WWSM Guideline

National Wastewater Source Management Guideline July 2008

2 National Wastewater Source Management Guideline

The Water ServicesAssociation of Australia

WSAA Wastewater SourceManagement NetworkStrategic Advisory Group

DisclaimerThis guideline is issued by the Water ServicesAssociation of Australia Ltd. on the understandingthat:

1. The Water Services Association of Australia Ltd.and individual contributors are not responsiblefor the results of any action taken on the basisof information in this guideline, nor for anyerrors or omissions.

2. The Water Services Association of Australia Ltd.and individual contributors disclaim all and anyliability to any person in respect of anything,and the consequences of anything, done oromitted to be done by a person in relianceupon the whole or any part of this guideline.

The Water Services Association of Australia(WSAA) is the peak body of the Australian urbanwater industry. Its 30 members and 31 associatemembers provide water and wastewater servicesto approximately 16 million Australians and tomany of our largest industrial and commercialenterprises. WSAA membership also includes twomembers and one associate member from NewZealand.

Urban water service providers have a critical rolein ensuring that Australians have access toadequate and high quality water services. AsAustralias population continues to grow, withmost of this growth occurring in cities, that rolebecomes increasingly important.

WSAAs vision is for Australian urban waterutilities to be valued as leaders in the innovative,sustainable and cost effective delivery of waterservices. WSAA strives toachieve this vision by promoting knowledgesharing, networking and cooperation amongstmembers. WSAA identifies emerging issues anddevelops industry-wide responses. WSAA is thenational voice of the urban water industry,speaking to government, the broader water sectorand the Australian community.

Andrew Kirkwood, Sydney Water

Amanda Smith, City West Water

Cameron Jackson, Brisbane Water

David Hewett, Water Corporation

Geoff Gardiner, City West Water Lidia Harvey, Melbourne Water

Grant Leslie, WSAA Program Manager,coordinated the project

Contributors:

David Lynch, SKM

Annette Davidson, Water Futures

Copyright Water Services Association of Australia Ltd,2008

This document is copyright. Apart from any use aspermitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no partof this document may be reproduced ortransmitted in any form or by any means,electronically or mechanical, for any purpose,without the express written permission of theWater Services Association of Australia Ltd.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

ISBN 1 920760 31 8

3National Wastewater Source Management Guideline

Foreword

We all know from The Tragedy of the Commonsdoctrine developed in the 1970s that commonpool resources such as air and water will beexploited and degraded if rules applying todischarges are not put in place.

The source control guidelines set the rules whichwill prevent the wastewater systems in our citiesbecoming subject to inappropriate discharges.

The guidelines have been developed taking intoaccount the contemporary challenges facing theurban water industry. Traditionally, guidelinescovering discharges to wastewater systemsconcentrated solely on discharges from industrialand commercial premises. Hence, they werecommonly referred to as Tradewaste Guidelines.

Now, we understand that the input of substancesto the wastewater system from household sourcescan also be significant. Although, the loads fromindividual properties may only be tiny, but whenmultiplied by the millions of households inAustralias largest cities these loads can becomesignificant.

The wastewater systems that provide vital sanitation services to our cities can beconsidered common pool resources such as air and water. Control is oftenproblematic as individuals feel free to discharge whatever they like to a commonpool resource where they do not confront the full marginal cost of their actions.This is why water and air pollution problems are often so insidious to control.

The guidelines also recognise that the water in ourwastewater systems can now be source water foradvanced water treatment plants to turn intorecycled water for a variety of uses which caninclude being blended with drinking watersupplies. Under the principles of the AustralianDrinking Water Guidelines the principle of a multibarrier approach is strongly advocated. In thissense, appropriate source control guidelines forindustry and households become the first barrierto entry to mitigate risks associated with ourdrinking water systems.

I am proud that the urban water industry hasdeveloped a modern and contemporary set ofguidelines to address the risks associated withinputs into our wastewater systems. Managingwater resources is much about managing risks andthese guidelines put in place a robust riskmanagement framework to protect the integrity ofour wastewater systems.

I commend these guidelines to the broader waterindustry and congratulate the industry StrategicAdvisory Committee who worked so diligently andtirelessly to develop these guidelines with manyother competing demands on their time.

Ross YoungExecutive Director, WSAA


Preamble

WSAA Wastewater Source Management Network Strategic Advisory Group

It has now been nearly twenty years since mostwater authorities began to appreciate the benefitsof managing wastewater inputs at the source. Formost of us this awakening came from a series ofcrises that were either created by an errant tradewaste discharger or by a significant change in theway we operated our sewerage system, or acombination of both.

These changes forced water authorities to take amore strategic approach to source managementand the realisation that it was better to haveformalised systems in place rather than trying tohandle issues reactively. This resulted in initiativessuch as domestic wastewater quality modelling,infiltration studies, household chemical collectionsand common law contracts with trade wastedischargers. However, there was very littlediscussion between water authorities on thesematters. This resulted in utilities going through asimilar discovery process with very little pooling ofknowledge. In 1993 a group of five Trade WasteManagers received funding from the Australianand New Zealand Environment ConservationCouncil (ANZECC) to develop the first NationalTrade Waste Guideline and in 1994 the ANZECCGuideline was released.

When the Water Services Association of Australia(WSAA) coordinated the first Source ManagementWorkshop for water authorities in 2005 it wasacknowledged that the National Guidelines werein need of updating to reflect modern WasteWater Source Management rather than just TradeWaste. It was necessary to provide utilities with amechanism to assist them to develop a strategic,process driven approach to source managementthat complemented water industry practice.

This Guideline is a result of that approach.

This Guideline has a strong emphasis on tradewaste management. It is expected that furthereditions will expand on other areas of sourcemanagement as knowledge and research increase.This Guideline has been written for staff fromwater authorities by staff from water authorities.The Strategic Advisory Group would like toacknowledge the contributions from member andassociate members of WSAA. In addition wewould like to thank Grant Leslie for his persistencein coordinating the publishing of this guideline.

Andrew Kirkwood, Sydney WaterCameron Jackson, Brisbane WaterDavid Hewett, Water CorporationAmanda Smith, City West WaterLidia Harvey, Melbourne Water


Glossary

BEARPIT Best Available And Reasonable Pre-treatment Infrastructure Technology

Biosolids Organic solids derived from sewagetreatment processes that are appropriate forreuse.

BOD Biological Oxygen Demand. Ameasure of the amount of oxygen consumedby micro-organisms in a given sample at a giventemperature. It is determined by the amount oforganic matter available as food for theorganisms to consume.

Cleaner Production The integration ofsustainability principles to processes, productsand services to increase resource efficiency andreduce risks to humans and the environment. Inthe context of trade waste, Cleaner Productiongenerally encompasses the top tiers of thewaste hierarchy, namely avoidance, reductionand reuse within the boundaries of the facilitygenerating the waste, but can also includeutilisation of wastes from one industry toanother.

COD Chemical Oxygen Demand. Ameasure of the amount of oxygen used in thechemical oxidation of carbonaceous organicmatter in wastewater.

Critical Control Point A point, step orprocedure at which controls can be applied toprevent, eliminate or reduce a hazard toacceptable levels.

Dissolved oxygen A relative measure of theamount of oxygen dissolved in a liquid medium.

Domestic wastewater Wastewater arising froma dwelling used for primarily domesticpurposes. It does not contain trade waste.

Drinking Water Water that is intended, and of aquality that is suitable, for drinking. Within thewater industry, water of this quality is alsoreferred to as potable water.

Electrical conductivity A measure of amaterials ability to conduct an electricalcurrent. Usually measured in a solution insiemens per metre (S/m), S/cm or ohm-1 permetre (SI units).

HACCP Hazard Analysis and CriticalControl Points. A systematic preventiveapproach to water quality assurance thataddresses physical, chemical and biologicalhazards as a means of prevention.

Hazardous Waste A waste that is generated by acommercial, industrial or scientific process andis prescribed to be hazardous by, and requiredto be managed in accordance with, locallegislation.

Head space Air space within the sewer.

Henrys Law A gas law that states that at aconstant temperature, the amount of a givengas dissolved in a given type and volume ofliquid is directly proportional to the partialpressure of that gas in equilibrium with thatliquid.

