Integrative risk assessment and management for recycled water schemes: An Australian study

A drive to diversify water supply sources and promote sustainable and resilient urban development has led to the implementation of recycled water schemes in residential developments of Australia. While a portion of these schemes have been successfully implemented, a significant number have been delayed in commissioning or decommissioned well before the end of their design life. Research suggests that risk assessments have primarily focussed on the environmental and public health risks associated with recycled water, with few stakeholders conducting an integrative and comprehensive assessment of risk factors that could adversely impact the viability and sustainability of these schemes. Through in-depth interviews with water industry practitioners, six limiting factors of current risk assessment and management practices were identified comprising poorly defined project objectives; a focus on hard, quantifiable risks with less consideration to soft, qualitative risks; independent assessment of risk factors; a siloed approach to risk assessment and management; minimal consideration to the time frame and context of recycled water schemes and the need to diversify management measures from that traditionally adopted. A framework to address the limitations in risk assessment and management practices for recycled water schemes, and potentially for a broad array of sustainable and resilient urban initiatives, is presented in this paper. © 2016 CURRAN-CONFERENCE. All rights reserved.