Practical insights and lessons learnt from working with sustainability across major water

infrastructure projects

Bob Tilbury - Senior Associate, Water & Environment

Sinclair Knight Merz

Changing Context for Water Managers

• Climate Change• Water shortage crises• Increased water & energy

costs• Declining catchment yields• Unreliable water quality• Changes in community

values

“Cost of water tipped to rise by 100pc”

“Water prices to rise by up to 60 per cent in Victoria”

“Water plant to guzzle energy”

“Utility prices: Water bills likely to rise 3% above inflation”

“Climate change accelerates water hunt in U.S. West”

A ‘business as usual’ approach to managing

water is not only inadequate, but bordering

on the irresponsible!

Sustainability uptake

• Varies among organisations• Increasingly,

Sustainability Strategy = Business Strategy

Strategy & Principles Practical Experience Insights

The Top 10 InsightsInsight Organisation

FocusProject Focus Relevant to Both

Authenticity X

Not Just Technology X

Fit for the Future X

Increase efficiency to improved effectiveness

X

Early adoptionX

1. Authenticity

• Real effort and leadership needed• Avoid ‘spin’ and ‘green-wash’• Failure reduces staff/community engagement

and the organisation’s brand• e.g. Public Sustainability Reporting

– Evolved from social, economic, environmental model– Themes reflect strategic priorities– Not just past performance: Future strategy &

direction

The challenge – from principles to implementation in projectsSUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES WHEEL

11 1/9 %11 1/9 %

11 1/9 %

11 1/9 %

11 1/9 %

11 1/9 %11 1/9 %

11 1/9 %

11 1/9 %

ProtectHealth &

Wellbeing

ProtectAssets

PreventHarm

RespectOthers

FindEfficiencies

ConserveEnvironmental

Value

EnhanceCommunities

CreateValue

EnhanceEcologicalResilience

EN

VIR

ON

ME

NT

AL

SustainableManagement

of WaterServices

PREVENT SUSTAIN ENHANCE

Sustainable management of water services to make WA a great place to live and invest

In three years – “Sustainability underpins our culture – how we do business, from the way we provide water services to the way we purchase supplies.

…….fully integrate sustainability thinking into the ‘way we do things’.”

2. Not just technology

• Not only What we do, but How we do it• An integrated, holistic way of thinking • Needs a catalyst – someone to drive it• e.g. Role of Sustainability Practitioner

– Avert the Project “tunnel vision” & isolated solutions

– WA wastewater upgrade program– Energy use/efficiency, design options, potable

water use, community engagement

3. Design fit for the future

Sustainability Goals for 2022: fit for purpose assets that: Reduce the environmental footprint (use fewer natural resources) Have maximum beneficial outcomes for the community Operate to maximum effectiveness Are relevant to current and future demands & trends Zero potable water use 100% re-use of treated wastewater 100% biological control for odour Carbon neutral plant - GHG emissions reduced or offset Capacity and operational stability (10% extra capacity in all processes) Plant seen by the community as an asset to the local area

• What will the operating environment be like in 20 years?

5. Early adoption

• ‘The solution is out there, not in here.’– think outside the box, or the Project– Understand connections, relationships – beyond

the site– e.g. Sustainability Framework: criteria to guide

decision-making• Reduced land take for infrastructure

– which would have constrained future options

• Calculate true energy consumption and GHG emissions– doubled operating costs

The Top 10 InsightsInsight Organisation

FocusProject Focus Relevant to Both

Helpful Tools X

True stakeholder engagement

X

Divergent thinking

X

Enduring value for money

X

Beyond a green agenda

X

7. True stakeholder engagement

• Social and community elements of sustainability– A recurring theme– Often dominate technical issues

• Getting beyond the “Design and defend” mindset• e.g. Dam upgrade project

– Community Reference Group achieved full consensus on preferred option

– Upgrade completed without complaint• e.g. HV power line route selection

– Community (technical) input improved selection process– Project completed 2 years early

Industry Reflections

“People need a practical definition of sustainability to work with. You can’t just leave it to people’s sense of altruism – you need to make it about self interest for many to act. We have found that we will need to put it into KPIs or similar to really get a change in behaviour.”

Bob Humphries, Water Corporation, Western Australia

Conclusions

• A sustainability approach has much to offer water managers

• Design that promotes long term value• Understand the gap in translation of sustainability• The challenge to operationalise • Business as usual is no longer an option

Thank you