Amended Planning Guidelines for Water Supply and Sewerage
Date: 29-Jun-2017
The State Government commenced a program of work to amend chapter 6 (Network Modelling and Applications) of these guidelines a few years ago, convening an industry reference group to assist with the amendments. The primary purpose of Chapter 6 has always been to facilitate strategic thinking in the planning process. qldwater was unaware of the final publication which occurred in March 2014, and this notice is to advise interested members who may also have missed it. It is particularly relevant to network planning in relation to fire flows
In very brief summary feedback indicated terminology changes were required to update the guideline:
- Most of the “shoulds” and “musts” in the previous chapter have been replaced with less prescriptive terms. Previously specified minimum pressures are now “recommended.”
- The now dated term of ‘Fire Authority’ has been amended to ‘Fire Service’ bringing the guideline into alignment with definitions that are also found within Queensland Fire legislation. The definition of the Fire Service is now the definition that is used within the Fire and Rescue Service Act 1990 for ‘Service’.
- Another consistent comment that was identified was in regard to the terminology used for ‘system head curves’, replacement of this terminology with ‘characteristic curves’ has been used to assist in clearing up this anomaly.
- There are a number of refinements to modelling definitions, guidance around design for new developments, and amendments to reflect changes to recycled water management.
- More encouragement of stakeholder consultation.
In regard, to the legislative requirements of Chapter 6 of the Planning Guidelines for Water Supply and Sewerage the intent has always been for Chapter 6 to be read in conjunction with all other legislative requirements and where inconsistency with the any legislative requirements, the legislative requirements prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.
While provision of network capacity to fight fires in the community is an important part of the water supply network, there is no legal requirement for a water service provider in Queensland to do so unless specified in a WSP’s customer service standard.
To comply (voluntarily) with the guideline, providers will need to:
- Develop and maintain a fire flow policy
- Implement a service level agreement with the local fire service
- Maintain a fire flow provision register
- Document minimum fire flow provisions and maintain this level of service in the water supply network
- Include provisions in recycled water management plans for recycled water used for fire fighting.
The consultation has now been finalised and the amended guideline is available on the departmental website: http://www.dews.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/80053/water-sewerage-planning-guidelines.pdf
If you would like to discuss further the results of the consultation please do not hesitate to contact Chris Pfeffer from the department on (07) 3199 4880.
Back to list