for each turbine. While the total footprint of the turbines themselves is small, the area includes sites of natural significance in the form of groundwater dependent ecosystems, with associated Federal regulation. AWE was commissioned by West Wind Energy to engage with the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) and the Golden Plains Shire regarding groundwater concerns surrounding the development.Key to the stakeholder engagement was a hosted site visit with the CCMA and the Shire where project workflow was discussed, a site inspection was carried out and monitoring of initial groundwater levels was undertaken. A second site visit considered salinised zones due to groundwater expression and updated the statewide water-table database with current measurements. AWE staff worked with West Wind Energy to relocate a dozen turbines away from sensitive areas to an area where the water table had dropped over the past thirty years. This was important to the client as ongoing groundwater monitoring requirements were minimised for their Environmental Effects Statement submission and they were able to retain over thirty turbines that would otherwise have been removed from the proposed development. The interaction between surface water and groundwater is a primary consideration at the Golden Plains site, and AWE worked closely with Water Technology personnel during the project. By sharing resources and knowledge, an improved outcome was provided to West Wind Energy. For more information, contact +61 8 8378 8000Craig Flavel (craigflavel@austwaterenv.com.au) +61 3 8526 0800Alison Miller (alison.miller@watertech.com.au)Next >