Annual Report 2011 - Watercare

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Watercare Services Limited 2011 ANNUAL REPORT Sustainable environment 6A. Percentage performance: atmospheric CO 2 emissions. 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 2011 75% 7/10 Target 75% reduction on 1990 levels 2007 2008 2009 2010 85 85 85 85 Watercare calculates its greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane and nitrous oxide that are largely generated from % % % % the treatment of wastewater. This year the company achieved a 75% reduction on the greenhouse gas levels emitted in 1990, which is the company’s historic benchmark for performance in this area. This result appears lower than in previous years because Watercare is now running additional wastewater plants. 6B. Percentage performance against target: internally sourced energy. 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 2011 7/10 91% New Performance Measure Target 35% of energy used Watercare aims to source 35% of all its energy requirements from internal sources, principally biogas reuse at its two largest wastewater plants, Mangere and Rosedale, and from five hydro-electric generators within the water supply system. This year, Watercare sourced 32% of its energy, achieving 91% of its target. 6C. Percentage performance: recycling. Percentage of potential general waste material recycled 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Staff volunteer for a zero-waste recycling programme and each year the company measures the amount of general waste that was recycled rather than going to landfill. This year it was estimated that 70% of company waste with the potential for reuse was separated for recycling. Target 2011 70% 7/10 2007 2008 2009 2010 65 75 75 70 % % % % 6D. Percentage performance against target: waste management. Solid waste diverted from landfills 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 2011 80% 7/10 New Performance Measure Target Watercare operates a programme to recover valuable metals and nutrients that could be reused in the future and to divert as much solid waste as possible to purpose-built rehabilitation projects rather than send this waste to commercial landfills. This programme has been extended to the wastewater treatment plants transferred to Watercare on 1 November 2010. For 2010/11, Watercare diverted from landfills 80% of solid waste generated from the treatment of wastewater. Over time it is planned to lift performance to 100%. 6E. Percentage performance: species preservation. Sustainable environment PAGE 46 Bird-roost management plan Bird populations monitored Adequate bird roost capacity Macroinvertebrate monitoring Trout management plan Flushing flow release – southern dams Fish trap and haul – southern dams Fish trap and haul – western dams Fish passages over weirs -– southern dams Flushing flow release – western dams 2011 100% 7/10 2007 2008 2009 2010 75 80 90 100 % % % % Watercare carefully manages the discharges from its dams to ensure the downstream ecosystems have sufficient water flow. Compensation and free-discharge valves have been installed on all the dams which allow the release of a continuous flow of water downstream and to simulate floods and reduce algae build-up in the streams. To ensure that migration paths of native fish species are not interrupted by the dams, Watercare operates a trap and haul programme for both fish and eels. Whitebait (juvenile galaxiid species) and elvers (juvenile eels) are trapped in downstream river systems and transferred to upstream of the dam. Adult migrating eels, generally between 15 and 40 years old, are caught from within the dams and transferred to suitable locations downstream to complete their breeding cycle in the sea. Weblinks Greenhouse gas emissions Fig. 37 Initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Fig. 38 Source of emissions Fig. 39 Watercare’s ecological footprint Fig. 40 Return to Contents page
Watercare Services Limited 2011 ANNUAL REPORT 6F. Percentage performance: habitat improvement. 2011 Rural: Trees For Survival sponsorship Freshwater: downstream water quality monitoring – southern dams Freshwater: residual flows maintained – southern dams Freshwater: downstream water quality monitoring – western dams Increase in marine diversity Coastal: projects complete Freshwater: riparian planting programme – southern dams Urban: restoration projects planned (Meola Creek) Freshwater: residual flows implemented – western dams Urban: restoration projects Puketutu Island 90% 2007 2008 2009 2010 75 80 85 90 % % % % Watercare added an additional 5.7ha of bird roosts at the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant this year. The plant staff work closely with the Ambury Regional Park rangers to control pests at the bird roosts, which are home to up to 30 species of birds, including the endangered New Zealand dotterel. Watercare has continued to support the Trees for Survival programme, which helps the Ararimu, Ardmore and Hunua schools to plant trees to help prevent erosion, provide habitats for native birds, improve water quality and remove carbon from the atmosphere. Future initiatives include habitat restoration on Puketutu Island, adjacent to the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant. 6G. Performance: midge complaints at wastewater treatment plants. Number of midge complaints 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Watercare operates a year-round monitoring and management programme that focuses on controlling midge breeding grounds around its wastewater treatment plants and on reducing midge breeding grounds in the community, largely through public awareness initiatives. Effective response continues to be required particularly when warm, wet weather creates conditions in which midges thrive. While the Mangere plant continued to achieve low levels of midge complaints, results at other plants were significant. Target 2011 70% 7/10 2007 2008 2009 2010 70 95 100 100 % % % % 6H. Performance: odour complaints at wastewater treatment plants. Number of verified odour complaints 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2011 90% 7/10 Target 2007 2008 2009 2010 95 75 60 85 Odour control measures continue to be an important focus at the wastewater treatment plants and include the use of covers and odour filter beds % % % % as well as stationary and mobile deodoriser spraying units. Watercare undertakes periodic plant boundary odour surveys that involve an independent ‘odour scout’ to investigate and report any odour detection. For 2010/11, there were three verified odour complaints at Mangere and seven at non-metropolitan plants. All complaints were responded to in a timely manner and a 90% performance against the target was achieved. 6I. Percentage performance: compliance of trade waste customers. 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 2011 99% 7/10 Watercare aims to work with its customers to ensure a 100% compliance level with trade waste by-laws. Since 1 November 2010, the number of trade waste customers has increased from 580 to 1,740. Despite the increase, there was a 99% level of compliance, an improvement on previous years’ results. Target 2007 2008 2009 2010 95 95 96 97 % % % % 2011 Overall percentage score: Sustainable environment Contact: rjaduram@water.co.nz 85% Weblinks Internal energy usage Fig. 41 Recycling of general waste Fig. 42 Biosolids metal levels Fig. 43 Solids disposal Fig. 44 Weight of hazardous substances in waste Fig. 45 Sustainable environment PAGE 47 Return to Contents page
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