Infiltration Flow of groundwater orstormwater to the sewer through cracks or gapswithin the sewerage network.

Inflow Flow of stormwater to thesewer through a direct (including illegal)connection to the sewer.


ISO International organisation forestablishing standards.

pH A measure of the hydrogen-ionconcentration in a solution. On the pH scale of0-14, a value of 7 represents a neutralcondition; decreasing values below 7 indicateincreasing hydrogen-ion concentration (acidity);and increasing values, above 7, indicatedecreasing hydrogen-ion concentration(alkalinity).

Quality Control Point A point, step orprocedure at which monitoring can beundertaken to determine the presence of ahazard or potential hazard.

Sewage Any waste containing humanexcreta or domestic wastewater. Sewage withina sewerage system may also contain tradewaste.

Sewer mining Diversion and treatment of rawsewage for on-site purposes such as recycling.

Tankered Wastes Wastewater collected,transported and intended to be discharged at asewage treatment plant or to sewer.

Trade Waste Wastewater which isprescribed to be trade waste, according to thecriteria of a water utility, and is suitable fordischarge into the water utilitys seweragesystem. Trade Waste includes (but may not belimited to) wastewater discharged frompremises as a result of trade, industrial,commercial, medical, dental, veterinary,agricultural, horticultural or scientific researchor experimental activities. Wastewaterdischarged from private residential premises isnot trade waste.

Turbidity A condition in water orwastewater caused by the presence ofsuspended matter usually reported innephelometric turbidity units (NTU) determinedby measurements of light scattering.

Waste Hierarchy Lists options for themanagement of waste to drive resourceefficiency, in the following order of preference:avoidance; minimisation;re-use; recycling; recovery of energy; treatment; disposal.

Wastewater The used water of acommunity or industry, containing dissolved orsuspended matter. It may or may not containtrade waste, domestic wastewater,groundwater, surface water or stormwater.

Wastewater system The wastewater systemis defined as the collection, treatment anddisposal of wastewater, including all sewers,pumping stations (including pressure mains),storage tanks, wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs), outfalls, treated wastewater andbiosolids treatment and recycling / distributionfacilities and other related structures operatedby the Wastewater Authority (WWA), includingits authorised agents responsible for thecollection, treatment and disposal ofwastewater.

Glossary (continued)


Contents

Foreword - Executive Director, WSAA................................................................................ 3

Preamble - Strategic Advisory Group .................................................................................. 4

Glossary ........................................................................................................................ 5

Contents ........................................................................................................................ 7

1 Introduction....................................................................................................... 10

1.1 Structure of this Document ................................................................................................................. 10

1.2 Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 11

1.3 Guiding Principles and Objectives .................................................................................................... 12

2 Source Management ........................................................................................ 15

2.1 Rationale .................................................................................................................................................. 15

2.2 Key Issues ................................................................................................................................................ 152.2.1 Understanding Wastewater Sources ........................................................................................ 15

2.2.2 Trade Waste Pricing ..................................................................................................................... 16

2.2.3 Water Conservation and Cleaner Production ........................................................................ 17

2.2.4 Water Sensitive Urban Development ...................................................................................... 17

2.2.5 Industry Clarity ............................................................................................................................... 17

2.3 Establishing Wastewater Source Management within a Quality Framework .......................... 17

2.4 Acceptance criteria for non-domestic wastewater ........................................................................ 18

2.5 Future Directions and Knowledge Gaps .......................................................................................... 182.5.1 Domestic Wastewater ................................................................................................................. 18

2.5.2 Rainfall Inflow/ Infiltration ........................................................................................................... 20

2.5.3 Ground Water Infiltration ............................................................................................................ 20

3 Framework for Wastewater Source Management......................................... 22

3.1 Structure of the Framework ................................................................................................................ 22

3.2 Applying the elements of the Framework ....................................................................................... 24

3.3 Correlations of the Framework with other systems ...................................................................... 24

4 The 12 Elements ................................................................................................ 25

4.1 ELEMENT 1 - COMMITMENT TO WASTEWATER SOURCE MANAGEMENT .................. 254.1.1 Wastewater Source Management Policies and Plans .......................................................... 25

4.1.2 Regulatory and Formal Requirements ...................................................................................... 27

4.1.3 Engaging Stakeholders ................................................................................................................. 28

4.2 ELEMENT 2 - ASSESSMENT OF THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM ........................................... 294.2.1 Wastewater System Analysis ...................................................................................................... 29

4.2.2 Assessment of Wastewater Quality and Quantity Data ...................................................... 30

4.2.3 Hazard Identification And Risk Assessment ........................................................................... 30

4.2.4 Contingency Planning .................................................................................................................. 34

4.2.5 Review of Risk Management Effectiveness ............................................................................. 34


Contents (continued)

4.3 ELEMENT 3 - PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR WASTEWATER INPUT QUALITY

MANAGEMENT ...................................................................................................................... 354.3.1 Critical Control Points (CCPs) .................................................................................................... 37

4.3.2 Quality Control Points (QCPs) ................................................................................................... 37

4.3.3 In-sewer Wastewater Quality Monitoring ............................................................................... 37

4.3.4 Trade Waste Effluent Monitoring .............................................................................................. 38

4.3.5 Wastewater System Incident Monitoring ................................................................................ 38

4.4 ELEMENT 4 - OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES AND PROCESS CONTROL ....................... 394.4.1 Operational procedures .............................................................................................................. 39

4.4.2 Operational monitoring ............................................................................................................... 39

4.4.3 Corrective action ........................................................................................................................... 42

4.4.4 Equipment capability and maintenance ................................................................................... 43

4.5 ELEMENT 5 - VERIFICATION OF WASTEWATER INPUTS QUALITY ................................ 454.5.1 Wastewater System and Environmental Monitoring.............................................. ............. 45

4.5.2 Short-Term Evaluation of Results....................................................................... .................... 46

4.5.3 Corrective Action.............................................................................................. ....................... 47

4.6 ELEMENT 6 - MANAGEMENT OF INCIDENTS/COMPLAINTS AND EMERGENCIES .... 484.6.1 Communication ............................................................................................................................. 48

4.6.2 Incident and emergency response protocols ......................................................................... 49

4.7 ELEMENT 7 - EMPLOYEE AWARENESS AND TRAINING.................................................. 514.7.1 Employee awareness and involvement .................................................................................... 51

4.7.2 Employee training ......................................................................................................................... 51

4.8 ELEMENT 8 - CUSTOMER AND STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT AND AWARENESS .. 524.8.1 Customer and Stakeholder Awareness and Involvement .................................................... 52

4.8.2 Communication with customers ................................................................................................ 53

4.9 ELEMENT 9 - SYSTEM VALIDATION AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ............... 544.9.1 Validation of processes ................................................................................................................ 54

4.9.2 Investigative Studies and Research Monitoring ..................................................................... 56

4.9.3 Design of Equipment......................................................................................... ....................... 57

4.10 ELEMENT 10 - DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING .................................................... 574.10.1 Management of Documentation and Records ...................................................................... 57

4.10.2 Reporting ........................................................................................................................................ 58

4.11 ELEMENT 11 - EVALUATION AND AUDIT ......................................................................... 604.11.1 Long-term evaluation of results .................................................................................................. 60

4.11.2 Audit of the wastewater quality and source control management ................................... 61

4.11.3 Regulatory oversight and surveillance ...................................................................................... 62

4.12 ELEMENT 12 - REVIEW AND CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT ........................................... 624.12.1 Review by Senior Management ................................................................................................. 62

4.12.2 Wastewater Quality and Source Management Improvement Plan ................................. 63

References ............................................................................................................... 64


Contents (continued)

Appendix A - Example of a Wastewater Source Management Hazard Analysisand Risk Assessment Methodology .................................................................................. 65

Appendix B - Example of Relative Risk Algorithm Calculating a Monitoring Program for Industrial Waste Dischargers ........................ 67

Appendix C - Example of a statistical model for calculating optimumsampling frequency for determination of industrial loading ........................................ 74

Appendix D - Non-domestic Wastewater Acceptance Criteria ......................................... 76

