Woori Yallock and Little Yarra River catchments – metering and monitoring
Client: Melbourne Water Corporation
Location: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Date: April 2011 – Ongoing
Providing innovative metering and monitoring to gather accurate water usage data for enhanced water management.
Background
Melbourne Water Corporation (MWC) is responsible for the management of all surface water within its defined area of operations. The Yarra River catchment constitutes a major part of that area. Water management plans were being prepared for the Woori Yallock, Don River and Little Yarra sub-catchments, to consider the total amount of surface water and prescribe how it should be shared between water users (such as for irrigation or dams) to preserve sufficient flows for river health.
Solution
Entura was contracted to install 195 Ajenti telemetry sites on existing and new rural water meter sites, and provide independent verification and operation and maintenance of these sites over a two-year period. In addition, a total of 147 existing Aegis telemetered rural were to be reviewed, repaired, verified, and operated and maintained for a two-year period.
Data is collected and securely stored on the Ajenti Data Management System with all data made available to MWC via a website. Data is also provided to a third-party so it can be uploaded to the MWC diversions database and exported to the Bureau of Meteorology. The field monitoring device is a combined data logger/telemetry unit and utilises the packet data approach to push data on an interval set by the user. Data collected is stored securely but made available to stakeholders via webpages. The web experience is interactive with many new and innovative features.
Outcome
Accessible, accurate data about water usage and water volumes is critical to the success of water resource management. Entura’s extensive understanding of water management and our innovative Ajenti telemetry solution enabled the client to obtain the high-quality, reliable water use data that it required to improve its hydrological modelling and enhance water resource management within its area of operations. The data provides confirmation of compliance with water use prescriptions, rostering and restrictions, and better information to protect environmental flows, particularly during drought conditions.
