Melbourne Water has been named in BRW’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2013, taking out 26th place on the prestigious list, ahead of automotive, financial and other private commercial businesses. Yarra Valley Water also made the list, coming in at number 47.
Melbourne Water’s place on BRW’s Most Innovative list was based on two projects: a major upgrade to the Eastern Treatment Plant and using drones to undertake asset inspections.
In the Eastern Treatment Plant upgrade Melbourne Water adopted a one-of-a-kind sewage treatment process which transformed the plant, improved the marine environment at Boags Rocks and saved $400 million in project costs.
Melbourne Water’s use of remote controlled drones to perform asset inspections resulted in improved safety and the collection of higher quality data.
Some of Melbourne Water’s other innovative works include:
- Creatively managing stormwater run-off, saving potable water and improving waterway health through the 10,000 Raingardens Program
- Reintroducing Lake Borrie to the sewage treatment process at the Western Treatment Plant, saving $160 million and a further $0.5 million per year in maintenance costs and improving the habitat for waterbirds at the Ramsar listed site
- Improving the health of Little Stringybark Creek by implementing a planning first amendment with Yarra Ranges Shire Council
- Introducing a mobile office environment which will save the company approximately $2.5 million over the next 2 years
- Helping rural land owners reduce pollutants from entering local waterways through the Rural Land Program
- Identifying a $12 million saving with City West Water on the construction of a new water pipeline to service Wyndham