Appendix E - Water Utility Guidance for Industry Pollutants ............................................. 94

FiguresFigure 1.1 Structure of this Wastewater Source Management Guideline. ...................................... 10

Figure 3.1 Framework for Wastewater Source Management (adapted from the AGWR, 2006). ......................................................................................... 22

Figure 4.1 Risk Management Process An Overview (Adapted from AS/NZS 4360:2004 Risk management). ................................................. 31

TablesTable 3.1 Framework for Wastewater Source Management. ............................................................. 23

Table 4.1 Qualitative measures of likelihood- ........................................................................................ 33

Table 4.2 Qualitative Measures of Consequence or Impact. ............................................................. 33

Table 4.3 Qualitative Risk Analysis Matrix: Level of Risk. .................................................................... 33

BoxesBox 1.1 Benefits of implementing the WSMG ....................................................................................... 11

Box 1.2 Applying the WSMG ..................................................................................................................... 11

Box 1.3 The 5 Key Wastewater Source Management Objectives. ................................................... 13

Box 2.1 Pricing Principles ............................................................................................................................ 16

Box 2.2 Pets, Pests and Pesticides campaign. ........................................................................................ 19

Box 2.3 Altona Catchment Strategy. ........................................................................................................ 21

Box 4.1 Examples of prerequisite programs ............................................................................................ 35

Box 4.2 Selecting control measures .......................................................................................................... 36

Box 4.3 Assigning a CCP an example. .................................................................................................. 37

Box 4.4 Trade waste effluent monitoring ................................................................................................ 38

Box 4.5 Components of a maintenance program ................................................................................. 44

Box 4.6 Example considerations in ensuring reliability of data. .......................................................... 46

Box 4.7 Emergency response plans .......................................................................................................... 49

Box 4.8 Analysing an incident .................................................................................................................... 50

Box 4.9 Applied R&D for source management ...................................................................................... 54

Box 4.10 Example of research and development (source: Sydney Water). .................................... 55

Box 4.11 Example of characterising domestic wastewater quality. ................................................... 56

Box 4.12 External audits .............................................................................................................................. 61


Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1 Structure of this DocumentThis document is structured as shown in Figure 1.1:

Figure 1.1 Structure of this Wastewater Source Management Guideline.


Box 1.2 Applying the WSMG

Implementation of the WSMG will need toencompass locally specific issues including:

The type of utility; Geographical issues; Political and legislative environment; Economic issues; Customer service expectations and

obligations; and

Resourcing capabilities.

1.2 OverviewThis Wastewater Source Management Guideline(WSMG) provides a preventive risk managementframework for managing risks to the wastewastersystem and provides a process for establishingwastewater quality criteria relevant for wastewatercollection, transfer, treatment, recycling anddisposal.

This document acknowledges the guidelinesproduced by the Australian and New ZealandEnvironment and Conservation Council and theAgriculture and Resource Management council ofAustralia and New Zealand Guidelines forsewerage systems Acceptance of Trade Waste(Industrial Waste) November 1994.

This guideline has been developed with specificreference to Australian conditions taking intoaccount:

The best available elements of existingwastewater source control, and particularlytrade waste, management systems; and

Scientific evidence.

The WSMG has been designed to provide anauthoritative reference on what defines bestpractice in ensuring that the quality and quantitiesof source inputs to a wastewater system areeffectively managed both individually and inaggregate to meet the broad objectives indicatedin Section 1.3.

The WSMG is also intended to provide:

Flexibility in its application recognising thevarying circumstances and significance ofwastewater impacts, including trade waste, onthe wastewater systems of individual utilities;and

Guidance on how best practice managementcan be achieved and how implementation ofthat management can be best assured.

The WSMG is not a mandatory framework andthe values for particular substances are notmandatory standards. However the guideline doescontain concentrations for substances withoccupational health and safety based on aninterpolation of mandatory workplace exposurestandards. Overall, the WSMG provide a basis fordetermining the quality and quantities of sourceinputs to wastewater systems in all parts ofAustralia.

It is anticipated that the WSMG will evolve overtime as further scientific evidence is gathered andnew issues or substances emerge that requirespecific management, particularly in relation to theissues of source control from the domestic sectorand inflow/ infiltration. Evolution of the WSMGwill also involve strengthening and integration ofthe linkages with other risk management systems.Therefore, regular revision of the WSMG isanticipated.

To ensure consistency in approach across thewater industry, the development of the WSMGhas been harmonised with existing guidelines andframeworks including:

Framework for the Management of DrinkingWater Quality within the Australian DrinkingWater Guidelines (ADWG, 2004);

Framework for Management of Recycled WaterQuality and Use within the Australian Guide-lines for Water Recycling (AGWR, 2006; 2007).

Chapter 1. Introduction (continued)

Box 1.1 Benefits of implementing the WSMG

Implementing the WSMG will facilitatemanagement of:

The safety of workers and the public; Wastewater system assets; Treatment processes; Environmental licence and regulatory

compliance; and

Recycling of treated wastewater andbiosolids.


1.3 Guiding Principles and Objectives

Drin

king

Source Management

Recycle

The WSMG is designed to meet five KeyWastewater Source Management Objectivesthrough the management of inputs to thewastewater system that have the potential toimpact on wastewater quality. The objectives areoutlined in box 1-1.

The guidelines have, as an overarching principle,management of wastewater sources within anintegrated water cycle management context. Thisconsiders the impacts, opportunities foravoidance, reuse and recycling, and fates ofsubstances in wastewater from an integrated andtotal water cycle perspective.

Integrated Total Water Cycle Management

The objectives are defined as preventing,managing or influencing the introduction ofsubstances that enter the wastewater system fromtrade waste premises, commercial premises, theenvironment, or households (you cant activelymanage what comes in at the household, you canonly influence it) or other sources (eitherindividually or in aggregate or in terms of temporalvariations) so as to achieve the objectives outlinedin Box 1.3.


Recycle

Source Management

Drin

king


Box 1.3. The five Key Wastewater Source Management Objectives

Objective 1 Safety of People

protect the safety of water authority personneland the public, particularly:

Wastewater system personnel who may beaffected by trade waste substances in thewastewater or more generally the overallwastewater quality in the course of theirwork related to the wastewater system;and

The general public from the impacts ofwastewater system operation (e.g. fromunacceptable odour emissions) by con-forming to strict health and environmentalstandards.

Objective 2 Protection of Assets (Pipes, Plantand Equipment)

protect wastewater system infrastructure (allcomponents of it) to ensure that:

The structural or hydraulic integrity ofwastewater system infrastructure will notbe adversely impacted (e.g. throughunacceptable corrosion) or will not resultin an unacceptable level of risk; or

The achievement of the regulated orreasonable business service objectives forthe wastewater system are not unaccept-ably compromised; or

The operation of the wastewater system isnot unreasonably compromised or inter-fered with; or

More generally, the intended lives of allcomponents of wastewater system infra-structure are not unreasonably down-graded.

Objective 3 Protection of Treatment Processes

in particular to ensure that:

Treatment plant processes are protected toensure that the ability of the treatmentplant processes (biological, physico-chemical) to efficiently treat thewastewater streams and produce treatedwastewater or biosolids acceptable fordisposal or reuse is not adversely andunacceptably impacted.

Objective 4 Facilitation of Regulatory andLicence Compliance

in particular to:

Protect the capability to achieve regula-tory compliance with reasonable certaintyand within acceptable risk, including:Theavoidance of operating and/or environ-mental licence breaches:Meeting require-ments for the management of wastewateroverflows to the environment; and

Meeting requirements for treatedwastewater and biosolids disposal to theenvironment (including protecting receiv-ing waters and the land).

Objective 5 Facilitation of Recycling

in particular to:

Protect the capability to facilitate, eitheron-site or off-site of water authority land,the recycling and reuse of treatment plantby-product streams in compliance with re-use strategies, applicable statutes andregulations without unreasonable orimpracticable further treatment including(with or without the requirement forfurther treatment depending on theintended use):

Recycling treated wastewater; Recycling treatment plant biosolids;

and

Reuse and sewer mining.



