Undergraduate Water Prize

Ana Maria Gracioso Martins,  RMIT University

Ana Maria is undertaking Environmental Science with Honours at RMIT University with scholarships from Melbourne Water and Water Quality Research Australia.   Her research is focused on water quality and the development of portable analytical instruments.  Originally from Brazil, Ana was awarded a full scholarship to complete A-Levels in triple science and mathematics in London.  While in England, she participated in a Science MasterClass at Imperial College London and presented her work at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2003 in Cleveland, USA.  

Back in Brazil Ana worked on a Brazilian Government project at Universidade de Sao Paulo that investigated the effects of free radical damage on deoxyguanosine and the formation and stability of DNA adducts.  Working with this research group made Ana more aware of the environmental pollution surrounding us at a molecular level and prompted her to enrol in the RMIT Environmental Sciences Bachelor programme and pursue a career in water research.

She is hoping to continue her research at a PhD level and to specialise in the design of novel, highly specific analytical instruments for environmental analysis.

AWA and award sponsor, GHD, congratulate Ana Maria on being recipient of the 2011 AWA Undergraduate Water Prize.

Water Professional of the Year

Bruce Anderson, Goulburn Valley Region Water Corporation

The judges were particularly impressed with Bruce’s leadership qualities and his co-ordination of Goulburn Valley Water’s emergency management during the February 2009 bushfires.  The successful recovery after the devastation at Marysville and loss of the Kilmore Water Treatment Plant is testament to Bruce’s strong leadership in extremely trying circumstances. The judges acknowledge Bruce’s crowning achievement of actively disseminated the many lessons from the incident, presenting the case study at a range of forums throughout Victoria and Australia and in doing so building the wider water community’s capacity to respond to future crises.

Bruce has a strong commitment and advocates to raise the profile and reputation of the water

industry through his voluntary work with regional communities, such as  “River to Tap” tours, regularly presenting at industry forums and manning information booths at community events.

The judges appreciated Bruce’s strong networks, both within the water industry and throughout our regional communities, making Bruce well placed to encourage people from all walks of life to consider the merits of a water industry career.  With a long list of professional achievements to his credit, AWA along with award sponsor, GHD, commends Bruce as a very worthy recipient of the Victorian 2011 Water Professional of the Year Award.

Infrastructure Project Innovation Award 

AquaArmour™ Deployment, Ouyen Victoria, Evaporation and Algal Control by Aqua Guardian Group

The aim of the deployment on the Ouyen water storage was to protect a vital water resource for a small community town suffering severe water stress.  Initial testing of AquaArmour™ determined that the deployment of the modules would save around 88% of evaporation.  Testing at the Ouyen site proved an even higher than expected saving of 94%.  The judges were particularly impressed not only with the volume of water savings but also with other key results obtained after deployment of the modules including:

• Water temperature was moderated within the water body.

• Total algal numbers in the deployment storage decreased significantly.

• Other water quality parameters did not deteriorate.

AquaArmour™is made from food grade high density polyethylene and is fully recyclable at the end of its useful life.  The AWA, along with award sponsor KSB, congratulate the Aqua Guardian Group on being awarded the AWA Infrastructure Project Innovation Award for 2011.

Highly Commended was awarded to "Mitchell River Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project" by East Gippsland Water.

Program Innovation Award 

Steam System Efficiency Program by City West Water

Over 100 of CWW’s customers use steam within their processes.  Steam systems were targeted because of the integrated water and energy use, meaning efficiency improvements are typically cost-effective with a high likelihood of implementation. Whilst improving the energy efficiency of its own operations continues to be a priority, CWW’s has identified there is significant potential to assist business customers to reduce energy usage associated with the end use of water, particularly steam systems. 

The judges were impressed with CWW focussing their effort to gain the most value with CWW finding that the energy use per megalitre of water used in a steam system is over 300 times more intensive than in water supply and wastewater treatment combined.  In this case, the most effective use of CWW’s resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would be to assist customers in reducing emissions in their steam systems.

The AWA, along with award sponsor Gippsland Water, congratulate City West Water on being awarded the AWA Program Innovation Award for 2011.

Highly Commended were awarded to

• "Sustainability Demystified" by Goulburn Valley Water and Sinclair Knight Merz; and
• "Partnerships in Stormwater Reuse Program" by City West Water