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.
Central Tablelands Water engaged us to develop a strategic plan with key staff and regulators and identify options and constraints for their portfolio management of critical infrastructure. We delivered an options assessment and facilitated workshops with the board to optimise future asset investments.
Griffith City Council have engaged us to develop the Griffith WTP masterplan. The masterplan develops and prioritises substantial upgrades to improve resilience and system performance, and progresses key 'no-regrets’ investments we identified with Council as part of our work on their LWU strategic planning. Our project team includes reputable and specialised subcontractors to support the electrical, civil and mechanical aspects of the project.
Lithgow City Council engaged us to undertake a process capacity review for their three STPs. We identified compliance risks and bottlenecks in each STP process and made recommendations to optimise chemical dosing and aeration to achieve efficient compliance with the Licences. We also made recommendations to improve process control and monitoring in the PLC/SCADA and future capital works.
Goldenfields Water engaged us to develop tender documentation to design and construct a fluoride and chlorine dosing facility and demolish the old assets at Oura WTP. As part of this project, we developed the concept design including P&IDs and equipment sizing and prepared the technical specification. Our project team included reputable and specialised subcontractors to support the civil aspects of the project.
Narromine Shire Council engaged us to assess options to improve the water quality and water security of the Narromine drinking water supply system. The options assessment included high level design, cost estimate and triple bottom line assessment. Our project team included reputable and specialised subcontractors to support the civil and hydrogeological aspects of the project.
The Water Authority of Fiji engaged Atom Consulting to develop risk appetite statements and reporting for their organisation. The project included:
The project increased risk literacy across the organisation. The outputs was an updated risk framework which included risk appetite statements and reporting metrics and mechanisms from operations through the Executive Leadership Team to the Board.
Atom Consulting facilitated a desktop exercise of PIRMP implementation for the Walcha STP. During the workshop we considered:
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.
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:
The output was a plan that Council could follow to improve their preparedness and manage their system with severely reduced staffing levels.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Reported on the health and dam safety risks of recreational activities in the water supply dams, including additional monitoring and costs of these activities.
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.
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.
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.
