SA Water

Last summer, our teams at Barossa and Hope Valley water treatment plants demonstrated remarkable adaptability in the face of challenges. With our sludge drying lagoons at Barossa nearing capacity, they quickly devised an innovative and cost-effective solution to mitigate any operational, environmental or cost risks. By using spare parts, a redundant but fit-for-purpose chemical dosing system and unused chemical from another site, the teams successfully created a poly-batching and dosing system to effectively reduce the volume of sludge at Barossa. This system can also now be adapted at for our other sites and applications. Congratulations to everyone involved for taking out the 2024 Agile Award.

Two innovative projects implemented this past year demonstrate our dedication to enhancing productivity and sustainability across all levels of SA Water, with our people rewarded for this work at our 2024 Innovation and Excellence Awards. Earlier this year, we introduced Chucky, our collaborative robot – or coot – designed to streamline the manual process of removing bottle caps in our Australian Water Quality Centre laboratories. Chucky now handles 900 bottles a day, freeing our team to focus on what truly matters: managing water quality. In our expansive water network, the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technology has been a game-changer. This intelligent investment allows us to shift from time-based to condition-based maintenance, leveraging machine learning and drone image capture. The results from this initiative have included significant productivity gains, reduced network incidents and enhanced asset performance through proactive maintenance. We are thrilled to announce these two winners of the Innovative Awards (large and small categories), showcasing remarkable innovations that are transforming our operations.

We’re highlighting two projects from 2024 which embody our commitment to collaboration and innovation. First up, the implementation of a new ‘Source to Contract’ solution has transformed our procurement processes and increased our supply chain capabilities now and into the future. Along with recognition in our Innovation and Excellence awards, the ‘Source to Contract’ project contributed to us winning the prestigious Procurement Team of the Year (Large Organisation) at this year’s CIPS Australia & New Zealand Excellence in Procurement Awards. Our second winning project saw the implementation of a new online portal that’s significantly streamlined our asset planning operations. The portal has helped to bring people together from across the business – such as our asset planners and field operators – in a more centralised way to better identify and track any emerging operational issues, to ensure asset investment and remediation work is effectively prioritised. Congratulations to the winners of our 2024 Collaborative Awards (large and small categories).

With significant changes to our metered hydrant application process in 2024, our team has made remarkable strides in enhancing both employee and customer experiences. The initiative required collaboration and commitment across various teams, showcasing the courage needed to align differing preferences and perspectives – while putting the emphasis firmly on customers. Our efforts included improved training for our teams and the introduction of a new Connections channel on our website, making it easier for customers to apply to connect a service. These changes have resulted in a more streamlined and financially efficient process for managing metered hydrants, significantly reducing the time between application and connection, and increasing customer satisfaction. Congratulations to everyone involved for winning our Courageous Award this year. 

This year’s recipients of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award truly exemplify the power of understanding and fostering an inclusive workplace. Our Able Together network organised an enlightening event for our people, with the opportunity to hear firsthand from individuals with lived experiences of autism and neurodiversity. The panellists shared valuable insights on how we can enhance inclusion within SA Water, emphasising that even small victories can lead to significant improvements in our recruitment processes and overall workplace culture. Since the event, these speakers have become trusted advocates, offering guidance on how to address the diverse needs of our workforce. Initiatives like this highlight our commitment to creating an environment where everyone can learn, grow and thrive together. Congratulations to everyone involved in this impactful initiative.

Two significant advancements that enhanced our service delivery while prioritising safety for our teams and customers across regional South Australia have been recognised in our 2024 Innovations and Excellence Awards. Our trial of Starlink technologies successfully addressed a major challenge – the loss of voice and data connectivity in remote areas. What started as a pilot in four of our vehicles has since expanded to more than 70 vehicles state-wide. This satellite technology ensures our regional teams have continuous data connectivity, allowing them to stay connected and deliver exceptional service to our customers, no matter where they are. In our Production and Treatment area, we’ve introduced a new portable chlorine disinfection unit for water storage tanks. This innovative solution significantly reduces risks associated with working at heights by enabling dosing from ground level. It also helps enhance water quality for our customers. Plus, the unit is manufactured in-house using recycled materials, showcasing our commitment to sustainability. Both of these initiatives improve operational efficiency and reinforce our dedication to safety. Congratulations to the teams involved for taking out this year’s Safe Awards (large and small categories).

Each year, our Innovation and Excellence Awards highlight how our organisation is thinking differently and challenging the status quo for the benefit of our customers, our people and the environment. Over the next week, we’ll be showcasing our 2024 winners, starting with the Trustworthy Award. Our Customer, Community and Engagement business group has made significant strides in building trust with our customers through outreach to those experiencing financial hardship. By implementing empathetic and targeted communications, along with dedicated contact channels and tailored solutions, our teams encouraged customers to seek support before their bills became overwhelming. The success of this initiative is evident in the increased calls to our Customer Advocacy team, heightened awareness of our flexible payment options state-wide and a positive shift in our Brand Health Index. Congratulations to the team involved!

We’re thrilled to announce that three amazing SA Water women have been named finalists in the Women in Innovation_sa Awards! This remarkable achievement highlights their dedication, creativity, and leadership in driving innovation within our industry. First, we have Amanda Mussared in the Technology category whose groundbreaking research work in drone technology to enhance efficiency and safety in water utilities was the first towards SA Water becoming a leader in aerial drone technology adoption. Next, Dr Anna Crump has been recognised in the Maths & Data category for her exceptional contributions transforming customer feedback data into greater customer service outcomes. Lastly, Elisabeth Wellings has been honoured as a Young Innovator for her pioneering testing methods ensuring biosolids used as soil conditioners are safe. We’re incredibly proud of Amanda. Anna, and Elisabeth for their achievements and wish them the best of luck at the awards ceremony. Their success is a testament to the talent and dedication within our industry. Congratulations and good luck to all tonight! #womenininnovation #WINN2024 #innovationsa #womeninSTEM

This week, we’ve been celebrating Innovation Week at SA Water with an inspiring mix of events and speakers! For us, it provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our people who are thinking and doing things differently, while gaining insights into initiatives from across the country and around the world. Our launch event earlier in the week set the tone with powerful messages from Chief Scientist for South Australia Professor Craig Simmons, who challenged us to “think big, share insights and embrace diverse perspectives”. An engaging Q&A then explored water’s central role in solving global challenges like energy, climate and health. In a separate event, we also showcased the contributions of higher degree research students, highlighting how their work is advancing knowledge across our business and driving real-world impact.

You could be mistaken for thinking this was a hand-drawn map by JRR Tolkein. It’s actually the design of the Glenelg Wastewater Treatment Plant, using a custom filter in our GIS (Geographic Information System) software. We’ve been using GIS since 1986, for tasks supporting infrastructure management, data collection and analysis, as well as environmental and emergency management. #GISDay #LOTR