Sustainable Urban Water Futures Making decisions about supply and demand
Making decisions about supply and demand The global water sector is at a cross roads. Population growth and rising water demand due to increased affluence, the impact of climate change, growing community expectations and the rising cost of new capacity all impact on the sector. Management of our urban water resources requires innovative thinking to move us toward a vision of a more sustainable system that is resilient to the challenges of an uncertain future. New decision support systems, frameworks and tools are needed to manage these issues at the national, city and building scale. New frameworks for supply demand planning can help reduce costs. Part of the challenge of this new environment involves finding the right balance between supply options and demand side options, between new sources, water efficiency and water recycling, between building new capital works and managing existing assets. Engaging customers and the community as in parallel with the technical and economic analysis is a key part of the picture. The water industry is a rapidly changing field, new technologies, new economic and regulatory approaches and new engagement methods are available, and deploying them appropriately can reduce costs and improve social and environmental outcomes. 2
About us The Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) is a research and consulting organisation at the University of Technology, Sydney. We work with industry, government and the community to help create sustainable futures through research, consultancy and training. Our established reputation across Australia and internationally is for innovative, solution focused interdisciplinary consultancy projects. The key to our approach is integration and alignment across strategic, tactical and operational activities. We work in a number of different research areas. This capability statement outlines our expertise in the field of sustainable water futures. Capability statements for other areas we work in are available from our web site (www.isf.uts.edu.au). Our sustainable water work To progress this vision we work collaboratively with government, utilities, industry, developers, non-government organisations and the community to re define the frontiers of best practice. Our research spans all phases of the project life cycle from visioning and strategic policy, to on-the-ground development of options and pilot programs, to project monitoring and evaluation. The Institute is at the forefront of thinking in water and sanitation futures where resources are used efficiently, valued fully and managed responsibly. Alexandria, Egypt, Integrated Supply Demand Study - Centre for Development and Environment in the Arab Region and EU SWITCH London, United Kingdom, The International Demand Management Framework - International Water Association Madrid, Spain, Benchmarking Demand Management - Canal Isabel II Salalah, Sultanate of Oman, Water Resources and Groundwater Planning Can Tho, Vietnam Sanitation Options Study - Australian Agency for International Development US EPA Washington DC, United States, Decentralised Wastewater System Reliability Analysis Handbook Sydney, Alice Springs, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Australia, Numerous projects for utilities, government agencies and developers. 3
What we offer The Institute offers clients its extensive experience to provide solutions that are cost-effective, flexible and advance sustainability. Areas of work: Integrated Resources Planning and water policy development > > drought planning > > supply-demand planning > > options development and greenhouse profiling > > water-saving targets > > end-use and demand forecasting modelling > > economic analysis, pricing, innovative tariff scenarios > > sustainability assessments > > water-energy analysis > > real options analysis > > asset management > > externality analysis and sustainability accounting > > deliberative processes > > training & interactive learning Integrated water cycle management including best practice technologies > > integrated planning > > water sensitive urban design > > green development > > life cycle management > > distributed systems > > smart metering > > spatial analysis of supply and demand Water and Sanitation Futures > > visioning > > policy development > > development of appropriate sanitation solutions > > implementation and communication strategies > > monitoring & evaluation Forecasting demand at a disaggregated level is crucial for planning. 4
Benefits of working with ISF Track record: We have been conducting project based research for Australian and international clients for a decade and have an excellent reputation for innovative, solution-focused work. Applying current thinking and practice: Our researchers are not only up to date with best practice and current thinking - they contribute to it. Their research is published regularly in academic journals as well as industry and scientific publications and the popular media. Practical and diverse experience: Our researchers come from varied backgrounds, including: engineering architecture, management, economics, science, social sciences, international studies and political studies. Most have worked in both government and commercial environments, so know how to deliver independent and feasible solutions to suit the needs of a diverse range of clients. We are small enough to offer our clients personalised service and large enough to offer a diversity of research skills. Collaborative approach: We seek to create change towards a sustainable future by building capacity in organisations and individuals, and in the broader community. This means that we actively aim to pass on our knowledge and skills to our clients through close collaboration. The integrated Supply Demand Planning Model can support forecasting and options analysis. 5