In addition, wastewater source management andcontrol systems must have, and continuouslymaintain, robust multiple barriers (or physicalpoints of intervention or specific interventionmeasures) appropriate to the level of potentialcontamination and the potential impacts on thewastewater system and achievement of the 5 KeyWastewater Source Management Objectives.

The multiple barrier approach is now universallyrecognised as the foundation for effectivelymanaging risks and ensuring protection of themanagement objectives for wastewater qualityand quantities. No single barrier is effectiveagainst all conceivable sources of contamination,is effective 100 per cent of the time or constantlyfunctions at maximum efficiency. Robust barriersare those that can handle a relatively wide rangeof challenges with close to maximum performanceand without suffering major failure.

Although it is important to maintain effectiveoperation of all barriers, the advantage of multiplebarriers is that short-term reductions inperformance of one barrier may be compensatedfor by performance of other barriers. Prevention ofcontamination provides greater surety thanremoval of substances by treatment, so the mosteffective barrier is protection of source inputs tothe maximum extent that is reasonably achievable.

An understanding of the barriers needed to meetthe Key Wastewater Source ManagementObjectives requires a thorough understanding ofthe wastewater system, from the source of thevarious inputs (and upstream of them) to the pointof disposal or reuse including how the systemworks and the vulnerabilities to failure.

Finally, a robust system must always includemechanisms and procedures to allow unplannedincidents (such as customer errors, operatorerrors, illegal discharges, uncertainties in thewastewater quality etc) to be safely andadequately addressed.



Chapter 2. Source Management

2.1 RationaleA new paradigm of integrated water cyclemanagement that considers a range of watersources, including sewage sources, is becomingestablished across Australia. The value of sewageas a source of not only water, but also renewableenergy, carbon and nutrients is emerging. Movingtowards the closing of resources cycles throughresource efficiency and recovery can happen atregional, metropolitan, local and on-site scales.

Use of recycled water for a broad range ofpurposes is occurring in cities across Australia,including irrigation, industrial processes and morerecently IPR (indirect potable reuse e.g. AGWR(2007)). Alternative sources such as rainwater andstorm water are also being considered to augmentsupplies. The WSMG has been developed withinthe current context of increasing effluent reuse.

In the context of recycling and resource efficiency,a wastewater system cannot simultaneously be astream from which to extract new sources ofwater while at the same time, being a receivingenvironment for uncontrolled residues from non-domestic and domestic premises. In addition,uncontrolled inputs to the sewer have thepotential to severely damage sewer assets, impacton occupational health and safety of sewerworkers, and impact on the environment.

It is now more critical than ever that wastewatersources be measured, controlled and pricedaccordingly to achieve a balance between thecompeting demands of:

Onsite reuse and recycling; Extraction of water from wastewater; Reuse of treated wastewater; Disposal of domestic and non-domestic

wastewater; and

Full cost recovery.

Currently, the management of wastewater sourcequality resides in trade waste groups within waterutilities. Traditionally, this practice has focused onthe management of non-domestic premises due tothe nature of their discharges. However, given thecurrent resource context, this focus is nowbroadening to cover:

Inputs from domestic premises; Rainwater; Stormwater; Groundwater Infiltration; and Impacts of redesigning water and sewer sys-

tems.

While individual households generate relativelylittle waste, the sheer number of such residences,means that overall loads of wastes such asprescription medicines, household toiletries anddetergents may be significant. It is essential thatwater utilities understand the very broad scope ofsource management and resource it adequately.

2.2 Key Issues2.2.1 Understanding Wastewater Sources

Addressing the water resource needs of the futurerequires an understanding of all potential water-borne wastewater sources including:

Inflow/infiltration to sewers due to asset condi-tion or design (e.g. stormwater, salinegroundwater);

Varying sources of drinking water; Household discharges (e.g. endocrine disrupt-

ing compounds, pharmaceuticals and deter-gents);

Tankered waste; Sewer cleaning and management (e.g. root

foaming and sewer cleansing agents); and

Trade waste discharges.

Understanding these sources may requirereorganisation of traditional trade waste teams orformal cooperation of multiple teams elsewhere ina water utility to ensure that gaps inunderstanding and managing source wastewaterquality are minimised. In jurisdictions where themanagement of wastewater systems is fragmentedbecause of institutional arrangements, additionalmeasures and an even stronger focus on acooperative and coordinated approach to themanagement of risks (at source, in transfer and forend use) will be necessary. Adopting a wastewatersource quality management framework can assistin achieving these aims.


2.2.2 Trade Waste Pricing

Through the National Water Initiative (NWI), therole of wastewater as a resource is recognised inthe sustainable management of the water insewers:

Clause 66. In particular, States and Territoriesagree to the following pricing actions:iii) review and development of pricing policiesfor trade wastes that encourage the most costeffective methods of treating non-domesticwastes, whether at the source or at downstreamplants, by 2006.

This approach requires water utilities to collectsufficient data about the costs and cost drivers ofoperating their wastewater systems, treating waterfor discharge and reuse and producing useablebiosolids in order to determine appropriatecharges. Water utilities should also understand thecosts of waste control by companies. Based onthis understanding, utility charges should be set toprovide the best balance between the onsitetreatment of wastes and those treatment systemsoperated by utilities.

As a result, it is important for utilities to setcharges that reflect appropriate cost drivers. Thetraditional charging basis of flow, organic load(BOD) and solids load (suspended solids) doescurrently not reflect the requirements of the NWI.In many instances, utilities are now required tomanage nutrients, organic toxicants and othersubstances such as salt. If these substancesrepresent cost drivers, waste charges to industryshould be rebalanced to reflect this.

A second important consideration in determiningcharges is those substances that are not effectivelyremoved or are partitioned between treatedwastewater and biosolids. Incentive pricing couldbe used to minimise the input of these materials atthe source particularly where it is noteconomically feasible to remove such substancesat the wastewater treatment plant.

For a wastewater utility, the three fundamentalcost categories in relation to the management oftrade wastewater are:

Transmission costs including the capital,operating and monitoring costs of mains andpump stations must be incorporated into thesubstance charging structure.

Treatment, discharge and downstream moni-toring costs including both capital andoperating costs.

Administration costs including all costsassociated with billing, administration, salariesand overheads.

In addition, some utilities may choose to useincentive charges to encourage compliance, wasteminimisation and the introduction of cleanertechnology including tiered charges for specificsubstances, premium charges or asset protectioncharges for non-installation or maintenance ofappropriate pre-treatment equipment. Similarly,some jurisdictions may provide incentivepayments or co-payments to encourage theabove.

Chapter 2. Source Management (continued)

Box 2.1 Pricing PrinciplesPricing should include the following principles:

Charges should be consumption-basedincorporating pay for use and fee for service.

Charges should recover the full cost andincorporate a real rate of return on assets(unless services are required to be provided atless than full cost in which case the costshould be fully disclosed and ideally paid as aCommunity Service Obligation.)

The tariff approach should be easy to under-stand especially by customers. The wasteproducer must be able to clearly identify costsassociated with their trade waste discharge.

Tariffs should be equitable across all customergroups. Cross subsidies should be removed orwhere cross subsidies continue to exist, theyshould be made transparent.

Tariffs should operate to induce customerbehaviour that aligns to operating strategies.Pricing policies for trade waste should encour-age cleaner production, waste minimisationand the appropriate use of pre-treatmenttechnologies.

Administration should be streamlined andefficient.


2.2.3 Water Conservation and CleanerProduction

The management of wastewater also needs toreflect programs designed to reduce water use.Reducing water use may lead to increasedcontaminant concentrations in wastewater. Thereare pressures on water utilities to relax their non-domestic waste acceptance concentration criteriato help ensure water conservation initiatives areprovided additional incentives. Any changes needto consider the 5 Key Wastewater SourceManagement Objectives in this guideline.

Any water conservation program should becombined with a cleaner production program toensure maximum gains for the water utility andwater user. Cleaner production approaches implyworking upstream of the traditional wastedischarge to sewer and often dealing withproduction staff and the source of thecontaminant. This augments the traditional endof pipe regulatory approach currently taken bymost water utilities.

