Water information management and integrated monitoring

An integrated water quality information management system ensuring the safety, security and efficiency of water supply

Background
The approach
The partners

Background

A closed water loop operation, in which purified recycled wastewater (PRW) is reused, is an important part of the emerging SEQ water grid, and is made up of a number of key components including sewage treatment, advanced water treatment, surface water return to storages, and potable water treatment and distribution.

However, the introduction of purified recycled wastewater into the water supply system delivers fresh challenges for water management professionals. Maintaining the barriers between the different water components is essential to optimal performance, and this can only be assured through the collection of relevant, valid and timely data on water quality and quantity.

An effectively integrated real-time Water Quality Information Management System (WQIMS) can play an important role in safeguarding the system operation.

The approach

The project will facilitate the movement to real-time data management through:

• assessment of existing water quality data collection and examination methods;
• improvement of data collection for real-time use via improvement of existing sensor performance and potentially the development of new sensing, communications and in-network decision making technology;
• development of a management system

Our project team will oversee the development of data collection, communication and processing protocols, evaluation of existing water quality data, and identify the required sensor development to address data shortfalls.

We will further identify how the data should be processed and used in the management decision making process.

It will also enhance the identification of potential risks associated with the closed water loop operation, and will be fully integrated with existing data providers and users, building on a range of methodologies currently employed by water, environmental and health authorities in Australia and abroad

The partners

This project is a research partnership between Griffith University, the CSIRO, the Department of Natural Resources and Water, QLD, and the QLD Water Commission, working alongside partners from Gold Coast Water, Veolia Water, SEQ Water, Brisbane Water and Ipswich Water, as well as researchers from Singapore’s PUB.

This project also aims to fully integrate with the SEQ Water Accounting Framework and existing data owners such as SEQ Water, Brisbane Water, Ipswich Water and Gold Coast Water to provide an on-going management tool for the systems operation, including new owners such as the Bulk Water Managers, Transmission Managers, Grid Manager and Distribution Managers.

Contact: Professor Huijun Zhao
Griffith University
Gold Coast Campus, Queensland
Ph: +61 7-5552 8261
Email: Huijun Zhao

Read about more of our research.