Catchment Management Plan - Hunter Water

3.5.2 Hunter Water’s vision forcatchment researchResearch of identified knowledge gaps incatchments is promoted, particularly atthe University of Newcastle, focusing oninforming the Source Water ImprovementSupport System.Specific funding is allocated to identifiedareas of need; the outcomes begin toinform management decisions. Catchmentresearch is fostered at NewcastleUniversity.Collaborative and leveraged fundingopportunities are leveraged; drinking watercatchment research is a scientific focus atNewcastle University.HORIZON 1 HORIZON 2 HORIZON 3►This price path 2010 - 2013 Next price path 2013 - 2017 Our vision for the future 2017 - beyond►►“Part 4: The action plan 2010-2013” explains in more detail how Hunter Water will move towards this vision.3.6 Element 6: Performproactive surveillanceObjectiveTo perform regular,documented surveillance ofcatchments, ultimately improving thequality of catchment risk assessments.PrécisHunter Water presently has rangers whoare active in catchments and thereforeprovide ‘informal’ surveillance services.Surveillance will be formalised to meetthe requirements of the Framework forthe Management of Drinking WaterQuality. Regular, programmed andproactive surveillance will feed back intopolicy and risk assessment outcomes.3.6.1 Why surveillance, andhow much is enough?To understand a catchment area “regulardocumented inspections to monitorcatchment conditions and land usechanges” should be undertaken . The veryaction of being seen proactively patrollingthe catchment sends a positive signal tothe land owners that the utility does careabout land management and is interestedin their activities.In conversations with other water andcatchment management authorities andCATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN . ssS . 001 . JUNE2010from the literature, catchment knowledgeis often identified as one of the singlegreatest barriers to waterborne disease.Catchment knowledge is vital because theapplication of the risk assessment processis entirely reliant on the understanding ofthe water supply system from catchmentto tap. Inspection of catchments is the keyactivity that will increase an organisation’sknowledge and understanding of itscatchment area.The frequency of surveillance isdependant upon the risk in a catchment.As Hunter Water’s catchments can bedescribed as partly or fully developed,current best practise is a minimum of 3-5days per week of surveillance.In addition to traditional surveillance,aerial and satellite imagery can also beuseful to detect changes in land use.Satellite imagery especially can be usedto assess changes in land use suchas amount of vegetation clearing or toassess the effects of bushfire.3.6.2 Surveillance currentlyconducted in catchments andbest practiceHunter Water currently has three full timeRangers who are based in the field andthus are regularly engaged in surveillanceof the catchments. Between these staffthere would be in excess of 5 days spenton informal surveillance.Current best practice surveillance incatchments involves not only monitoringcatchments but also recordingobservations. Specific items to observeare shown in Appendix B. In brief,records should be kept of the following:• General land use activities and landuse changes,• Checking for unusual, unapproved orunlawful activities,• Inspections following incidents (fires,heavy rain, spills),• Proactive management of catchmentsto predict risks and hazards.It is important that this informationis recorded and used in strategicplanning decision making. For this tooccur, a template or simple checklistmust be generated so that surveillancecan be standardised acrosscatchments and time.3.6.3 Recent improvements tosurveillance techniquesAppendix C shows a templatedeveloped within the last year for theWilliamtown RAAF base. It sets out theinspection frequency, what to inspectand the considerations for each site.The aim of developing the template wasto standardise inspections and makethem routine.37