2010 International Water

Association (IWA) Project

Innovations (PIA) Awards -
Planning Projects Category

Gold Coast Water Four R’s

Project: From Vision To
Reality

Guillermo Capati
Manager Infrastructure Planning
Gold Coast Water

«ReportName» Gold Coast Water

«Date» «Version»
1
 Gold Coast Water’s Four R’s Project: From Vision to Reality :: Planning Projects Category

Executive summary
The consequences of climate change and reduced rainfall are overturning traditional water and wastewater

management paradigms. In the city of the Gold Coast, South East Queensland, Australia, the record-breaking

‘Millennium Drought’, combined with rapid population growth, were opportunistic drivers for the creation of

sustainable and innovative water management solutions.

Over the past decade, Gold Coast City’s local water authority, Gold Coast Water (GCW), has directed a shift to

more sustainable management of the city’s water, particularly wastewater and recycled water services and assets.

Through the evolution of wastewater and recycled water policy, GCW has developed an integrated approach to

long term planning and management to optimise the use of recycled water resources and produce effective and

sustainable wastewater management outcomes. This approach has culminated in the innovative reapplication

of the 3R’s of waste management to a water context – creating a hierarchy of actions to govern recycled water

management – The 4R’s of Sustainable Water Management: Reduce, Recycle, Recover and Release.

• Reduce the generation of wastewater, through water conservation and prevention of stormwater infiltration into

the wastewater network.

• Recycle water where possible, to replace potable water for fit-for-purpose uses, such as toilet flushing and

outdoor use (Class A+), and beneficial non-contact uses, such as irrigation and industry process water (Class C).

• Recover recycled water from storage to balance excess recycled water production with shortfalls in demand.

This avoids the unnecessary release of recycled water to waterways and prevents the use of potable water for

non-potable water needs.

• Release unavoidable excess recycled water using optimal timing and positioning of release which takes

advantage of ebb tide flows to maximise mixing with the receiving waters.

This hierarchical approach directs more sustainable water options to be exhausted before proceeding to less

preferred options. This approach has been comprehensively applied to all recycled water infrastructure and

initiatives on the Northern Gold Coast to create a strategic integrated planning system, which achieves sustainable

outcomes.
 Gold Coast Water’s Four R’s Project: From Vision to Reality :: Planning Projects Category 1

Project description
Driven by high population growth, drought and sustainability goals, Gold Coast Water (GCW) has developed

an integrated approach to the long term planning and management of wastewater and recycled water. This

approach identifies a hierarchy of actions in order to manage these valuable resources:

REDUCE RECYCLE RECOVER RELEASE

Reduce the generation of Recycle water where possible, Recover recycled water from Release unavoidable excess

wastewater, through water to replace fit-for-purpose uses, storage to balance excess recycled water using optimal

conservation and prevention of such as toilet flushing and recycled water production with timing and positioning of

stormwater infiltration into the outdoor use (Class A+), and shortfalls in demand. This release which takes advantage

wastewater network. beneficial non-contact uses, avoids the unnecessary release of ebb tide flows to maximise

such as irrigation and industry of recycled water to waterways mixing with the receiving

process water (Class C). and prevents the use of waters.

potable water for non-potable

water needs.

This hierarchy forms the underlying principle of the 4R’s of Sustainable Water Use Scheme (the 4R’s Scheme),

which directs more sustainable water options to be exhausted before proceeding to less preferred options.

The 4R’s Scheme is an integrated wastewater and recycled water system that has been implemented across

the four northern Gold Coast wastewater catchments including all associated infrastructure.

Project roles

As the water authority responsible for all water, recycled water and wastewater assets and services for the

Gold Coast City, GCW has developed the 4R’s scheme upon a legacy of successful planning strategies as

outlined in Figure 1. The 4R’s scheme combines numerous initiatives and infrastructure managed, owned

and operated by GCW into a single strategic and focused system.

The 4R’s Scheme itself was formed by GCW to encapsulate current recycled water activities on the northern

Gold Coast.

