Page 2203 - Week 06 - Monday, 11 May 2009
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• supported offsetting construction and operating GHG of WSMP, subject to cost being in the order of $1M to $1.5 M per year over 30 years.
ACTEW has further advised that options that have been identified as feasible to significantly reduce GHG footprints associated with the WSMP are:
• use of biodiesel during construction; and
• energy recovery – including hydro generation.
Due to these GHG footprint reduction measures, the remaining GHG offsets can be achieved through investment in Carbon Sink Forestry Offsets, which are currently being further assessed by ACTEW.
Other options for offsets which were considered included:
• cogeneration;
• soil sequestration
• wind farms;
• solar; and
• geothermal.
(2) ACTEW has advised that it is not pursuing GHG offsets with the view to trade for commercial return. Offsets will be acquired to match GHG emissions requirements for the WSMP.
Actew—water quality
(Question No 123)
Mrs Dunne asked the Treasurer, upon notice, on 24 March 2009 (redirected to the Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water):
(1) In relation to the ACTEW Corporation’s 2007-08 annual report, did any testing of catchment water quality undertaken during the year result in quality that was below the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines; if so, what remedial action was taken and how long did it take for water to return to acceptable quality.
(2) What testing is undertaken of reticulated potable water and do those tests compare results to any national standards; if not, why not; if so, did any tests undertaken during the year yield results that did not meet national standards; if so, what was done to rectify the problem and how long did it take for quality to return to acceptable standards.
Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) ACTEW has advised that algae were detected in Googong during the summer of 2007-08. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) require a multi-barrier approach as a fundamental principle in ensuring safe drinking water quality. ACTEW maintains a comprehensive monitoring program to identify substances which may be harmful, so that inflows to the treatment plants are only accepted if they can be fully treated to meet the ADWG. Otherwise inflows are stopped from entry into the drinking water system. I am advised that the algae were successfully treated with powdered activated carbon. Volatile Organics were detected in one sample from Bendora in July 2007, two chemicals of which were at concentrations above the
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