eFlash #619 New
Date: 19-Feb-2025
In this edition: HPWJ Exemption | HAB Season Help | Proposed Trade Waste Uplift Project | Water Skills Forum | Health Based Targets Information Session | Environmental Opportunities Forum Wrap | Micro-credentials 2025
NEW / HOT TOPICS
High Pressure Water jetting exemption achieved
After a number of years of research, qldwater is pleased to advise that we have been successful in achieving an exemption from the safety regulator (Office of Industrial Relations) for Queensland Water Service Providers regarding the use of High Pressure Water Jetting to clean sewers.
This regulator exemption for the Queensland Water Sector is through until 2030 and covers;
- Local governments that own infrastructure for supplying water or sewerage services and are registered as a Water Service Provider under chapter 2, part 3 of the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008; and
- Distributor-retailers as defined in the South-East Queensland Water (Distribution and Retail Restructuring) Act 2009; and
- Entities contracted to undertake high-pressure water jetting activities on behalf of a local government registered as a Water Service Provider or a distributor-retailer. Local Government Water Service Providers.
The exemption has been granted following extensive research regarding asbestos fibres in the sewers, sewer flows, biosolids and at the treatment plant. This research involved presence and absence testing at 20 water service providers across Queensland.
This outcome for the sector has been achieved with the strong support of Queensland’s Largest water service provider Urban Utilities and their contractors Veolia and WSP who have provided expert Occupational Hygiene advice and worked with qldwater, the regulator and the Unions to develop appropriate Safe Work Method Statements to protect our workers.
The exemption requires water service providers to implement appropriate safety training and a Safe Work Method in line with the requirements in the approval that the regulator has granted.
To help the sector to understand this approval the qldwater team will shortly hold a Webinar which explains the research findings and the safety measures that Water Service Providers need to implement to comply with our exemption. Stand by for advice on timing of this Webinar over the next week.
HAB Season Help
It’s that time of the year again where Harmful Algal Blooms arrive like an unwelcome guest.
Just a reminder to our members that we have excellent resources available on the Water Workforce Toolbox to help you tackle the challenges.
The HAB toolbox includes an Action Plan developed in partnership with Queensland Health, a FAQ section, links to manuals and recordings of a webinar series on HABs.
Proposed Trade Waste Uplift Project
qldwater is preparing a QWRAP bid pool submission to support a Trade Waste Uplift Project for regional communities, following requests from several councils, including Livingstone Shire Council. The collaborative project would comprise three main deliverables:
- Collaborative development of a model regional trade waste management plan.
- Developing a spreadsheet calculator to support the WSAA Trade Waste Guideline Values addendum to the Australian Sewage Quality Management Guidelines, along with a model trade waste loading report.
- Establish and fund a regional Queensland Trade Waste Interest Group (TWIG) to drive ongoing improvements.
Livingstone Shire Council has generously offered to host the first TWIG meetings:
- Thursday, 20 March | 1:00 – 4:00 pm | TWIG establishment meeting
- Friday, 21 March | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm | Trade Waste Workshops
We encourage participation from councils in the WBBUWA, WIM, RAPAD, SW, DUW, and CQ alliances or any regional councils interested in trade waste management improvements.
Mike Dalton (Livingstone Shire Council) and Col Hester will progress the bid pool submission. If the submission is successful, we will confirm the meeting details via an e-flash.
If you are interested in participating, please email Col Hester at chester@qldwater.com.au – your support will strengthen the submission.
Water Skills Forum
Work is well underway for our 8th annual Water Skills Forum to be held at Parliament House on Thursday, 27 March. The theme for the event is Putting people at the heart of innovation.
The event will include a QUT WISE Lab Tour and drinks reception from 4.30pm to 6.30pm on 26 March.
Register here for the QUT tour.
We have a separate registration for the Water Skills Forum which will take place at the Queensland Parliament from 8.00am to 4.00pm on 27 March.
Register here for the Water Skills Forum.