Pimpama
Recycled Water Gold Coast
Coomera Recycled Water Recycled Water
Management Waterfuture 4R’s Scheme
Waterfuture Strategy Operational Plan
Policy Strategy
Master Plan

Figure 1 Timeline of Recycled Water Policies and Strategies under Gold Coast Water
 Gold Coast Water’s Four R’s Project: From Vision to Reality :: Planning Projects Category 2

Innovative application of technologies

The 4R’s Scheme is an innovative reapplication of the “3R’s of waste management” into a WATER

context. Each ‘R’ encapsulates recycled water initiatives on the northern Gold Coast to be managed in a

hierarchical approach.

REDUCE This option has a strong focus on water conservation awareness, education and training to

reduce wastewater generation, thereby decreasing the quantity of wastewater requiring transportation,

treatment, reuse and release. This includes rebates, curriculum packages for teachers and training

programs for plumbers. GCW has also implemented Reduced Infiltration Gravity Sewers (RIGS),

or Smart Sewers in Pimpama Coomera, which are specifically designed to reduce infiltration of

groundwater and inflow of stormwater into the wastewater network.

RECYCLE Initiatives and infrastructure supporting the treatment, distribution and use of recycled water form

the core of the 4R’s Scheme. Treatment is provided by four Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)

providing Class C recycled water, and Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant (RWTP) proving Class

A+ recycled water. Upgrades are planned at all sites and a new WWTP and RWTP are also proposed.

Recycled water is distributed through Class A+ and Class C recycled water networks, water carriers and

filling stations. Distribution infrastructure is planned to be upgraded to meet demands for recycled water.

RECOVER Recovery of recycled water involves the seasonal storage of recycled water during periods of low

demand, for later recovery during periods of high demand. GCW is currently operating Stapylton

Storage: a 360ML Class C storage facility converted from a disused quarry, and investigating an

Aquifer Storage and Recovery scheme: the annual storage of around 1000ML of Class A+ recycled

water to balance seasonal demands from dual reticulation end-users in Pimpama Coomera.

RELEASE If unable to be recycled or stored, residual recycled water from the city’s WWTPs, is currently released

via an ebb tide release system located at the Gold Coast Seaway. To manage increasing releases

from Coombabah, the city’s largest WWTP, GCW investigated a number of short term options. As an

outcome, GCW initiated an optimisation study with the objective of minimising the impacts of release

on water quality in the receiving estuarine system. The project involved intensive water quality and

hydrodynamic monitoring, hydrodynamic modelling and the development and implementation of a next

generation decision support system (DSS). The DSS will facilitate optimal decision-making in real

time, based on prevailing oceanographic, meteorological and tidal conditions. In addition to minimising

water quality impacts associated with the system, the project has resulted in the deferment of $60.5M

in capital investment for pipeline duplication.

 Gold Coast Water’s Four R’s Project: From Vision to Reality :: Planning Projects Category 3

Complexity of problem
The 4R’s approach simultaneously tackles the need to increase the efficiency of water resource use through

fit-for-purpose utilisation of recycled water and optimisation of wastewater management and infrastructure.

It also addresses key issues in the South East Queensland (SEQ) region regarding potable water security and

water stress on rainfall dependent sources of water, which are susceptible to the uncertainties of climate

change. The 4R’s scheme continues to incorporate community engagement, building upon the extensive

community consultation process used in decision-making processes of previous strategies to ensure public

acceptance and generate a sense of ownership and pride of recycled water usage.

