Murray-Darling Basin attracts jobs

By Penny Langfield

Recent floodwaters may be both a blessing and a curse for the long-parched Murray-Darling Basin.

While water flows are welcome in a river system that covers more than one million square kilometres in southeastern Australia, and produces roughly a third of the nation’s food supply, the floods have also brought with them some nasties that need to be carefully managed. Lower Murray Water is one of the groups responsible for monitoring and eliminating micro-organisms and compounds found in the water supply. The business enterprise is owned by the Victorian government and manages urban, irrigation and waste water from Kerang in the state’s northwest to the South Australian border, including the towns of Mildura, Swan Hill and Gannawarra.

Kevin Murphy, acting managing director of Lower Murray Water, says floods along parts of the Murray River have relieved the drought but introduced impurities into the water. For instance, large amounts of tannins in the water are likely to cause taste and odour problems, although they should not be a health hazard.

“The major problem with the flood for us is the water quality, because there’s a lot of tannin in the water. Normal floodwater will have a lot of turbidity and it will be a coffee colour,” he says.

“[It’s] black, like black tea, because all the decaying litter on the floodplains has taken up all the oxygen and coloured the water.”

To continue combating such issues, Lower Murray Water is recruiting a new manager of water quality services who will oversee nine water-treatment and 10 waste-water plants. Murphy says the new appointee will initially need to address the effect of floods that hit areas between Kerang and Swan Hill.

“We are struggling. We have got taste and odour problems in the water supply as well, so this new position is in charge of all of that. We’re hoping that post-flood that will clear up again. There is a high level of organics in the river as well, so we’re using tremendous amounts of chemicals.”

Manganese has also been found in the water, with Lower Murray Water trying to tackle that through the use of new chemicals in some water-treatment plants. It can be harmful to people, particularly children, if consumed in large quantities.

Murphy says the new manager will need to keep abreast of a raft of compliance requirements. Lower Murray Water applies the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system that is also used in the food industry to ensure a hygienic supply chain. Additionally, it manages waste-water treatments that deliver a lower-quality water that is used by third parties such as farmers.

“So we’ve got to keep a very close eye on that system, not only to comply with our licence but also to ensure the third party reuser is protected as well,” Murphy says.

The new manager will work with other water authorities in the Murray-Darling Basin.

“We have a very close liaison with the basin authority itself and its staff and we liaise with the other water corporations along the Murray to see how things are going,” Murphy says.

This means it often gets advance warning on water quality issues, such as blue-green algae outbreaks, before they take hold.

The Murray-Darling Basin has been the subject of ongoing controversy over the management of scarce water supplies in the system. The federal government has released a blueprint to help the basin cope with stresses as a result of past water-allocation decisions, drought and climate change.

Murray says the plan, which sets new limits on the amount of water that can be taken from the basin, will affect water irrigators and communities on the Lower Murray.

“The uncertainty about the basin plan makes it very difficult for people to invest back into these irrigation districts,” he explains. “We’re very worried about stranded assets and the effect they will have on existing or remaining customers.”

In light of such pressures, Murphy says candidates for the water manager’s position will need excellent communication skills and have a relevant tertiary qualification. Knowledge and experience with water quality systems is preferred.

The appointee will also need to be thick-skinned. “We’re looking for a person who can take a fair bit of criticism, because the job can be extremely difficult. You get a lot of finger pointing at times about who’s responsibility is what, and that’s where they need to establish that teamwork with the rest of the people and earn a bit of respect.”

BEHIND THE JOB AD:

Manager water quality services, Lower Murray Water

WHERE: Mildura, Victoria

SALARY: To be negotiated with successful candidate

CLOSING: February 11

INQUIRIES: Rex Trethewey at rex.trethewey@ lmw.vic.gov.au

Article from The Australian, February 5, 2011.