Table of Contents
|
1. Introduction and Overview
Introduction - BRC's Asset Management Plans are based on the minimum requirements for Asset Management Plans in Queensland as detailed in the Asset Management Advancement Program.
1.1 Scope
Scope - Asset Management Plan for Water Infrastructure covers the following facility types & asset sub-classes.
1.2 Asset Hierarchies
1.2.1 Water Main Hierarchy
Water Main Hierarchy - BRC has adopted the following water main hierarchy.
- Transfer Main
- Distribution Main
- Reticulation Main
1.3 Quantitative Data
1.3.1 Water Infrastructure Summary
Water Infrastructure Summary - BRC is responsible for:
- 17 Water Treatment Plants
- 6 Booster Pump Stations
- 23 Highlift Pump Stations
- 869.1 km of Water Mains
1.4 Links to Other Documents
Water Related Documents - The following documents have been referred to in developing the Asset Management Plan for Water Infrastructure.
General Documents
- Bundaberg Regional Council Long Term Asset Management Plan (LTAMP)
- Bundaberg Regional Council Asset Management Policy
NOTE: The BRC Asset Management Policy is a Draft version and will be set up to be adopted by Management /Council and incorporated into the LTAMP
Water Infrastructure Specific Documents
1.5 Legislative and Regulatory Requirements
Legislative and Regulatory Requirements - The principal relevant statutes regulating the asset management practices of Councils are:
- Queensland Local Government Act 2009
- Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995
- Queensland Industrial Relations Act 1999
- Queensland Environmental Protection Act 1994
The Department of Infrastructure and Planning requirements for asset management plans include:
- description of the maintenance program
- timing of program
- maintenance expense per asset class and sub-class
2. Service Levels
2.1 Strategic/Community Service Levels
|
2.2 Technical/Maintenance Service Levels
|
3. Future Demand
3.1 Future requirements associated with corporate plans or operational plans
No future requirements associated with the corporate plan or the operational plan have been identified.
3.2 Known or possible areas for expansion
Expansion - There are several factors that may affect the demand for and on Council assets.
3.2.1 New Subdivisions
New Subdivisions - Council is gifted infrastructure on a regular basis, with a significant number of new subdivisions coming off maintenance each year.
3.2.2 Population Growth
Population Growth - According to the OESR Queensland Regional Database & Google Public Data Explorer Bundaberg Regional Council's estimated population has increased from 78,943 in 2001 to 95,132 in 2009.
|
3.2.3 Changes in Land Use
Changes in Land Use - Bundaberg Regional Council has yet to finalise a consolidated Planning Scheme for the amalgamated Council. If any changes in land use affecting future demand are included in the new scheme they will be identified here.
3.2.4 Changes to Government Policy & Regulations
No changes to government policy or regulations have been identified in this plan.
3.3 Asset classes and potential acquisition dates
New Asset Classes - It is not anticipated that any new asset classes will be acquired within the time frame of this plan.
3.4 Cost estimates
The costs of changes in the future demand on the assets covered by this plan have yet to be calculated.
3.5 Impact of future demand on service levels, asset lifecycle and financial considerations
Impact of Future Demand - The impact of future demand on service levels, asset lifecycle and financial considerations has yet to be ascertained.
3.6 Technological Change Forecast
Technological Change Forecast - The past few centuries have seen enormous technological advances, and in computing, nanotechnology & biological science the current rate of advancement is exponential. (e.g. Moore's Law.) If this trend continues the impact on Local Government is potentially enormous, and obsolescence could become the main factor in determining the useful lives of many asset classes.
There are a number of key areas in which this rapid technological advancement could affect the way assets are constructed and maintained.
3.6.1 Energy
Energy - The availability or lack of availability of relatively cheap energy will have a huge impact on the cost of and need for infrastructure assets into the future.
Oil reserves are a finite resource, and transport systems will almost certainly become more and more dependent on synthetic fuels, bio-fuels and/or electrical power in the medium to long term.
If the cost of transport increases the cost of constructing infrastructure assets is likely to increase commensurately.
On the other hand, there are a couple of possible reasons that energy might actually become cheaper in the medium term which would drive construction costs down.
The amount of solar power being generated is increasing exponentially, and there are number of reasons to suspect the efficiency of solar power generation will improve markedly in the short to medium term.
Commercial fusion power is not expected to be available until at least 2040, but its impact if and when it does become a reality could be enormous, given that there is enough heavy hydrogen in the oceans to satisfy mankind's energy needs for millions of years.
Energy & Water Infrastructure Assets - Desalination plants are one example of a facility type that could become more popular if innovations in power generation technology result in cheaper energy.
