A low-cost sewer monitoring device has placed Mackay Regional Council among the 2018 Queensland Water Award winners.The council took the Program Innovation Award (under 250,000 end users) for its MiSewer program.MiSewer obtains real-time data on sewer networks and alerts crews to potential blockages and capacity issues, allowing them to act before an overflow occurs.Cr Martin Bella said Mackay Regional Council’s MiSewer program was achieving outstanding results and it was great to be recognised and share the innovative program with the water industry.“Currently, no other water utility in Australia is providing a low-cost sewer level monitoring program and aligning the data to better understand the networks performance,” Cr Bella said.“Thanks to council’s Smart Sewer program, a considerable number of dry weather blockages have been tended to prior to spilling into the environment.”

Whitsunday Regional Council was also among those recognised for innovation, picking up the Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Under 250,000 end users) for the recent $1.1 million solar and generator upgrade at the Bowen Water Treatment Plant.Chief executive officer Barry Omundson said the council was always looking for innovative solutions to provide a more efficient service to the community. The awards are run by the Australian Water Association and were announced at a dinner this month. The Queensland winners will automatically be entered into the National Australian Water Awards, to be presented at Ozwater’19 in Melbourne, May 7-9 2019.The full list of 2018 Queensland Water Award winners is below:Research Innovation Award UGOLD – Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland and Queensland Urban Utilities. UGOLD autonomously recovers the nutrients in urine – at high rates, low energy consumption and without any chemical dosing – as a super-concentrated liquid that can find reuse as a balanced fertiliser.Program Innovation Award – Under 250,000 end users MiSewer, Mackay Water Services – Mackay Regional Council. MiSewer is a low-cost sewer level monitoring program with mobile alert system via SMS, email and GIS spatial interface. The council redesigned its Smart Water Metering technology to monitor the sewer network and utilised their existing wireless communication network.Program Innovation Award – Over 250,000 end users Queensland Water Regional Alliance Program (QWRAP) – Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy. The Queensland Water Regional Alliance Program is a significant partnership arrangement between State Government, Local Government and industry.Infrastructure Project Innovation Award – Under 250,000 end users Bowen Water Treatment Plant Solar Plant and Resilience Upgrade – Whitsunday Regional Council. Whitsunday Water has recently commissioned a 400kW solar array with permanent stand-by generators at the Bowen Water Treatment Plant. As a result of a full electrical system upgrade, almost half the plant is now powered by clean energy, the supply is more resilient and there has been a reduction in carbon emissions.Infrastructure Project Innovation Award – Over 250,000 end users Sun and Salt: Logan’s Water Quality Solution – Logan City Council, Downer, Cardno and WSP. The $3 million project at Round Mountain Reservoir combines solar power, battery storage and electro-chlorination technologies to maintain water quality for residents.Distinguished Service Award Jenny DanslowRegional Service Award Dr Rob Fearon, qldwaterStudent Water Prize Controlling and Monitoring Algae Blooms in Effluent Storage Ponds – Lindsay Stafford, Gladstone Regional Council.Young Water Professional of the Year Award (sponsored by TRILITY) William Speirs, Strategy and Business Development Analyst, UnitywaterWater Professional of the Year Award Richard Savage, Technical Director – Water Process and Systems, GHD