back to Newsroom

SEPTEMBER 2011

The theme of the recent AWA conference in Mackay was "It Never Rains it Pours : The Unique Challenges of Managing the Water Cycle in North Queensland". The two technical papers presented by Harrison Grierson staff were very well received by the delegates.

The paper, "Flow Monitoring Investigations" was of particular interest to pipe network operators who are faced with the ongoing challenge of gathering data in pipe networks and creating computer models of how the networks behave under a range of conditions, including extreme events. These models are subsequently used to establish future capital expenditure programmes so there is real pressure on getting this work done accurately. The paper gave insights in how to set up successful monitoring programmes, the interpretation and use of telemetry data and the auditing and validation of the results that are obtained from flow measuring equipment.

The paper, "Innovative Use of Process Air in Wastewater Treatment Plants" was of particular interest to asset managers who have responsibility for operation, maintenance and compliance of treatment plants. The paper focussed on development work recently completed on the time and rate control of the use of forced air in biological degradation processes in the activated sludge treatment process by measuring and predicting the respiration rates of different bacteria at various stages of the treatment cycle. The outcome of the work for asset managers is much lower power charges on the the supply of forced air which for some Councils may be hundreds of thousands of dollars per annum.