3.6.2 New Materials & Construction Techniques
New Materials & Construction Techniques - It is possible that Automated Construction Techniques like D-Shape & Contour Crafting will have a significant impact on the construction of civil assets in the not-to-distant future. Given the long lives of some civil assets it is feasible that by the time they are due to be replaced automated construction techniques will enable them to be replaced for considerably less than their current replacement cost.
High tech materials like carbon nanotubes could result in decreased construction costs.
3.6.3 Increased Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing
Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing - Increased collaboration & knowledge sharing via the internet has the potential to reduce overhead costs significantly by reducing the amount of duplication of effort between Councils.
3.6.4 Artificial Intelligence & Expert Systems
Artificial Intelligence & Expert Systems - Some observers believe that human level general artificial intelligence could be a reality as soon as 2030.
4. Lifecycle Management and Financial Considerations
4.1 Useful Life
Water Infrastructure Asset Useful Lives - The useful life of most assets covered by this plan will depend on a range of environmental factors. The estimated useful lives given below which have been extracted from the Assetic Asset Management System are best guess averages.
|
4.2 Valuation
4.2.1 Water Infrastructure Valuation
Water Infrastructure Valuation - The figures below were extracted from the June 2010 Financial Reconciliation Report.
|
4.2.2 Unit Rates
The Water Main Unit Rates below were developed in-house for the 1 July 2009 revaluation. A spreadsheet detailing how the unit rates were developed is available here.
|
4.3 Maintenance
4.3.1 Maintenance Activities
Water Infrastructure Maintenance Activities - Council performs a number of maintenance activities in relation to assets covered by this plan, including:
4.3.2 Maintenance Expenditure
Water Infrastructure Maintenance Expenditure - a break up of maintenance expenditure on water infrastructure in the 2009-2010 financial year is detailed in the table below. The information has been extracted from BARS via a Financial Performance Summary Report.
|
4.4 Asset Renewals & Replacements
Water Infrastructure Renewal & Replacement - Council's Water Infrastructure Renewal Program will be based the estimated RULs of individual assets in Council's Asset Register.
The RULs are/should be/will be based on condition scores that are (at least for the assets in poorer condition) based on the number of breaks recorded against a given length of pipe (ignoring breaks not related to the condition of the pipe - e.g. back how damage).
|
More work needs to be done matching the figures in the SAMP to specific projects before the above table can be populated. A number of first cut renewal programs are under development, but you must be logged on to BRC Intranet to view them.
4.5 Asset Creation & Acquisition
The table below details projected new and upgrade capital expenditure on assets covered by this plan over a ten year period.
|
4.6 Asset Disposals
It is possible that one or more water treatment plants will be made redundant over the period covered by this plan, but no firm decision has been made at this point in time. Plants that are being considered for closure include:
4.7 Risk Management
Risk Management - Council recognises 4 levels of risk, low, medium, high and extreme. These risk associated with a given hazard is calculated in accordance with Council's Risk Management Policy using the following risk matrix.
All identified risks are recorded in Council's Risk Management System. The system contains a hazard register and a rectification action plan.
Council typically adopts one or more of the following risk handling options when risks are identified.
- accepting risk;
- reducing likelihood of event;
- reducing the consequences of event;
- transferring the risk;
- sharing the risk;
Risks
Hosting the plan online and backing it up locally should ensure that the plan content is safe even in the case of a server failure.
Internet outages can restrict access to the live version of the plan from time to time, but the data itself should be very safe.
Backups of the plan are made regularly and stored in the directory: S:\Support Services\Assets\Asset Management Plans.
4.8 Condition
Included page "water-assets-condition" does not exist (create it now)
5. Asset Management Practices
5.1 Data
Water Data - Data about water reticulation assets is currently sourced from and stored in a number of different locations & databases including;
The Water & Wastewater Section would like to set up a data repository to collate data from the above sources to simplify the process of generating reports.
5.1.1 GIS
GIS Water Data - The GIS contains a graphical representation of the location of water assets belonging to a number of sewerage asset classes, including;
- Water Mains
5.1.2 SCADA
SCADA Water Data - The SCADA system collects data about the both the water reticulation network, and plant located with water facilities. The network information via radio telemetry.
Information currently collected includes;
- water flow rates at individual highlift & bore pump stations, reverse fill stations, and selected locations within the reticulation network
- level information for reservoirs, water towers and some chemical storage tanks
- the motor speed & current (?) of variable speed drives
- the pH, turbidity & colour of water within and leaving water treatment plants.
It is planned to use SCADA to automate the collection of rainfall data from pluviometers in the near future.
