Integrated water management optimisation study for the Dandenong and Western Port catchments
South East Water
Optimisation modelling offers to enhance industry decision-making by systematically assessing hundreds of potential opportunities and prioritising projects to inform an optimal investment portfolio. This project was a pilot to understand the potential for optimisation modelling to help industry assess large numbers (hundreds) of alternative water source, demand and alternative water supply network opportunities. This allows for more effective consideration of the interconnected nature of water systems and multiple IWM objectives simultaneously. This involved collation of extensive databases identified in previous studies including drawing on the Integrated Water Management (IWM) Dashboard, ACAWN and CASNO projects, as well as other sources. Extensive stakeholder engagement was undertaken to fill in the gaps in data. Collectively the preferred portfolio identified 41 alternative water source supply opportunities to meet 147 demands which could deliver up to a total of 224 GL of water each year (168 GL/yr of recycled water delivered to customers and 56 GL/yr of harvested stormwater). In summary, four key IWM objectives for the Western Port and Dandenong catchments are achieved through the preferred portfolio:
- Potable water substitution
- Recycled water delivered to customers
- Passive public open space supported by alternative water source
- Alternative water to agriculture
