Our Projects

We help state government, local councils and private utility managers better run, govern and manage water utilities. 

Each of these projects is an example of how we translate our on-the-ground experience to policy, and then translate that policy back into practice.

PIRMP Testing - Walcha Council

Atom Consulting facilitated a desktop exercise of PIRMP implementation for the Walcha STP. During the workshop we considered:

  • reaction and accountability of facility personnel
  • adherence to PIRMP procedures
  • adherence to relevant SOPs.

Following the scenario, participants from the exercise were debriefed on their performance and issues from the desktop exercise were noted along with recommendations for PIRMP modifications.

 

COVID Planning - Dubbo Regional Council

Dubbo Regional Council engaged Atom Consulting to review their preparedness in the event of the pandemic reaching and impacting their water supply operations operating areas of Dubbo, Wellington, Geurie and Mumbil. Our team:

  • determined the system’s ability to operate remotely
  • reviewed minimum staffing requirements and options for smaller teams
  • prioritised tasks to determine which monitoring and maintenance tasks can be pushed back in the event of reduced operating capacity.

The output was a plan that Council could follow to improve their preparedness and manage their system with severely reduced staffing levels.

 

Criticality Assesment - Parkes Shire Council

Atom Consulting facilitated a criticality review of the water, sewage treatment and recycling plants for Parkes Shire Council.

The equipment at each plant was reviewed in workshops with Council management and operating staff.

The project outcomes were:

  • clearly defined maintenance priorities
  • high-level risk mitigation strategy for all equipment
  • optimisation of spares held by Council
  • prioritisation of high criticality equipment for upgrade or replacement
  • focused reliability improvements on the most critical equipment

 

Water quality meeting facilitation and annual report preparation

We facilitate quarterly water quality meetings and teleconferences for Council's Drinking Water Management System (DWMS). In each meeting, we review key components of the DWMS including operational and verification data, customer complaints, and any incidents or treatment challenges. The results of these meetings are used to prepare the DWMS annual report, giving Council a greater understanding of their system.

Developing NSW’s Recycled Water Management System guidance

NSW Department of Primary Industries, Urban Water Branch, engaged us to lead the development of the ‘NSW Recycled Water Management System Guidance’. We facilitated a series of stakeholder workshops, developed the guidance document and created a number of supporting fact sheets to help NSW improve the safe use and governance of recycled water.

Creating a Recycled Water Management System in Coffs Harbour

We were engaged by Coffs Harbour City Council to develop a risk based Recycled Water Management System (RWMS) for their recycled water scheme. Through a process of interview, document review, treatment plant and end-user site inspections, we carried out a gap analysis audit of the system. We also carried out a workshop risk assessment, involving a number of external stakeholders, facilitating the project with appropriate engagement to ensure the best result for the council.

Conducting water quality risk assessments in Tamworth

Tamworth Regional Council engaged us to facilitate water quality risk assessments for Barraba, Bendemeer, Nundle and Manilla Water Treatment Plants, as required by the NSW Public Health Act 2010. Our assessment not only assisted the council to meet regulatory requirements, but ensured they were on the front-foot for managing any potential risk or regulatory issues.

Fluoride tracer study for Parkes Shire Council

We led an intensive tracer study to gather data for use in a hydraulic model and water age study to improve Council’s understanding of the reticulation system. This enabled council to make better decisions to keep their community healthy.

The Pipe Breaks project, Water Research Australia

We created a framework to control microbial risks from pipeline repair or renewal for WaterRA. We collected data from water utilities across Australia regarding their pipe break procedures and protocols, in order to develop the framework which would allow for safer management of pipe breaks. Read more about Project #1091 on the Water Research Australia website. Click here for more details.

Parkes Shire Council Recycled Water Reuse Signage

Provided guidance on signage standards for recycled water reuse sites to mitigate the risk of accidental contact with water and promote awareness of the use of recycled water.

Goldenfields Water County Council Monitoring Plan Review

Reviewed and updated the Goldenfields Water County Council quality monitoring program, including process, verification and NSW Health monitoring, in line with the requirements of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011).

Orange City Council Recreational Use of Dams Guidance

Reported on the health and dam safety risks of recreational activities in the water supply dams, including additional monitoring and costs of these activities.

Lord Howe Island Board Quality Assurance Plan

Atom Consulting reviewed the drinking water supply infrastructure operated by the Lord Howe Island Board and drafted their Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) to meet the requirements of the NSW Public Health Act (2010). The Board owns a range of decentralised systems, the project involved auditing each system, developing testing and maintenance regimes and incident and emergency procedures, making treatment recommendations and incorporating into the QAP.

Standard Operating Procedures

Developed standard operating procedures for a number of sewage and water treatment plants with input from operational staff. Staff were then trained in the use of the procedures.

Norfolk Island Regional Council QAP Development and Community Consultation

Assisted private water suppliers on the island to develop Quality Assurance Plans in preparation for the introduction of the Public Health Act (2010). This involved developing plans for the major water carters and Council water supplies, developing templates for other private water suppliers and holding community workshops.

E        info@atomconsulting.com.au

P        02 9488 7742

A        401, 71-73 Archer St, Chatswood NSW 2067

© Atom Consulting 2020