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Water audit finds
high compliance
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has conducted an audit of the State Water Corporation finding the Corporation was complying with its responsibilities to the State Government.
The audit uncovered however a potential water quality issue for the Fish River Water Supply Scheme (FRWS) that could present a risk to public health if not addressed.
In its Compliance Report - State Water Corporation Operational Audit 2010 - 2011 IPART found the Corporation was in full compliance with its requirements relating to water delivery operations, the environment, performance, and pricing.
It found it in “high to full compliance” in respect of its asset management, customers’ rights and dispute resolution.
IPART said the water quality issue related to the possibility of cross connecting the drinking water supply with the raw water supply in order to maintain the water service to customers.
“Although no evidence was found that State Water had cross connected its drinking water and raw water systems, we consider that its existing procedures are inadequate to manage such an event if it was ever required in the future,” the report says.
“The matter was therefore referred to NSW Health.”
IPART made a number of recommendations based on the audit and it intended to follow them with NSW Health to see the matters raised were being addressed.
“Further we will consider whether it is appropriate to recommend changes to State Water operating licence to the Minister for Primary Industry,” the report says.
“The remaining 2 recommendations relate to the continuing implementation of State Water’s asset management system and the availability of a code of practice on debt management.”
The full report can be accessed at this PS News link.
Edition 255, 25 January 2012
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