Future value to water engineering

Water scarcity issues will continue to dominate water resource management due to continued population

growth in urbanised regions across the world. There is an ongoing need to fine-tune water conservation

and efficiency coupled with a wide-scale shift from the traditional single-use paradigm to a fit-for-purpose

reuse approach to water management. In addition, there continues to be a growing awareness of the

environmental values and fragility of our waterways, seaways and river systems, which will significantly

benefit from research and development into sustainable release systems. The 4R’s Scheme provides

an exemplar of the successful application of an integrated management approach to create holistic and

sustainable solutions to water issues from wastewater generation through to release. The approach can

be adopted by other water authorities, and documentation for many of the preceding strategies is freely

available. GCW strives to learn from all of its endeavours, continuously refining its development processes,

service delivery and operations, to continue to pioneer an era of change in the water industry.
 Gold Coast Water’s Four R’s Project: From Vision to Reality :: Planning Projects Category 4

Exceeding owner needs

GCW has risen above its traditional requirements for additional internal review. Total project cost for

as a local government water business to deliver Phase 1 of the 4R’s project is $28,461, including

enduring and leading-edge sustainable water production of an interactive map and brochure for

management initiatives to the northern Gold the Gold Coast community. Table 1 provides an

Coast region. This is evidenced by the myriad of estimated summary of the associated programme

sustainable water initiatives driven by GCW through costs of the 4R’s scheme to date.

the 4R’s scheme and the national and international Table 1

4R’s Initiative Cost (AUD)
recognition of GCW’s recycled water management REDUCE
Rebate scheme 9,929,230
by leading organisations such as the International Home Waterwise Program 7,549,795*
Education program 810,000
Water Association, the Australian Water Association
Plumbers training 23,045
and the United Nations (Australian Chapter). Rather RECYCLE
Pimpama WWTP 80,206,994
than be limited by the traditional scope of water Pimpama RWTP 62,396,096
Class A+ network 33,491,674
authorities, GCW have championed change where RECOVER
Stapylton Storage 3,285,512
the solution crosses into policy areas of other ASR 971,011
RELEASE
bodies of government. Scheduled completion of the Broadwater Study 114,755
SmartRelease 713,436
4R’s project was 18th December 2009, however
TOTAL 199,491,548
was deferred until 27th January 2010 to allow *includes $4,727,332 State Government Funding.

Social, economic and sustainable design considerations

Initiatives under each of the 4R’s elements individually incorporate sustainable design through the

consideration of social, economic and environmental factors, as highlighted in the following table.

The 4R’s demonstrates GCW’s engineering excellence through the creation of a sustainable and

innovative solution to the complex problem of potable water shortages and recycled water release, which

can be applied by other water-stressed service providers both nationally and internationally.
 INITIATIVE SOCIAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL
REDUCE Water • Society benefits from a deepened sense of community pride • Decreased requirement for wastewater infrastructure capacity, • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions (GGEs) generated

Conservation through conservative water behaviour and increased potable enabling duplications / augmentations to be delayed thereby by pumping and treatment. E.g. the WaterWise home

Education, water security. reducing capital expenditure. service reduced GGEs by up to 12,300T/y.

Incentives and • Injection of knowledge and skills through campaign and • Reduced operational costs through reduced pumping and other • Reduced loads increase the performance of WWTPs.

Training education material and training programs. capacity-related operations.

Smart Sewers – • Improved operational and maintenance performance and • Decreased requirement for wastewater infrastructure capacity • Reduced GGEs through lower pumping and other

RIGS enhanced occupational safety by reducing the need to access leading to reduced capital and operational expenditure. capacity-related energy requirements

the wastewater system. • Reduced quantity of release, decreasing localised

waterway impact.

RECYCLE Wastewater and • Increased performance of treatment plants leads to more • Wastewater and recycled water infrastructure are delivered under • Reduced loads increase the performance of WWTPs.

Recycled Water effective odour management and better, more consistent alliance contracts which ensure cost efficiency in design and • Reduction of hydraulic and nutrient loading to

Treatment recycled water quality resulting in more reuse opportunities and construction. waterways through use of recycled water.

higher release quality.

Recycled Water • Public health is maintained as a priority at all times. Risk • Improved business / agricultural productivity and function through • Reduction of direct and indirect (embodied) water

Use mitigation is integrated into all elements of design and a reliable fit-for-purpose water supply during drought restrictions. use through the use of recycled water reduces a

construction, through rigorous procedures and practices. • Reduction of residential and business water bills, particularly for community’s overall ecological footprint.