WSP member organisations are eligible for two free tickets to the event. To access the free tickets, please add the code "WSPMEMBER" when you register. If you are unsure whether your organisation is a WSP member, please email Sarah Henry.
HBT Information Session
On Thursday, 27 March (following the Water Skills Forum), qldwater will be co-hosting an HBT Information Session.
In December 2024 the Queensland Audit Office (QAO) published a performance audit report titled "Managing Queensland’s regional water quality". The report recommends that the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers (DLGWV) develop a pathway for water service providers to adopt health-based targets in the production of potable water. This pathway should include:
- Assessing the regulatory impact of fully implementing the targets and the public health risks of not adopting them, including identifying costs and benefits.
- Publishing an implementation plan with a timeline and communication strategy to provide councils with more clarity for their infrastructure and operational planning.
The session aims to:
- Provide an overview of the operation and effect of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
- Explain what Health Based Targets are and how they interact with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
- Highlight challenges to the efficient and equitable implementation of Health Based Targets across Queensland.
- Identify key strategies for implementing changes towards the introduction of Health Based Targets and the effective regulation of the drinking water sector.
The session is open to all qldwater members.
Environmental Opportunities Forum Wrap
Last week, the qldwater Environmental Opportunities Forum in Gympie brought together urban water service providers and environmental organisations to share experiences and case studies on successful projects.
Thanks to all our speakers for contributing to such a successful event, and to the engaged audience for their interesting questions and reflections.
Thanks to our wonderful hosts, Gympie Regional Council and to all who attended and contributed.
For a more detailed outline of the event, read our blog here.
Micro-Credentials 2025
There are still places available for the in-person Micro-Credential courses to be delivered at our Eagle Farm office in Brisbane this April. These micro-credentials are designed to support operational and field staff in strengthening their knowledge and skills in drinking water quality management, data analysis, and SCADA systems.
The content will be valuable for water and sewerage operators, operational support staff, field teams and data users.
1 April 2025 – Practical Implications of the DWQMP (6 hours + assessments)
- Understand your role in effectively implementing a Drinking Water Quality Management Plan (DWQMP)
- Learn how to manage risks from catchment to consumer
- Gain insights into key operational touchpoints for water safety compliance
2 April 2025 – Making Sense of Water Quality Data (4-6 hours + assessments)
- Learn how to interpret and apply water quality data for informed decision-making
- Use tools like Excel and swimlocal to track trends and identify emerging issues
- Ensure compliance with your DWQMP while improving drinking water quality
3-4 April 2025 – Introduction to SCADA (2 days, 16 hours)
- Get an overview of SCADA and telemetry systems used in water and sewerage
- Gain practical experience in monitoring, operating, and responding to system events
- Understand how SCADA supports drinking water management and critical control points
Drinking Water Regulation Workshop
The Water Supply Regulation team is conducting a Drinking Water Regulation workshop at the Civic Reception Room, Ground floor, 119 – 145 Spence Street, Cairns on Tuesday 1 April 2025. The workshop is an ‘in person’ only workshop.
The agenda includes presentations by Water Supply Regulation and will cover a range of topics including WSR perspective on processing amendments to a DWQMP and annual reports. Queensland Health and service providers will also deliver presentations about relevant operational issues.
Investigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Wastewater Sludge Lagoons
Water Research Australia is hosting a webinar to learn about the outcomes of a research project on the Investigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Open Wastewater Sludge Lagoons.
This webinar will provide new insights into methane and nitrous oxide emissions from common sludge treatment lagoons, helping to define emission factors and explore potential mitigation strategies.
This event is FREE and available for both WaterRA members and non-members. It will provide an opportunity to learn more about the project outcomes, and recommendations to advance this research.
Sustainable Pumping Course
Rob Welke, aka The Pump Whisperer, will be delivering the final Brisbane presentation of his Sustainable Pumping course on 11-12 March before retiring at the end of 2025.
Register and pay direct at www.waterpumping.institute - just click on Book Now, find the Brisbane event, click on View Event and follow prompts.
QWD members can receive a 10% discount on the Brisbane course cost. Use discount code WP10OFF.