Community Liaison Committee
Our Community Liaison Committee contributes to the formation of our Environmental Sustainability Plan, particularly the programs and targets detailed in the plan.
A Sustainable Water City
Principles of a Sustainable Water City - Advocating For the Adoption of Sustainable Practices Across the Water Industry
Since July 2007 our Community Liaison Committee has been engaged in discussions on the Principles of a Sustainable Water City. The purpose of these discussions was for the committee to provide guidance on how it believes City West Water can contribute to making Melbourne a more Sustainable Water City. The discussions have involved presentations and discussions on a range of topics including the water supply and distribution network, managing bursts and leaks, proactive water conservation programs and alternative water supply options.
The Environmental Sustainability Plan Two (ESP2), July 2008 – June 2011, commits City West Water’s management to provide an update on the Sustainable Water City Principles to the Environment and Social Sustainability Committee for consideration, review and comment in 2009. This occurred in November 2009. The ESP2 also commits City West Water to publish these principles on City West Water’s website.
As a result of the discussions, the Community Liaison Committee has developed 10 principles that it believes City West Water should consider when making decisions that could impact upon Melbourne’s long term sustainability.
1. Intergenerational Equity
Communities and their governments understand that current development must not compromise the ability of future generations to enjoy secure water supplies and healthy natural environments. This means that governments and urban water managers must take a long-term view when planning infrastructure for supporting water services.
2. Triple Bottom Line Approach
In a sustainable water city, governments and urban water managers will measure the ‘value’ of water and water services in social, economic and environmental terms, rather than merely economic ‘cost.’
3. Integrated Approach
Water resources, including water supply, sewerage and stormwater services, will be managed as part of a total water cycle. Urban water managers will warrant water supply and sewerage options that are beneficial to waterway and ecological health as well as community wellbeing.
4. Diverse Water Sources
In a sustainable water city, governments will invest in a diversity of water sources underpinned by a range of centralised and de-centralised infrastructure, providing citizens with flexibility to access a range of water sources at the least cost, and least impact on rural and environmental water needs.
5. City As a Catchment
A sustainable water city will minimise the import of potable water, and export of wastewater, from and to areas outside the boundaries of the city. Instead, the use of water resources within a sustainable city will be optimised in a fit-for-purpose capacity.
The sustainable water city will recognise, measure and reduce both its direct and embodied water uses and the products associated with high direct and embodied water use will be discouraged.
6. Ecosystem Services
A sustainable water city believes that waterways are valued as an integral part of the city, where ecological integrity is vigorously protected. Water managers plan and act to reduce the impact of the city on the environmental values of aquatic systems within and downstream of the city, making the city more liveable. Green infrastructure for stormwater quality will not only cleanse polluted stormwater, but will also provide micro-climate and amenity benefits.
7. Resilience to Climate Change
A sustainable water city will be resilient to climate change. Diverse water sources (Principle no. four) will ensure that the city can adapt to conditions of water scarcity and water abundance. Waterways that are being ecologically protected are naturally more resilient, whilst providing the additional improved amenity for the community.
8. Social Capital
The concept of social capital recognises that for a robust, resilient community to survive and prosper it must continuously improve the subtlety of its interactions with its surrounds, seeking to always minimise its impacts on them. Enhanced subtlety equates with enhanced understandings and responsibility-taking and the way both are built into culture. Thus, technology, infrastructure and urban form will be continuously designed to reinforce sustainable practices and therefore social capital.
9. Organisational Investment
In a sustainable water city, governments, businesses and the private sector will have the organisational and economic incentives to invest in sustainable solutions. Such incentives will replace perverse incentives that currently limit or prevent sustainable practices.
10. Water Ethic
A water ethic requires that the use and transfer of water be guided by an informed understanding of its value and importance to natural systems. For individuals, a water ethic calls for an examination of lifestyles and consumption patterns, with a focus on the finite nature of water. A good water ethic goes beyond the notion of how we use water, but why we use it – in every product, lifestyle and material that we consume. It also considers the need for past and future water allocation planning and the crisis that can develop when this is inadequate.
The Customer Liaison Committee recognises that City West Water only controls part of the overall water cycle and as such, cannot deliver a Sustainable Water City on its own. It does, however, believe that City West Water should seek to exercise influence through partnering with other organisations to contribute to the achievement of a Sustainable Water City. The 10 principles are designed to aid City West Water in its influencing role. As a path forward, the committee intends to use the 10 principles as a basis for providing feedback to City West Water on future projects. The committee will be asked to reflect on the projects and how its objectives align to the principles. The committee will then provide feedback on the project, which we will take into consideration when proceeding to develop these projects.
If you would like more information on the Sustainable Water City Principles developed by City West Water’s Community Liaison Committee please contact Susan Lengyel, Environmental Officer via email at slengyel@citywestwater.com.au.
References:
- City West Water Environmental Sustainability Plan Two, July 2008 – June 2011
- Wong, T., Brown, R. & Deletic, C. Water Management in a Water Sensitive City, Water – Journal of the Australian Water Association, Vol 35 no.7.