• Recycled water serves as a reliable water source, particularly large scale industry and commercial activities. • Reduced quantity of release at the outfall, decreasing

during drought, contributing to a general improvement in • Generation of green job opportunities through construction, localised waterway impact.

lifestyle. operation and maintenance of recycled water infrastructure. • Class A+ recycled water use also reduces hydraulic

loading of release to the environment.

RECOVER Aquifer Storage • ASR will further increase the reliability of Class A+ recycled • Generation of green job opportunities through research and • Reduced quantities (up to 1000ML per year) of recycled

and Recovery water supply to the Pimpama Coomera Master Plan area. development, design, construction and operation of infrastructure. water released to the Gold Coast seaway.
Gold Coast Water’s Four R’s Project: From Vision to Reality :: Planning Projects Category

RELEASE Seaway • Increased community pride through the use and development of • Deferral of costly duplication of the existing release infrastructure • Reduction / stabilisation of impact of release while
5

SmartRelease innovative environmental solutions. • Generation of green job opportunities. increasing release volume with population growth.
 Gold Coast Water’s Four R’s Project - From Vision
to Reality Planning Projects Category
International Water Association 2010 Project Innovation Awards – Planning Projects Category
Gold Coast Water, Queensland, Australia

Gold Coast Water (GCW) is committed to the sustainable supply of recycled water by reducing demand on potable water
supplies and reducing release of treated wastewater to the environment. A hierarchy of recycled water use has been
developed to guide the sustainable management of this valuable resource. This hierarchy is defined by the Four R’s:
• First, we need to Reduce the wastewater generation as much as possible.
• Second, wastewater is Recycled by treating to a quality which is fit for use.
• I f the recycled water cannot be used immediately due to low demand, it is stored and Recovered for later use.
• Finally, excess recycled water is Released in a manner which minimises environmental impact.

REDUCE
This option has a strong focus on water conservation awareness, education
and training to reduce wastewater generation, thereby decreasing the quantity
of wastewater requiring transportation, treatment, reuse and release. This
includes rebates, curriculum packages for teachers and training programs for
plumbers. GCW has also implemented Reduced Infiltration Gravity Sewers
(RIGS), or Smart Sewers in Pimpama Coomera, which are specifically
designed to reduce infiltration of groundwater and inflow of stormwater into
the wastewater network.

RECYCLE
Initiatives and infrastructure supporting the treatment, distribution and use of
recycled water form the core of the 4R’s Scheme. Treatment is provided by four
Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) providing Class C recycled water, and
Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant (RWTP) proving Class A+ recycled
water. Upgrades are planned at all sites and a new WWTP and RWTP are also
proposed. Recycled water is distributed through Class A+ and Class C recycled
water networks, water carriers and filling stations. Distribution infrastructure is
planned to be upgraded to meet demands for recycled water.

RECOVER
Recovery of recycled water involves the seasonal storage of recycled water
during periods of low demand, for later recovery during periods of high demand.
GCW is currently operating Stapylton Storage: a 360ML Class C storage facility
converted from a disused quarry, and investigating an Aquifer Storage and
Recovery scheme: the annual storage of around 1000ML of Class A+ recycled
water to balance seasonal demands from dual reticulation end-users in
Pimpama Coomera.

RELEASE
If unable to be recycled or stored, residual recycled water from the city’s
WWTPs, is currently released via an ebb tide release system located at the Gold
Coast Seaway. To manage increasing releases from Coombabah WWTP, GCW
initiated an optimisation study with the objective of minimising the impacts of
release on water quality in the receiving estuarine system. This involved
monitoring, modelling and the development and implementation of a decision
support system (DSS). The DSS will facilitate optimal decision-making in real
time, based on prevailing oceanographic, meteorological and tidal conditions.
«ReportName» Gold Coast Water
«Date» «Version»
2