2.2.4 Water Sensitive Urban Development

There are a number of proposals aimed atincreasing the availability of water suitable for arange of uses that have the potential to impact onthe quality of wastewater and the integrity ofwastewater assets. For example, sewer miningneeds to be managed to ensure residuals returneddo not damage assets, generate excessive odoursor impact negatively on wastewater quality at thewastewater treatment plant or to the detriment ofdownstream uses. Greywater reuse and non-domestic on-site reuse can also impact onwastewater quality.

This is a broad issue and systems must be in placeto ensure that the water utility has anunderstanding of planning and developmentprocedures.

2.2.5 Industry Clarity

Industry needs clarity on national principles to themanagement of wastewater to aid their decision-making and planning, and to enable them toproceed with new initiatives with an improveddegree of certainty. Competitiveness generallywould benefit from the establishment of nationalproduct authorisation, national acceptanceguidelines and a more national approach tocompliance.

However, it needs to be stated that there willalways be local conditions and drivers that mayrequire alterations to for example acceptanceguidelines in a local environment.

2.3 Establishing WastewaterSource Management withina Quality Framework

The most effective means of ensuring wastewaterquality that is consistent with the objectives of thewater utility is through the adoption of apreventative risk management approach to sewersources. Examples of such risk managementframeworks can be found in contemporary watermanagement guidelines including the AustralianDrinking Water Guidelines (ADWG, 2004) andthe Australian Guidelines for Water RecyclingPhase 1 and 2 (AGWR, 2006; 2007). The WSMGadopt this approach to water quality assurancethrough source management.

The quality framework introduces a preventativeapproach, rather than relying solely on the use ofa set of acceptance guidelines. This approach isessential in the field of wastewater sourcemanagement, because systems need to be inplace to manage everyday operations as well asincidents it is too late to correct the problemafter it occurs. Also fundamental to the qualityframework approach is the role of staff andstakeholders in achieving the 5 Key WastewaterSource Management Objectives.

Establishing a quality framework also provides agoal for water utilities as well as a benchmarkingtool for future self-comparison against bestpractice.



2.4 Acceptance criteria fornon-domestic wastewater

The acceptance criteria for non-domesticwastewater relates to the quality of thewastewater at the point of discharge into thewastewater system. They define wastewater that,based on current knowledge, is acceptable fordischarge to the wastewater system both in theshort and long term to ensure that achievement ofthe 5 Key Wastewater Source ManagementObjectives is never compromised. For some of thewastewater quality characteristics identified thereis a grey area between what is clearly acceptableand what is clearly unacceptable. Often the latterhas not been reliably demonstrated and thereforethe acceptance criteria have been designed to beconservative which is consistent with theprecautionary principle i.e. to err on the side ofsafety.

This WSMG includes acceptance criteria for non-domestic wastewater for a range of substances.The criteria are intended for use as:

Action levels for short-term exceedance ofsubstance limits; and

A means to assess system performance (verifi-cation) over the longer term (e.g. over a 12-month or longer period).

Using a guideline value against which to assessacceptability entails assessing whether individualresults conform to the requirements of acceptingwastewater quality of an acceptable risk in thecontext of the 5 Key Wastewater SourceManagement Objectives.

Short-term exceedance: Exceedance of a criteriongenerally requires some form of immediatecorrective action (commonly referred to as acorrection). For example, if a substance for ahealth-related characteristic is exceeded, theresponse should be to take immediate action toreduce the risk to workers, and, as appropriateand necessary, to advise water authority personneland the relevant health authority of the actiontaken. If the characteristic affects longer termwastewater system performance, the time framefor action should be commensurate with the risk(e.g. for corrosion of sewers).

System performance: When guideline values areused in assessing overall performance (e.g. aspresented in an annual report) the aim is to assess

whether wastewater source control andmanagement strategies have been, and continueto be, effective. The assessment is generally usedto identify any emerging issues and to determinepriorities for improvement. The identified gaps andissues can then be scheduled for action throughavenues such as Capital/Operational Expenditureor other programs depending on the priority of theissues identified.

Therefore, in most cases, occasional excursionsbeyond the acceptance criterion may notnecessarily pose an immediate risk to the 5 KeyWastewater Source Management Objectives(other than for health-related characteristics wherea precautionary approach is advised). The amountby which, and the duration for which, any health-related criterion can be exceeded without raisingconcerns depends on the particularcircumstances. Exceeding a criterion should be asignal to correct the excursion, investigate thecause and, if appropriate, to adjust the systemand/or process to prevent a recurrence.

This WSMG provides the basis for best practicemanagement of wastewater sources includingtheir quality and quantity. Utilities should adopt apreventive risk management approach, asstipulated in the WSMG, to maintain their systemsas close to best practice as practicable. Forspecific acceptance criteria for non-domesticwastewater refer to Appendix D.

2.5 Future Directions andKnowledge Gaps

2.5.1 Domestic Wastewater

In some wastewater catchments, domesticresidences are likely to be the main contributorsof some key substances including copper, zinc,endocrine disrupters, pharmaceuticals and insome cases, pesticides (e.g. Box 2.2). However,there is currently little focus on managingdomestic wastewater quality. The challenge istherefore to gain an improved understanding ofdomestic wastewater quality to better understandthe relative impacts from domestic and non-domestic sources and to understand the ability ofutility treatment systems to control those wastes.Some possible actions for managing sewersources within a domestic context may include:

National and State Authorities working withconsumer goods suppliers and certifyingauthorities such as NICNAS (National Industrial



Chemicals Notification and AssessmentScheme) and the APVMA (Australian Pesticidesand Veterinary Medicines Authority) to ensurethat chemicals used in the domestic context arecompatible with wastewater treatment systems.

Use of education tools to raise awareness ofwhat happens to substances if they are dis-posed of or used incorrectly (e.g. placed in thetoilet or down the sink), especially where theimpacts of those actions may be observedlocally. An example of such a program is a

hazardous household chemical awarenessprogram achieved by distributing pamphlets tohome owners.

Partnerships of water utilities with other agen-cies for delivering improved waste managementoutcomes or education programs. For example,the Melbourne metropolitan water industry isworking with Sustainability Victoria in support-ing and extending a current chemical collectionand education program called Detox yourHome (www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/1459-detox-your-home.asp.).

Box 2.2 Pets, Pests and Pesticides campaign

Sydney Waters effluent sampling revealedincreased levels of organophosphorus pesticides ata number of sewage treatment plants. Furtheranalysis showed that two products, chlorpyrifosand diazinon, were at levels of concern. Theenvironmental regulator requested that a PollutionReduction Program (PRP) commence. The PRPshowed that there was a need to reducechlorpyrifos from sewage effluent and residues ofboth chemicals were found in ecological andhuman health risk assessments conducted on thesewage effluent at 15 inland sewage treatmentplants.

Chlorpyrifos and diazinon are organophosphoruspesticides found in anti-flea rinses and gardenpesticides. They are also used in treatments fortermites, spiders, ants and cockroaches. Pestcontrol operators, golf courses and bowling greenshave also been found to use these pesticides.There were no product manufacturers within theaffected sewage treatment plant catchments andsewage analysis showed that there were minordiffuse sources throughout the catchments whichdemonstrated that there were no illegal dumps ofold product. Later investigations revealed that thesources were households laundering work overallsfrom Pest Controllers and horticultural sprayers.

In February 2000 Mimi Macpherson, a well knownvariety show presenter with strong environmentalprinciples, launched Sydney Waters pilotcommunity education program in the Bellambi,Cronulla and Port Kembla sewage catchments.The project involved extensive consultation withmany locally based and peak organisationsincluding local government, the AustralianEnvironment Pest Managers Association, the NSWEnvironment Protection Authority and environmentgroups such as the Total Environment Centre andthe Sutherland Environment Centre.

Project directions and key messages werediscussed with a range of manufacturers, industryassociations such as the Small Animal VeterinaryAssociation and the Veterinary Manufacturers andDistributors Association, the National ToxicsNetwork, the NSW Environment ProtectionAuthority, the National Registration Authority andthe Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Project directions were developed usinginformation gained from focus groups, a literaturereview, market basket surveys and a telephonesurvey of a random selection of households in thetarget sewage catchments.

