Environmental Technology Centre [ETC]
ETC News & Events @ Tuesday,March 31, 2009 Team Meetings
Strategic Planning Day
A Strategic Planning Day was conducted for ETC on the 26th of March,at Club Murdoch.The
meeting was attended by the Board Members,Director,Institute for Resource Technology and student representatives.
ETC Water Audit by Magdalena Enke and Jeannette Mulcahy
Sustainable water use is a relevant concern with Perth's current water shortage.
A water audit was conducted with the purpose to quantify and close scheme, rain and bore water cycles
and explore the prospect of self sustainability for the ETC. A site flow diagram was prepared and flow
measurements and meter readings taken over a period of ten days to make annual calculations on water use,
with water meters installed on the two Sunmills to monitor ground water extraction. The audit found 98.2%
groundwater, 1.7% scheme water and 0.1% rainwater to be the current proportions of water use.
Based on metrological data the annual rainfall on site is currently just sufficient to replenish the total water used.
Substituting the minimal scheme water use with rainwater gives opportunity for the ETC to be self sustainable in
water use although this cannot be justified in financial terms.
Internatioal Trainee
Bernhard Baeuml is from Germany and is completing his study in Environmental- and Process engineering.
Curently Bernie is taking a break of his studies in Germany and is extending his knowledge in Biology
through an occupational traineeship at ETC for 6 months. Bernhard is enjoying his time getting involved
in various projects at ETC though he has taken up a project of treatment of sludge from the biogas plant
through various biological means. He plans to complete his study with his diploma thesis when he gets back
to Germany.
His research areas are:
AWA Undergraduate Water Prize
HUBER Technology Prize 2008 Premier's
Water Foundation [PWF] Update Waste water recycling and Water
Sensitive Urban Design To book a place
contact Les on 08 9360 6396 or email
L.Westerlund@murdoch.edu.au -
Read more
about Les' work at his own website
ABC-TV
Gardening Australia featuring Josh Byrne NEW BOOK OUT NOW! -
Visit the ABC-TV website for
more details about Gardening Australia H2S
Testing - Simple Water Testing Kit Available |
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Martin
Anda leads a team of researchers and industry partners addressing
Perth's water future by completing a waste water recycling
trial by June 2009 at 3 sites within the Metropolitan and
Peel Regions to demonstrate and evaluate the performance,
reliability, attributes and feasibility of decentralised
wastewater recycling. The Premier’s Water Foundation
was created in response to the State Water Strategy released
in February 2003 by the Western Australian Government. The
Foundation’s programs support research and development
projects that challenge boundaries and investigate innovative
new ways of conserving water and maximising reuse of wastewater.
Papermaking
workshops at ETC
The Green Gardener is Josh Byrne's first
book and presents a thorough exploration of sustainable gardening practices.
Josh has created a nooke for himself on the highest rating Gardening
programme
on Australian
TV. Over the
past
two years
Josh has combined
his media career with Postgraduate research work at Murdoch University.
Josh also manages to find time to be involved with some of the many
projects undertaken at the ETC. Josh developed his skills as an undergraduate
in his own garden and then became one of the mainstays of the early
site development at the ETC. Much of what is onsite today is down to
Josh's permaculture design and many months of hard work. Tune in on
ABC-TV each week as Josh and the other presenters promote sustainable
gardening and innovation. Josh's new book is available at ABC Shops
& Centres and all good bookstores.
Safe drinking
water is one of the primary requirements for healthy life. Epidemics
arising from waterborne diseases are a global health problem.
About eighty percent of all infectious diseases throughout the world
are water related. A simple
test has been refined and modified by Dr Jaya Nair based on the
detection of H2S reducing bacteria originally developed by Manja
et al (1982). The test
kit is now being introduced to Aboriginal Communities. The test
is very simple and does not require technically trained personnel
to conduct the test. As part of the kit, RADG has produced a video
and training book, which are self-explanatory. It is economical
compared to all other tests in terms of cost of chemicals, transportation,
and storage.|
This page last updated
Tuesday, 18-August-2009 12:00AWST. Site maintained by the ETC. Authorised by Director, Environmental Technology Centre, Murdoch University Registered Provider Code: 00125J. BN09509902. ABN 61 616 369 313. Copyright & Disclaimer Notice © 2006 ETC Murdoch University. |