Recent successes The Institute has undertaken research projects for utilities, regulators and other stakeholders across Australia and internationally. Some of our recent project highlights are listed here. Details of other projects can be found on our web site. The International Demand Management Framework International Water Association, London, UK The ISF worked with the International Water Association Specialist group on Efficient Operations and Management to develop the International Demand Management Framework, which aims to support utilities and regulatory agencies to undertake supply demand planning in a least cost way and to systematically plan for managing drought and reducing costs. Benchmarking Demand Management Canal Isabel II, Madrid, Spain The ISF water research team were commissioned to undertake a review and benchmarking of the planning, analysis and implementation of demand management by the Madrid water company, canal Isabel II, as a means of testing the International Demand Management Framework that it developed for the International Water Association. Sanitation Options Study Australian Agency for International Development, Can Tho, Vietnam The Institute was recognised with an International Water Association Project Innovation Award (Development) for this research into sanitation infrastructure. Funded by an AusAID research grant, the Institute worked with Can Tho University and Can Tho Water Supply and Sewerage Company to investigate sanitation options for Can Tho city in Vietnam. The two year study looked at wastewater infrastructure challenges and options for four wards of the Cái Ráng District. Based on findings, the Institute prepared a policy briefing paper for the AusAID Infrastructure and Water Policy Section detailing relevance of the work for aid policy and programming. The study has been well-received and the Asian Development Bank in Vietnam is drawing on the study in development of their $1 billion urban sanitation program. Integrated Supply Demand Study Centre for Development and Environment in the Arab Region and EU SWITCH, Alexandria, Egypt Institute research revealed the need for new institutional frameworks to maintain water supply-demand balance in Alexandria, Egypt. Water availability in Egypt is highly constrained, because of its dependence on a fixed national share of the Nile River basin and population growth. This study has been assessing urban water demand in Alexandria and options to maintain the supply-demand balance. Integrated Resource Planning for Urban Water National Water Commission, Canberra, Australia This project builds on the ISF work for the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) including a framework and guide to aid water planners assess the water supply-demand balance for their region and determine how best to fill the gap. The resources developed include new resource papers, a model, training materials and case studies. For further information visit http://urbanwaterirp.net.au/. Costing for Sustainable Outcomes in Urban Water Systems: A Guidebook Cooperative Research Cenre for Water Quality and Treatment, Australia ISF developed a guidebook to assist decision-makers to use the best principles and tools to assess the most cost-effective means to achieve sustainable urban water outcomes. Showerhead Exchange Program Evaluation - South East Water, Melbourne, Australia This project involved statistical evaluation of the water savings arising from the showerhead exchange demand management program run by the three Melbourne water retailers. It involved using ISF s specialised pair matching analysis as well as development and testing of a regression technique that could be used by the broader water industry to establish savings of similar programs. Alice Springs Water Efficiency Program, Alice Springs, Australia ISF assisted the NT government in 2003 by researching a suite of water efficiency options that could potentially be taken forward for implementation as part of a water efficiency program. At the beginning of 2005 ISF extended this work by assisting in the development of a Cabinet Submission to determine and recommend next steps for the water efficiency program. This assistance led to ISF conducting ASWES Stage III - Feasibility into the Implementation of a Water Efficiency Program in 2005/06 which has broaden the options developed, considered pricing issues and drafted an action plan for next steps. Frasers Broadway Water Cycle Strategy Frasers Property, Sydney Australia ISF researchers prepared conceptual designs and modelled integrated water cycle options for the 6 hectare Frasers Broadway mixed use precinct development in Sydney, using detailed end use supplydemand modelling. Water savings, cost effectiveness and impacts of options for demand management and source substitution were examined. 6
Water-Energy Nexus Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation, Australia Collaborative research with CSIRO (Australia s national science agency) examining the energy implications of emerging water infrastructure. This involved the first systematic smart metering of a number of households to investigate the actual water and energy usage of various rainwater system configurations. The findings will inform future water and energy policy. Cost-effectiveness analysis of WELS Australian Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts, Canberra, Australia The project compared the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme to other urban water management options by modelling and valuing impacts including water savings, energy and greenhouse impacts, administration costs and compliance costs. Water resources and groundwater planning, Salalah, Sultanate of Oman Collaborated with GEO-Resources Consultancy (GRC) in Oman to analyse the water supply-demand balance in this water scarce region, and recommended future strategies to improve efficiency and the sustainability of groundwater resources. Decentralized Wastewater System