Choosing key messages for the communityeducation campaign was not easy. Advice fromvarious organisations consulted was conflicting.Initially the messages focused on the disposal ofrinse water onto the garden, however theTherapeutic Goods Administration could notrecommend that this disposal method around thehouse was safe. One local council was alsoconcerned about the effect of contaminated rinsewater on public health and storm water.

As a result of this consultation Sydney Watersmessages changed to advocating the avoidance ofusing products with chlorpyrifos and diazinon andto choose non-chemical and less hazardouspesticides.

Sydney Water trialled the running of householdchemical collections and pesticides only collectionfor people to dispose of these products. SydneyWater held a launch in each trial area, mailed abrochure to 180,000 households and placedadvertisements in local papers and on radio. Thesubsequent collections received 112 litres diazinonand 14.5 litres chlorpyrifos from mainly domesticusers. Overall, 360 litres of non-chlorinatedpesticides, 88 litres of organochlorine pesticidesand 95 litres of metal-based pesticides werecollected.



2.5.2 Rainfall Inflow/ Infiltration

Flows can be discharged to sewer fromunauthorised stormwater drainage, rain dependentinfiltration through soil that enters the sewer fromdefective pipes and joints or rainfall that enterslow lying disconnector traps or leaking manholecovers. These flows may overload the seweragesystem which may result in surcharging oroverflows to the environment or overloading thetreatment plant which may cause deterioration ineffluent quality. The additional flows may alsoresult in additional operating expenses such asenergy costs for pumping and additionalmaintenance or premature costs for systemaugmentation as a result of reduced capacity. It isalso possible that during rain events, substancessuch as metals from brakes and oil on the roadwould flow into the sewer. Where this poses a riskto the 5 Key Wastewater Source ManagementObjectives, Water utilities need to conductresearch into finding impact of substancesreceived from Rain Dependent Inflow Methods formeasuring inflow into the sewer and measurementof contaminant loads need to be investigated toget better understanding of this source.

A possible method for determining rain dependentinflow volumes is:

Determine the annual dry weather wastewatervolume using the average dry weeklywastewater volume factored up to represent 52weeks; and

Subtract the calculated annual dry weatherwastewater volume from the total annualwastewater volume to determine the compo-nent of total annual volume attributable torainfall dependent infiltration (RDI).

Detailed evaluation of the wastewater system tounderstand the catchment boundaries, smoketesting, CCTV inspections, night flowinvestigations will all assist with identifying worstaffected areas. The quality of rain dependentinflow could be determined from measuringsubstances in storm water run off.

2.5.3 Ground Water Infiltration

Groundwater infiltration usually occurs where thesewers are laid below the groundwater table.Groundwater can infiltrate the sewer via defectivepipes or joints and leaking manholes and canreduce the hydraulic capacity, and increase thecosts of, managing the wastewater system.

Generally areas that are near and below sea levelare susceptible to increased salt concentrations ofwastewater in sewers due to infiltration. This canimpact on asset conditions or effluent quality atthe treatment plant. Investigations to understandthe constituents of groundwater infiltration andthe impact on wastewater quality is important insource control. Box 22 provides an example ofwork undertaken by City West Water todetermine the extent of groundwater infiltrationand the contribution of salt to the treatment plant.

The potential risk from contaminated groundwaterinfiltration should also be considered for sourcecontrol. Sewers can act as a preferential pathwayfor contaminated groundwater flow wheregroundwater infiltration is significant. Waterutilities should work with state basedenvironmental regulators to identify potentialsources of contaminated groundwater in areaswhere groundwater infiltration is identified andconsidered significant. An example ofunderstanding the sewer catchment is provided inBox 2.3.



Box 2.3. Altona Catchment Strategy

In order to improve its understanding of thequantity and location of salinity entering thewastewater system via groundwater infiltration,City West Water has conducted a detailed studyof 2 catchment areas within its wastewatersystem. One of these studies was conducted onthe wastewater catchment of the AltonaTreatment Plant (ATP). The study led to thedevelopment of a hydraulic model of thecatchment and estimate of the relativecontribution of salinity and wastewater volumesfrom groundwater infiltration.

The ATP catchment is predominately residentialand consists of approximately 190 km ofsewerage infrastructure, covers an area of 17.8square kilometres and serves approximately16,000 properties. The average salinity of thewastewater received at the ATP is 4,700 mg/L.Parts of the sewerage system are locatedbeneath the groundwater table.

Monitoring of the system was conducted over a26 week program in 2007. The programconsisted of 23 flow and 24 salinity monitoringpoints within the sewerage network, and 6 raingauges within the catchment. Further samplingwas conducted to fill in any data gaps. Somegroundwater monitoring was also undertaken toprovide hydrogeological information(groundwater level and salinity contours) fordevelopment of the hydraulic model. Anassessment of the pipe network characteristicswas conducted through desk top reviews andCCTV of approximately 15 km of sewer todetermine the condition and characteristics ofthe network.

Accurate measurement of groundwaterinfiltration can be difficult where there arerelatively low flow rates within the sewer.Monitoring sites with higher flows (i.e. significantgroundwater infiltration) generally recorded

more consistent and accurate results. Collectionof salinity data representative of the constantlychanging sewage flows also presents a challengein the field. No specific equipment exists for thispurpose and sample probes were fitted withprotection (i.e. slotted pipe) for samplingpurposes. Probes are also affected by fouling andblockages of the slotted pipe, therefore sufficientsampling points are required to counter theseissues and ensure data capture is adequate.

The average TDS concentration from domesticcatchments (without influence from groundwaterinfiltration) was found to be 580mg/L. Whilst thisrepresents an increasing trend in TDSconcentrations in domestic sewage due to waterconservation efforts the study found that lessthan 8% of the salt load to ATP was attributed tosewage loads (domestic and non domestic).

Within the ATP catchment where groundwaterinfiltration represents a relatively high percentageof total flow, a reasonably accurate estimate ofgroundwater infiltration can be obtained. Theoutcome of the study was a detailed andcomprehensive sewerage system model to assesssewerage flows and volumes and salinity and saltloads within the ATP catchment. The final modelwas calibrated and verified for both dry weatherflows and salinity over the 6 months ofmonitoring. The model was found to be lessaccurate for soaking rains within a wetcatchment. The model has subsequently beenused successfully to assess the effectiveness of arange of augmentation strategies designed toreduce the levels of salinity discharged to theATP. No feasible options to reduce salt inputswithin ATP catchment were identified as part ofthe study, nor was any catchment identified thatcould provide a suitable volume of low salinitywastewater for water recycling without furthersalt reduction treatment. Salt reduction measuresto facilitate water recycling will therefore occurat the ATP through treatment.



Chapter 3 Framework for WastewaterSource Management

3.1 Structure of the FrameworkThe Framework includes 12 elements consideredgood practice for system management ofwastewater source quality, as outlined in Figure3.1 and detailed in Table 3.1.

Figure 3.1. Framework for Wastewater Source Management(adapted from the AGWR, 2006).


Chapter 3. Framework for Wastewater Source Management (continued)

Table 3.1. Framework for Wastewater Source Management.Key Elements Components

Element 1Commitment to wastewater source Wastewater source management policies and plansmanagement Regulatory and formal requirements

Engaging stakeholders

Element 2Assessment of the Wastewater system analysiswastewater system Assessment of wastewater quality and quantity data

Hazard identification and risk assessmentElement 3Preventive measures for Critical control points wastewater input quality management Quality control points

Element 4Operational procedures and Operational proceduresprocess control Operational monitoring

Corrective actionEquipment capability and maintenance

Element 5Verification of wastewater Wastewater system and environmental monitoringinputs quality Short-term evaluation of results

Corrective actionElement 6Management of Communicationincidents/complaints and emergencies Incident and emergency response protocols

Element 7Employee awareness and Employee awareness and involvementtraining Employee training

Element 8Customer and stakeholder Customer and stakeholder awareness and involvementinvolvement and awareness Communication with customersElement 9System validation and research Validation of processesand development Investigative studies and research monitoring

Design of equipmentElement 10Documentation and reporting Management of documentation and records

Reporting

Element 11Evaluation and audit Long-term evaluation of results

Audit of wastewater quality and source control managementRegulatory oversight and surveillance

Element 12 Review and continual Review by senior executive/managersimprovement Wastewater quality and source management

improvement plan

COMMITMENT

SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT

SUPPORTING REQUIREMENTS

REVIEW


Although listed as discrete components, the 12elements are interrelated and each supports theeffectiveness of the others. These elements needto be addressed holistically because mostwastewater quality problems and failure toachieve the five Key Wastewater SourceManagement Objectives are usually attributableto a combination of factors.