The system could also be used to measure water pressure, but this has not been implemented.
5.1.3 Operations / WHIP
Operations Water Data - The Water & Wastewater Operations & Maintenance Section collects &/or collates data about a number of measures into a spreadsheet.
The following data is recorded
- 20mm water connections
- Other water connections
- monthly rainfall
- monthly surface water production
- monthly underground water production
- Water Main repairs
- Water Service replacements & repairs
- Meter replacements & repairs
- Stoptap replacements & repairs
WHIP Water Data - The WHIP system records …
- Date and Time of complaint
- Job Start / Finish Time
- Complaint Type
- Location by Address
- Water Main Asset ID
- Fire Hydrant Asset ID
- Valve Asset ID
- Pipe Size
- Pipe Material Type
- Failure Type
- Cause of Failure
- Water Main Condition
- Repair Type
- Repair Position
- Soil Type
- Was the Service Interrupted
- Was the Interruption Planned or Unplanned
- Service Repair
- Service Renewal
- Service Installation
- Service Disconnection
- Stoptap Repair
- Stoptap Replacement
- Meter Repair
- Meter Replacement
- Meter Installation
- Fire Hydrant Repair
- Fire Hydrant Replacement
- Fire Hydrant Installation
- Valve Repair
- Valve Replacement
- Valve Installation
5.1.4 Authority
Authority Water Data - Authority contains information on the following water infrastructure asset types.
- Water Meters
5.1.5 Assetic
Assetic Water Data - The myData module in Assetic contains information on the value, physical properties & condition of water reticulation assets.
The information is stored in a number of separate tables.
|
5.1.6 AMMS
AMMS Water Data - The AMMS contains data on the maintenance history of water assets.
5.1.7 LIMS
LIMS Water Data - LIMS is a Laboratory Information System developed by LTech Australia.
BRC uses LIMS to record the results of all tests carried out at the Central Laboratory. In the future it may also be used to record the results of a number of additional tests outsourced to other agencies.
Water from locations through out the region (including those listed below) is tested.
- Bundaberg
- Kalkie/Bargara/Coral Cove
- Innes Park
- River view
- Moore Park
- Rocky Point
- Gooburrum
- Gin Gin
- Monduran
- Childers
- Woodgate
- Burnett Heads
- Wallaville
Source water, reservoir water & reticulation water is analysed for microbiology & physical characteristics.
Microbial tests include:
Physical test include:
- pH
- conductivity
- apparent colour
- turbidity
- absorbance @ 254nm
- total hardness
- calcium hardness
- alkalinity
- fluoride
- chloride
- nitrite
- phosphate
- sulphate
- calcium
- magnesium
- sodium
- potassium
- manganese
- iron
- aluminium
- copper
Outsourced testing on reticulation water includes:
- inorganics
- pesticides
- total organic carbons
- MIB/Geosmin
- metals
- THMs (trihalomethanes)
- algae ID & count.
The lab also undertakes environmental monitoring of underground water supplies at Moore Park and Woodgate (bores surrounding the sewerage treatment plant) & Coral cove (bores surrounding the golf course). Bores are tested for faecal coliforms and physical parameters.
LIMS has only been in use since early 2010. Prior to this the results of tests were recorded in Excel spreadsheets. The Excel Spreadsheets are still in use, but will be gradually phased out as we progress with LIMS.
5.2 Asset Management Systems
Asset Management Systems - Bundaberg Regional Council uses a the following software systems & databases to manage various asset management related tasks.
5.3 Reporting
Water Reporting Requirements - The Water & Wastewater Section is subject to a number of reporting requirements, including;
5.3.1 National Performance Reports
Water Authorities are required to produce National Performance Reports on an annual basis. A list of questions can be found here.
5.3.2 Swim Reporting
Swim Reporting is conducted on an annual basis. Data is uploaded directly to the SWIM website.