Reliability Analysis Handbook - US EPA, Washington, DC, United States Collaborated with Stone Environmental Inc. and the Rocky Mountains Institute in the USA to develop a handbook for managers of decentralised wastewater systems. This was the first attempt to develop the tools needed to manage decentralized systems as viable longterm alternatives to centralised systems. Review of Metropolitan Water Plan NSW Government, Sydney Australia This project included a review of the Metropolitan Water Plan, with ACIL Tasman, and the development of a future planning strategy that provided water security during extreme drought and reduced cost in the longer term by using risk-based costs and adaptive management, including real options analysis. Review of water restrictions - National Water Commission, Australia This project involved a comprehensive review of the effectiveness and impacts of water use restrictions across metropolitan Australian locations. The project assisted National Water Initiative (NWI) parties to meet their commitments with regards to water restrictions for the duration of the drought. Ranking options by unit cost can help prioritise investment. 7
Our water research team Stuart White: As Director of the Institute, Professor Stuart White is an internationally recognised expert in urban water policy, demand management and integrated resource planning (IRP), having worked with water utilities and agencies both nationally and internationally. His recent work includes review of water resource options for South East Queensland the development of a water supply-demand strategy for Alexandria in Egypt. Cynthia Mitchell: As Deputy Director of the Institute, Professor Cynthia Mitchell embraces a systems perspective on total water cycle management linking innovative design to water supply, use and re-use across scales. Her recent work includes sustainability accounting for Yarra Valley Water in Victoria and water sensitive urban design advice for development companies. Andrea Turner: Andrea Turner is a Research Director contributing extensive expertise in the development of demand management programs and all aspects of the IRP process. She has worked with many water service providers across the country. Recent projects include a review of a smart metering project for DEWHA and development of IRP and demand management guides/ training for WSAA, the NWC, International Water Association and EU SWITCH. Juliet Willetts: Associate Professor Juliet Willetts has a background spanning several fields, including social, economic and technical aspects of human development. Her areas of focus are international development, learning and sustainable water and wastewater management. Her recent project work includes a Water and Sanitation Review in the Asia Pacific for World Vision Australia. Damien Giurco: Associate Professor and Research Director specialising in urban and industrial ecology frameworks and modeling, smart metering. He is Research Director for the thematic area of Resource Futures. With a focus on industrial ecology, integrated resources planning and responsible production and consumption. He has worked collaboratively with government and industry clients spanning the minerals, water, waste and energy sectors to create change towards sustainable futures. More Information To discuss your involvement with our sustainable urban water program, please contact: Professor Stuart White Director Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney. Phone +61-2-9514 4944 Email stuart.white@uts.edu.au Web www.isf.uts.edu.au Naomi Carrard: Research Principal at ISF, specialising in applied research to inform policy and practice in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), with a primary focus on the Asia and Pacific regions. Naomi has qualifications in Environmental Law and Geography, and more than 10 years experience working in WASH, water resource management and development effectiveness. Pierre Mukheibir: Associate Professor Pierre Mukheibir is a professionally registered civil engineer with over 20 years experience in the water and sanitation sector. He has worked in both the development and research environments, with a specific focus on rural water and sanitation and more recently in the climate change adaptation sector. Pierre currently leads on projects related to water supply and demand planning, including drought response strategies, using multicriteria decision support frameworks and those that aim to improve the understanding of institutional issues for green-grey infrastructure and distributed systems. Joanne Chong: Joanne Chong is a Research Director at ISF, and an economist with an environmental engineering background. She has significant experience in applying economic analysis to a wide range of sustainability and policy issues. Recent cost-effectiveness analysis projects in the urban water sector, include a review of Australian water restrictions policies for the NWC and WELS for the national environment agency. John McKibbin: Senior Research Consultant at the Institute for Sustainable Futures applying analytical modeling to inform energy and water policy, planning and design. Drawing from a background in engineering, John s work has focused on developing and disseminating next generation demand forecasting and strategic assessment approaches in utilities and government agencies across Australia. Janina Murta: Research Consultant at the Institute for Sustainable Futures and working across water and sanitation and international development research areas. With a background in environmental engineering and a master s degree in integrated water management, Janina is able to contribute with both strong technical and qualitative research skills often required by the transdisciplinary nature of our projects. Andrea Turner Research Director Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney. Phone +61-2-9514 4950 Email andrea.turner@uts.edu.au Web www.isf.uts.edu.au 8