The elements outline principles of managementapplicable to all wastewater systems regardless ofsize and system complexity. The framework isintended to be flexible, providing genericguidance, and the content should not be regardedas being prescriptive or exhaustive.

3.2 Applying the elements of theFramework

Although the Framework and acceptance criteriafor non-domestic wastewater are not intended asstandards, it is recognised that some jurisdictionsmay choose to formalise the Framework andacceptance criteria through legislation, operatinglicences or other instruments.

Application of the Framework will vary dependingon the arrangements for wastewater systemoperation and management within eachjurisdiction, e.g. in some states, wastewater ismanaged by the one agency, whereas in otherstates wastewater is managed locally by numerousagencies or as part of connected systems. Thevariety of systems in operation will affect themanner and degree to which the Framework isimplemented and by which entity. However, allwastewater authorities and relevant Governmentagencies and regulators should consider theFramework as a model for best practice.

How the Framework is applied and implementedwill depend on the needs of the organisation, theseparation of responsibilities and the institutionalarrangements. Each organisation should developan internal plan for implementing the Frameworkin a manner that suits its particular circumstances.The Framework can be applied as a stand-alonewastewater quality and source managementsystem or integrated with an existing managementsystem.

3.3 Correlations of theFramework with othersystems

The Framework is not intended to duplicate orreplace adequately working management systems;rather, it is intended to be compatible andcomplementary. The Framework includesprinciples of established systems such as HACCPand ISO systems and is sufficiently flexible toallow implementation to be built on programs andsystems already present in an organisation.However, the relationships between theFramework and these systems should beunderstood.

Chapter 3. Framework for Wastewater Source Management (continued)


.

Chapter 4. The 12 Elements

In this chapter, details of the 12 elements of theFramework are provided. Each element includesan introduction and lists the components thatmake up that element. The components of eachelement are then described in further detail. Asummary of actions box heads each componentand provides an overview of the steps involved inimplementation.

4.1 Element 1:Commitment to wastewatersource management

Components:

Wastewater Source Management Policies andPlans

Regulatory and Formal Requirements Engaging Stakeholders

Organisational support and long-termcommitment by senior management is thefoundation to implementation of an effectivesystem for wastewater source management. Thiscommitment will ensure that the resourcesrequired for executing the management strategyare made available.

Successful implementation requires:

An awareness, understanding of and commit-ment to the importance of the 5 KeyWastewater Source Management Objectives(Section 1.3) by all relevant senior manage-ment, other key management and operationalwater utility personnel involved in dealing withtrade waste and other wastewater sources. Inparticular, this applies to the practical applica-tion of these objectives in terms of decision-making and implementation at the strategic,tactical and operational levels;

The development of a continuous improvementculture;

The ongoing and active involvement of seniormanagement in maintaining, reinforcing andcommunicating the importance of wastewatersource management to all stakeholders;

Performance monitoring and reporting againstdefined performance objectives; and

Measurable indicators for each performanceobjective.

4.1.1 Wastewater Source ManagementPolicies and Plans

Summary of Actions:

Development of a formalised wastewatersource management framework that addressesall potential sources and manages the quality ofall wastewater.,

Formulation of specific policies such as tradewaste, inflow/infiltration and domesticwastewater,

Endorsement of these policies by senior execu-tive, to be implemented throughout the organi-sation, and

Ensure that these policies are visible and arecommunicated, understood and implementedby water utility employees.

Development of an overall formalised wastewatersource management framework is essential for anorganisation to establish the direction andmechanism for providing an increased focus tomanage all sources of wastewater.

Within the framework, specific policies shouldexplain the general obligations of customers indischarging to the wastewater system and theoverall level of service to be provided to alldomestic and non-domestic customers in thecontext of managing and accepting all potentialwastewater sources to the wastewater system.

Other specific policy documents, such as a tradewaste policy, should explain the particular level ofservice to which the organisation is committed toprovide. It should also explain the terms andconditions under which the organisation agrees toaccept trade waste discharges. These documentsshould detail the regulatory basis of the service,how dischargers are managed, and theconsequences of non-compliance.

These policies provide the basis on which allsubsequent actions can be judged. It shoulddefine the organisations commitments andpriorities relating to wastewater sourcemanagement.


The policies should provide a basis from whichmore detailed policies and implementationstrategies can be developed. As such, thedocuments should be clear and succinct, andshould address broad issues and requirements ofthe organisations commitment and approach towastewater source waste management.

The policies should cover issues such as:

The purpose, measurable objectives, strategies,operations (systems and procedures) andperformance measures for wastewater sourcemanagement;

The level of service provided and the terms andconditions of providing the service;

The involvement of water utility employees; Compliance with relevant regulations and other

requirements;

Liaison and cooperation with relevant regula-tors, including the environmental and economicregulator, and external stakeholders;

Communication with water utility employeesand external stakeholders;

Intention to adopt best practice managementand multiple barriers for the management ofrisk;

Continual improvement and review for suitabil-ity;

When formulating a source managementpolicy, key considerations are:

o Any regulatory, statutory and other require-ments to be complied with and which mustbe considered during its formulation,adoption and implementation;

o Key principles relevant to trade waste andwastewater source management;

o Expectations of the organisation and keyinternal and external stakeholders;

o objectives with measurable indicators todetermine whether policy objectives arebeing met;

o Full cost recovery and incentive basedpricing;

o Industry assistance where appropriate;

o Wastewater system capacity and capabili-ties for the wastewater network both at alocalised level and a system wide level including consideration of seasonal fluctua-tions;

o The impacts on recycled water andbiosolids reuse opportunities; and

How the policy will impact on and interact withother policies and procedures within theorganisation.

Information from this process would enable theorganisation to establish source managementpolicies, which will ensure that stakeholders haveconsistent expectations and to providetransparency and directions for decision-makingand the establishment of detailed programs.

In developing these policies, the opinions andrequirements of employees, customers and otherstakeholders should be considered. The documentshould outline the principal measures to controlthe quality of all sources of wastewaters.Communication with stakeholder groups atappropriate stages of policy formulation isimportant and essential to ensure the policy istransparent, understood, accepted andimplemented. Effective communicationprocess(es) will enhance the sense of sharedownership and will help during theimplementation stage.

Management should ensure that these policies arehighly visible, continually communicated,understood and implemented and maintained byall employees of the organisation. It is theresponsibility of all employees to support thiscommitment.

The policies and associated documentation needto be:

Readily accessible, e.g. through the organisa-tions website or in hard copy form;

Reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that thepolicy continues to reflect current policydirections of the organisation, regulators andgovernment initiatives; and

Consistent with any other relevant issue-specificpolicies of the organisation.

Chapter 4. The 12 Elements - Element 1 (continued)


4.1.2 Regulatory and FormalRequirements

Summary of Actions:

Identify and document relevant regulatory andformal requirements.

Ensure responsibilities are understood andcommunicated.

Ensure review of requirements is carried outperiodically.

All water utilities should have a regulated basis foraccepting wastewater to sewer such as specificby-laws, customer contracts and plumbingregulations. However such regulations are limitedin relation to the quality of wastewater dischargedfrom domestic sources. Any contract should detailthe rights and obligation of both the utility and thecustomer. The majority of these contracts becomeapplicable on connection to services, however it isgood practice to review these contracts andinclude provisions for determining wastewaterquality. This fact is particularly relevant fordetermining what can be accepted from domesticsources.

The ability to develop and implement an effectivewastewater management program depends onadequate legal power to enable the organisationto manage wastewater discharges, which includeimposing restrictions and/or conditions onwastewater discharges and the application ofappropriate fees and charges.

