Urban Water Networks
Urban Water Management
For Catchment Strategists
For Water Educators and Communicators
For Asset Managers
For Facility Managers
For Environmental Compliance Staff
Urban Water Management
The Australian Water Association's (AWA) is a large membership association for water professionals and organisations. The Independent, not for profit AWA plays an important role in supporting the Australian water sector in the delivery of effective and sustainable water management practices. Free weekly e-news for non-members and a wide range of resources and event discounts for members.
The Stormwater Industry Association promotes innovative and sustainable practice technologies, standards and policies that minimise adverse environmental, social and economic impacts. This industry association links diverse and multi-disciplinary interests of all stakeholders with an interest in Stormwater. State chapters and the National body organise annual conferences, awards, workshops and field trips. Members receive discounts and an informative regular bulletin
Water for Life is a community engagement program of the NSW Government's Sydney Metropolitan Water Strategy. This website provides useful links to all current guidance on recycling sewage, stormwater and greywater for various end uses. It also gives case studies and links to actual stormwater harvesting projects in the Sydney Metropolitan area.
The Water Loss Management Program supports Local Water Utilities in NSW to reduce leaks from drinking water distribution systems. Specialist knowledge and equipment is provided to help local staff identify, develop and implement water saving projects. Water loss and distribution system leakage can be a significant issue for NSW Local Water Utilities (LWUs) - in some cases 30% of a LWU water can be "unaccounted for". A joint initiative of the Local Government and Shires Associations (LGSA) of NSW, the Water Directorate with partial funding from the Australian Government (through the Water Smart Australia program).
The Water Services' Association of Australia is the peak body of the Australian urban water industry with some 30 members and 25 associate members.
For Catchment Strategists
The eWater CRC (formerly the Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology (1992-2005)). The eWater CRC marshals years of research efforts to provide sophisticated catchment modelling tools for urban and non urban settings, with the aim of boosting the ability to make cost-effective, integrated, and scientifically defendable water management decisions. The eWater website contains detailed information on commercially available and beta-versions of various modelling products. With some investigation you will also find links to a range of peer reviewed research papers. The previous CRC for Catchment Hydrology's significant publication archive is here.
The NSW Office Of Environment and Heritage Marine and coastal research and monitoring team has undertaken a range of modelling activities for coastal lakes in NSW. Find out more about the Coastal Eutrophication Risk Assessment Tool (CERAT), developed by OEH scientists. CERAT is used to better understand and predict the relationship between land use in catchments and impacts on estuaries and coastal lakes.
For Water Educators and Communicators
The Water Education Resource Hub, delivered as part of the Water For Life program (see above) is a ‘one-stop-shop’ on everything to do with water education for the community. Anyone from experienced practitioners through to first-timers can use it to design, run and evaluate an education project for the community, work colleagues or friends. Read urbanwater.info's detailed description of this extensive online information resource.
Stormwater education - communication collatoral and council resources from the NSW Government's previous Stormwater Trust program: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/stormwater
The Save Water Alliance is a national consortia involving multiple partners from across the water industry that has developed this community education website portal that provides water saving guidance and information for domestic householders, commercial businesses, education facilities and agricultural water users.
For Asset Managers
The Institution of Public Works Engineers (IPWEA) website links to the International Infrastructure Management Manual (IIMM or 'black book') a free online forum and other resources.
The Australian Water Association's (AWA) includes an Asset Management Specialist Network that offers news, conference and workshop opportunities.
The Water Services' Association of Australia is the peak body of the Australian urban water industry with some 30 members and 25 associate members. The Asset Management Network pages offers members only access to resources and an online forum.
For Facility Managers
HCCREMS (Hunter and Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy) has compiled an online 'Resource Library' as part of its 'FOCUS on Facilties' project (2010-11) to assist councils in their region access quality resources of relevance to saving energy and water in council facilities and operations.
For Environmental Compliance Staff
HCCREMS Regional Environmental Compliance program and network provides knowledge and resource sharing on matters of common concern to council based environmental compliance staff. Access useful information on funding environmental compliance activities and writing legally enforceable conditions of consent.