An assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from the proposed Tillegra Dam

The proposed Tillegra Dam would be a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG). The claims that the dam would be carbon neutral cannot be sustained and the environmental assessment report (EAR) for the Tillegra project needs to be amended. Even if the GHG emissions from the dam’s construction are ignored, it is estimated that a total of at least 327,400 t CO2-eq (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) of GHG emissions would result from the Tillegra Dam in its first 20 years. However there are large uncertainties associated with surface emissions from water storage dams and these alone could easily contribute 1.0 million t CO2-eq. Excluding its construction, the Tillegra Dam will increase the operational GHG intensity of water supply in the Lower Hunter by at least 46%. The potential surface emissions alone from the proposed Tillegra Dam could be equivalent to adding an extra 27,000 cars to the Hunter’s roads. The bulk of the GHG emissions from the Tillegra Dam will be surface emissions generated as flooded organic material decomposes. Decomposition produces carbon dioxide and methane. Methane gas surface emissions will be of particular concern because methane has a global warming potential 72 times that of carbon dioxide over a 20-year timeframe, and 25 times that of carbon dioxide over a 100-year timeframe (IPCC 2007). Once the dam was constructed, the increased emissions would be unavoidable because unlike the GHG emissions associated with new supplies such as recycled or desalinated water, the emissions from large dams occur regardless of whether their water is used. The GHG assessment in the Tillegra EAR ignores methane generation and release from the storage. This would be the largest source of GHG, and this major flaw means that the EAR needs to be amended. The carbon offset claims in the EAR are also unsound. The EAR claims that there would be a significant offset for renewable energy generated by a mini hydroelectric plant but no such plant is included in the project. Also of concern is the simplistic inclusion of tree planting as an offset with no consideration of important factors such as the loss of soil carbon in the establishment of plantations on agricultural land. In stark contrast to the GHG emissions from the Tillegra Dam proposal, a sustainable water strategy for the Lower Hunter, based on improved water efficiency and water conservation measures, could reduce GHG emissions by an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of t CO2-eq over a 20-year period.The Wilderness Society Newcastl

Water efficiency opportunities for mid-sized utilities

This paper draws on several Water Efficiency strategies recently developed by ISF for mid-size utilities. It describes examples of opportunities being identified by utilities and the approaches applied in analysing the potential for water conservation. In detailing some of the current ‘best practice’ the paper aims to provide pointers for the water industry more generally. This includes both how to identify areas of water conservation potential and in the design of programs to effectively realise savings. The paper also highlights how advances in digital technologies and data analytics can shift thinking around program design and implementation

Distributed recycled water systems - hard to justify in Sydney, but it's a great place to learn

There are strong drivers for small recycled water systems in the wider Sydney area. However, a particular set of historical and contextual factors unique to Sydney limit the viability of small systems, and need to be overcome if small scale systems are to reach their potential to contribute to improving the value and overall robustness of the Sydney network. This paper identifies those factors and discusses why some of the factors also make Sydney a great place to test and learn from these new systems

Next generation water efficiency: looking over the horizon

After major investment during the Millennium drought, many Australian cities have become more resilient by diversifying their water supplies with desalination, water recycling, rain tanks, and importantly, increased water efficiency through both programs and regulations. The achievements in efficiency such as reduced per capita demand and success of large-scale demand management programs, are internationally recognised. However, with both Sydney and Melbourne heading towards mega-city status by mid-century, further increases in efficiency must be considered. This paper explores the technologies, behavioural interfaces and programs that could aid Australia’s next generation of water efficiency

The Critical Role of Impact Distribution for Local Recycled Water Systems

Small-scale or local recycled water systems are increasingly being installed in urban centers in Australia, and throughout the world. These (often private) systems are in building basements, parks, on industrial sites and within small communities that are already serviced by existing public centralized water and wastewater networks. A consistent and fair assessment of the value of such local recycling systems, particularly in relation to centralized extension, augmentation and replacement, has proved to be problematic. This paper reveals why. It suggests that the traditional characterization of impacts into social, environmental, economic and at times technical groupings misses a key aspect in understanding the relative costs, benefits and risks of these systems: their distribution across the wide range of stakeholder groups. This paper proposes that accounting for the distribution of impacts is critical for assessments that include options of different scales and different levels of responsibility as there is a significant difference in the impact distribution between conventional urban water services and small-scale, local recycled water systems. This will help practitioners better understand the consequences of varying the impact distribution, particularly when moving from substantially public responsibility and ownership of assets to a mix of public and private responsibility and ownership

The bathroom of the future - prospects for information and control

Across sectors, innovative data collection at a device level and command and control appliances, are providing an opportunity for improved resource efficiencies, facilities management and user experiences. The applications of intelligent technologies and localised networks are growing rapidly. This discussion paper demonstrates the value and potential applications of smart water management technologies specifically focused on commercial bathroom products. The work was commissioned by the GWA Bathrooms and Kitchens Group. The paper has been developed using available knowledge, with a literature scan of fixture driven innovations, innovations in collecting and using data from fixtures and other monitoring devices

Review of the Metropolitan Water Plan: Final Report

This report was commissioned by the NSW Cabinet Office to review the Metropolitan Water Plan 2004 (DIPNR, 2004a), and was undertaken by the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney and ACIL Tasman with technical advice from SMEC Australia. In February 2006, our interim review report (ISF, 2006) showed how the supply-demand balance in 2015 could be met with rain-fed supply and a suite of demand management initiatives, and how Sydneys water needs could be secured against the risk of severe drought by having the capacity to deploy groundwater and desalination

Influence of innate sludge factors and ambient environmental parameters in biosolids storage on indicator bacteria survival: A review

The potential health risks associated with sludge cake application to agricultural land are managed by controlling the levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria which indicate the risk of pathogen transfer. Analyses undertaken following post-digestion sludge dewatering have shown unpredictable levels of E. coli increase in stored sludge cake. Presently there is limited understanding on environmental parameters controlling the indicator bacteria density in storage and the contributory effects dewatering may have. This review aims to establish the state of current knowledge on innate and environmental factors influencing E. coli dynamics and survival in biosolids. A key factor identified is the effect of mechanical dewatering processes, which transform the sludge matrix environmental conditions through the increased availability of growth factors (e.g. nutrient and oxygen). Examples of storage practices from the agricultural and food industries are also discussed as successful methods to inhibit bacterial growth and survival, which could be extrapolated to the biosolids sector to regulate E. coli concentrations

Pengaruh Konfigurasi Tabung Kompresor Terhadap Unjuk Kerja Pompa Hidram

AbstractA hydraulic ram pump is a cyclic water pump powered by hydropower. It functions as a hydraulic transformer that takes in water at one pressure and flow rate, and outputs water at a higher hydraulic head and lower flow rate. Hydraulic ram pump uses the water hammer effect to develop pressure that allows a portion of the input water that powers the pump to be lifted to a point higher than where the water originally started. The hydraulic ram pump is used in remote areas, where there is both a source of low-head hydropower and a need for pumping water to a destination higher in elevation than the source.In this research using tube compressor with 3-inch tube diameter and height 25 centimeters. Level of water used is at position 5 meters with 8 meters height of calculate the output discharge. The observed parameters are input pressure, output pressure, the tube compressors pressure; valves waste pressure, water discharge input, output water flow and pump efficiency.The result showed that hydram pump ILK position, with parallel compressor tube configuration have better performance than the configuration of compressor tube series. Which the maximum head 22 meters is achieved. And discharge result at the height calculated (8 meters) of 0.0453 liters / sec and 3.278% efficiency