There also may be numerous pieces of legislationthat are either directly or indirectly relevant totrade waste management. In addition, there maybe other formal requirements with which anorganisation may require compliance.

The regulatory and formal requirements mayinclude:

Federal, state, territory legislation and regulation;

By-laws; Operating licences and agreements; Contracts, including customer contracts, and

agreed levels of service;

Memoranda of Understanding; and Industry standards, code of practice and guide-

lines.

It is imperative that all such requirements areidentified, documented and complied with.

Generally, legislation is not prescriptive abouttrade waste management, that is, it providesoverarching powers for the organisation toadminister trade waste rather than detaileddirection. In some cases, the technical regulationsfor acceptance may be established by an agencyother than the utility. Utilities can be empoweredto enter into and formulate contracts with itscustomers through the by-laws for which it has thepowers to make or through broad powers wherethe acceptance criteria for non-domesticwastewater are set initially by a technicalregulator and revised as required after a reviewprocess which is based on evidence and theinputs of all relevant stakeholders.

A water utilitys responsibilities andaccountabilities associated with providingwastewater services should be well defined andclearly communicated to all employees. A registryof relevant regulatory and other requirementsshould be made available to employees. Thisregistry should be regularly reviewed and updatedas necessary to reflect any changes. The waterutility should also have a formal system in place toroutinely track and/or interpret changes tolegislation and distribute these changes to theappropriate staff in a timely manner.

New legislation may be required in the future toensure effective management of other wastewatersources such as inflow/infiltration and domesticwastewater.



4.1.3 Engaging Stakeholders

Summary of Actions

Identify all stakeholders who could affect, or beaffected by decisions or activities of the waterutility.

Determine appropriate mechanisms and docu-mentation for stakeholder commitment andinvolvement.

Prepare, and regularly update, the list of rel-evant external agencies.

The water utility should ensure that there is anintegrated management approach tocommunication and collaboration with all relevantagencies and stakeholders for effectivewastewater source management.

The range of agencies and stakeholders involvedin wastewater disposal and recycling systems willvary depending on local organisational andinstitutional arrangements. Agencies andstakeholders may include:

Regulators:o Federal and state environmental protection

agencies;

o Technical;

o Health (particularly for effluent andbiosolids recycling); and

o Economic/pricing;

Concurrence Authorities (i.e. those with ap-proval or endorsement rights before implemen-tation);

Government departments (includingWorkcover);

Wastewater Wholesaler, Retailers and 3rd partyproponents;

Customers business customers; Industry associations and peak bodies; Local government and planning authorities; Broader customers and stakeholders; Customers, stakeholders and Public Interest

Groups;

Environment NGOs (non-government organisa-tions); and

Senior management and staff of relevant organi-zations.

Establishment of an appropriate mechanism anddocumentation for stakeholder commitments andinvolvement is important for building trustedrelationships with external stakeholders. Thesemechanisms may include:

Establishment of working groups, customercouncils, customer liaison committees, ortaskforces with appropriate representatives;

Development of partnership agreements,including a signed memorandum of understand-ing;

Workshops/seminars/meetings; Public exhibition including advertising for

comments promote and provide adequatenotice and attract greater audience by suffi-ciently advertising in newspapers, posters inpublic places and special invitations to affectedparties; and

Publications newsletters, flyers, brochures,posters and stickers.

Continuous communication is essential for theongoing development of effective partnershipbetween the stakeholders. The list of stakeholdersshould be reviewed and updated regularly.



4.2 Element 2 - Assessment ofthe wastewater system

Components:

Wastewater System Analysis Assessment of Wastewater Quality and Quan-

tity Data

Hazards Identification and Risk Assessment

Assessment of the wastewater system is anessential prerequisite for the subsequent steps inwhich effective strategies for prevention andcontrol of hazards and risks are planned andimplemented. Assessment includes understandingthe characteristics of the wastewater system, whathazards may arise, how these hazards create risks,and the processes and practices that affectwastewater quality.

4.2.1 Wastewater System Analysis

Summary of Actions

Ensure assembly of a team for assessment andanalysis.

Ensure responsibilities for the team are under-stood and communicated.

Assess the wastewater system components andconstruct a system flow diagram.

Assess, assemble and document pertinentinformation of the wastewater system, bothoverall and for each system component.

Ensure that an initial wastewater system analy-sis is undertaken and that a review is carriedout periodically.

Effective system management requires anunderstanding of the wastewater system. Eachcomponent of the system should be characterisedwith respect to wastewater quality and the factorsaffecting that quality. This characterisationpromotes understanding of the wastewater systemand assists with identification of hazards andassessment of risks at each step of the wastewatersystem including:

Consideration of the impacts and variability oneach infrastructure component;

Local sub-catchments; and The aggregation and contributions of these sub-

catchments to the overall wastewater system.

A team with appropriate knowledge and expertiseshould be assembled to carry out the analysis.The team should include management, planningand operations staff with responsibilities acrossthe entire wastewater system.

In circumstances where the institutionalarrangements determine that wastewater sourcesare managed across a number of entities,arrangements and mechanisms must beestablished to develop a coordinated approach tothe management of all wastewater system risksincluding a consistent approach on a whole-of-system basis. In all cases, the responsibilities andaccountabilities of the team need to bedocumented, understood and communicated.Communication with other agencies may berequired for the analysis of domestic and non-domestic catchments.

A system map or mass model should bedeveloped for the wastewater system that:

Identifies all system steps including interceptor/main/trunk sewers, pump stations, rising mains,maintenance holes, access chambers, tradewaste customer sites and points of discharge,treatment facilities and other relevant systeminfrastructure and features. The level of detailand the assets split(s), the size of the catch-ment, the extent of trade waste discharges, therisks and the practicality will depend on thewater utilitys size and available resources.

Summarises key flow and quality informationincluding for both the mainstream wastewaterflow and trade waste customers including thepreparation of mass balances for individualsubstances and system capacity statements forthe network system and the wastewater treat-ment plants.

Characterises unique attributes of thewastewater system.

Identifies the locations where individual dis-charges or aggregation of discharges result insubstance loads or concentrations that maycause significant local as well as systemicimpacts or risks.

Wastewater system analysis should be reviewedperiodically to incorporate any future changes.

Chapter 4. The 12 Elements - Element 2


4.2.2 Assessment of WastewaterQuality and Quantity Data

Summary of Actions:

Ensure gathering and assembly of historical datafrom sources into robust information systemse.g. domestic, non-domestic, trade waste, andinflow/infiltration.

Assess data using tools such as control charts,trend analysis and mass balances at a localand system level.

Assess system capacity for acceptance ofparticular substances in wastewater, based oneach of the source management objectives.

Identify and examine unacceptably high loadsor concentrations of particular substances., and

Ensure review of requirements is carried outperiodically.

An assessment should be undertaken to determinethe biological, chemical, hydraulic and physicalcharacteristics of the wastewater system. A reviewof historical wastewater quality data obtained byundertaking catchment wastewatercharacterisation studies can assist inunderstanding characteristics and systemperformance both over time and following specificevents, such as heavy rainfall and king tides. Thisinformation can aid the identification of hazardsand potential sources such as illegal discharges,groundwater, stormwater and seawater ingress.Analysis should be supported by the assessmentof the quality of trade waste discharged fromindividual customers as this trade waste mayrepresent a material risk to achieving the 5 KeyWastewater Source Management Objectives.

In some instances, industries are located in closeproximity or are aggregated in a particularlocation (e.g. non-domestic precincts). This spatialinformation also needs to be taken into accountwhen assessing the impacts of particular inputs tothe system.

Trend analysis and control charts can be valuabletools for recognising potential problems orhazards and the accumulation of any gradualchanges or cumulative effects.

Capacity statements should be prepared for eachrelevant system step and the system overall for

each relevant wastewater parameter. The capacityassessment would be based on a comparison ofthe assessed system performance, the stipulatedsystem capacity limits and the regulatory orbusiness targets to be achieved.

4.2.3 Hazard Identification and RiskAssessment

Summary of Actions:

Define the approach and methodology to beused for hazard identification and risk

WWSM Guideline

Documents

Transcript of WWSM Guideline