Queensland Water Commission
Public Water Agency of the Year
What is it?
A statutory urban water planning agency created in 2006 to address urban water security needs in South East Queensland, Australia.
What has it done?
In 2007, the Commission led fundamental reforms to all aspects of water security and market development for Australia's fastest-growing metropolitan region, supporting 2.7 million people.
Why is it shortlisted?
In the face of the most severe drought in 100 years, the Commission has:- planned, monitored and reported on the implementation of the A$9 billion regional water supply grid, comprising 24 infrastructure projects including two new dams, a 125,000m3/d desalination plant, 450km of pipeline, and the 232,000m3/d Western Corridor Recycled Water - the largest water recycling project in the Southern hemisphere. QWC has also developed and implemented a total restructuring of the region's water supply market from 25 disparate entities to a single regulated system. These reforms provide an important and unique blueprint for other metropolitan regions to follow.
- developed a range of water demand management measures, backed up by education and media campaigns. Restrictions have already resulted in a reduction in industrial water use of 28%, and a sustained reduction in residential water demand from over 300 litres per person per day before the drought to 170 l/p/d by early 2007, and an average of 130 l/p/d since July 2007. The scope and penetration of QWC's demand management initiative is unmatched.