World-leading environmental science will be used for the development of Sydney's water and waste system for the 21st century, following an agreement signed between CSIRO and Sydney Water Corporation in Canberra today (30/10/96).
Sydney Water managing director Mr Paul Broad said CSIRO would provide independent and rigorous analysis of the scientific assumptions and research which form the basis of Sydney Water's 20-year business plan.
The agreement created an opportunity to tackle the city's water and waste challenges using state-of-the-art science and technology, Professor Graham Harris, head of CSIRO's Environmental Projects Office, said.
It follows CSIRO's pioneering investigation of Port Phillip Bay conducted for Melbourne Water, in which a team of water scientists, physicists, chemists, microbiologists, fisheries experts and environmental researchers combined to assess the human impact on the Bay.
The new project targets the whole Sydney region, from Broken Bay to the Illawarra, and east to the Warragamba catchment and Blue Mountains -- an area of more than 20,000 square kilometres which includes 21 sewage plants discharging to rivers and 10 ocean outfalls.
"An enormous amount of data already exists on the Sydney region, and this creates a major opportunity to plan an entire urban water and waste cycle using state of the art technologies to guarantee the best possible water quality,'' Professor Harris said.
CSIRO is reviewing "a veritable mountain" of scientific studies amassed by Sydney Water on ocean outfalls, the Hawkesbury-Nepean, environmental risk analysis, biological indicators and sewer overflow management.
Subsequently CSIRO will serve as prime auditor and quality assessor of science carried out on behalf of Sydney Water, to ensure world-best standards are maintained.
"CSIRO's track record in this field is very impressive and there will be considerable pressure on Sydney Water to ensure that its high standards of scientific analysis are met," Mr Broad said.
"We believe our work already reaches those standards -- but an endorsement from CSIRO will be a great achievement."
More information: Prof. Graham Harris, CSIRO 06 281 8480 Paul Broad, Sydney Water, 02 9350 6100