Information uploaded to SWIM, and relating to Sewerage includes;
- Total volume sewage collected (ML/year)
- Average volume sewage collected per property (kL/sewer connection/year)
- Recycled water (percent of effluent recycled)
- Properties served per km of sewer main (No. Connections/km)
- Number of sewer main breaks and chokes per 100 km
- Property connection sewer main breaks and chokes (per 100km of sewer main)
- Sewage inflow and infiltration (peak day flow / average day flow) (Ratio)
- Sewage overflow to customer property (number per 1000 connections) (No./1000 Connections)
- Sewage overflows reported to the environmental regulator (per 100 km of main)
- Total number sewage overflows (per 100km sewer main)
- Percent of sewage treated to a tertiary level
- % of samples tested which comply with the relevant licence standard for BOD
- % of samples tested which comply with the relevant licence standard for Suspended Solids
- % of samples tested which comply with the relevant licence standard for Nitrogen
- % of samples tested which comply with the relevant licence standard for Phosphorus
- Sewerage service complaints (per 1000 properties)
- Average Response/reaction time for sewerage incidents (mins)
- Average sewerage interruption (minutes)
- Average number working days for work to commence on installations or connections
- Billing and account complaints - water and sewerage (No./1000 connections/year)
- Total water and Sewerage service complaints (No./1000 connections/year)
- Percent of biosolids reused
- greenhouse gas emissions (net tonnes CO2-equivalents) - Sewage (per 1000 properties)
- Revenue per property for sewerage services ($/property)
- Operating cost - sewerage ($/property)
- Annual bill based on 200kL/a - sewerage ($)
5.3.3 OWSR Reporting
OWSR Reporting is reporting carried out for the Office of the Water Supply Regulator.
5.3.4 Operational Reporting
Water & Wastewater Operational Reporting - Operational reporting is reporting carried out by Water & Wastewater Section for internal BRC purposes.
5.3.5 Incident Reporting
Water Supply Incident Reporting - Under a notice issued by the Office of the Water Supply Regulator, drinking water service providers must report the following as incidents within certain timeframes:
- detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli)
- detection of a pathogen
- fluoride greater than 1.5 mg/L
- detection of chemical parameter that does not meet a health guideline value in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG)
- detection of radioactivity exceeding gross alpha and gross beta screening values in the ADWG
- detection of parameter for which there is no guideline value in the ADWG
- an event or series of events that has the potential to compromise the ability to adequately treat or provide drinking water.
Further information is available on the DERM Website
5.4 Standards & Guidelines
Standards & Guidelines - BRC has referred to a wide range of standards and guidelines in developing its asset management practices, including those listed below;
- AAS 5 - Materiality
- AAS 27 - Financial Reports by Local Governments
- AASB 116 - Property, Plant & Equipment
- AASB 1015 - Acquisitions of Assets
- AASB 1021 - Depreciation
- AASB 1041 - Revaluation of Non-Current Assets
- Asset Management Advancement Program
- International Infrastructure Management Manual
- Queensland Local Government Act 2009
6. Improvement and Monitoring
6.1 Known data quality issues
-
6.2 Data quality issue mitigation
Water Infrastructure Data Quality Improvement Program - It is planned to progressively improve the quality of water infrastructure data by publishing as much existing data about water infrastructure both here and on the internal BRC Wiki, and encouraging the readers and users of the AMP/wiki to advise the Assets Section of any errors or inconsistencies.
6.3 Estimate of Reliability
Estimate of Reliability - The majority of the figures used in BRC's Asset Management Plans are generated from Council's Assetic Asset Management System. The Assetic database was compiled from numerous databases and spreadsheets used by the former Councils of Bundaberg, Burnett, Isis & Kolan. The quality of the data available varied from Council to Council and asset class to asset class, and in some cases has been further degraded as a result of the aggregation process.
Council is in the early stages of developing and implementing long term management systems and as such expects the Long Term Asset Management Plan, incorporating this Asset Management Plan and associated expenditure programs, to change significantly over the next five years as these systems mature and better information becomes available.
It should be noted that Council has made significant advances in the reliability of the base data (quantity, location, condition and value) since amalgamation.
6.4 Water & Wastewater Improvement Suggestions
Water & Wastewater Improvement Opportunities - Below are is a list of suggested improvements to this plan and to the management of water & wastewater infrastructure in general.
The Water & Wastewater Section has indicated that the following asset management related tasks/functions are important priorities for them & the organisation.
- The automatic generation of asset renewal programs from asset condition information.
- The ability to accurately determine the current number of sewerage connections.
- The acquisition of typical photos of manholes & manhole construction.
- The inclusion of all water & wastewater asset components in the AMMS system.
- The provision of a job request system.
- The development of an asset condition assessment program for water and wastewater assets.
- The provision of performance based maintenance scheduling.
- The creation of an asset location handbook.
- The creation of master drawings for all water & wastewater facilities & assets.
- The Inclusion of jump ups in the asset management system.
- The development of a manual for Council's Work Handling System (WHIP)
- Standard Drawings and Design and Construction specifications
- MyData table for all equipmemt to cater for water valves and hydrants
The Governance Department has indicated that the following asset management related tasks/functions are important priorities for them & the organisation.
7. References
General References - The following references have been used in preparing this and other Asset Management Plans