Welcome to Urban Water Cycle Solutions
We believe in a better world.
A sustainable and equitable ecosystem supports this aim.
Forensic examination of systems provides best knowledge to guide our journey.
Transfer of wisdom derived from courage, independence and honesty is our approach.
Featured Projects

Water Policy Challenges for Victoria
This presentation draws on insights from pioneering systems analysis to develop insights for water, environment and planning policies to ensure future liveability and affordability of Australian Cities, involvement in drafting policies and work on the revision of Australian Rainfall and Runoff. Urban settlements subject ongoing temporal and spatial change that is driven by demographic, economic, political, environmental, cultural and social factors. This is a bottom up process. A new paradigm is emerging that is change from complete reliance on centralised options to diverse water management strategies that incorporates linked solutions at many scales. Water management strategies emerging from focus on “lumpy” investments in regional infrastructure. This involves a change in approach from consultants, bureaucracy and authorities with a focus on liveable cities. This involves inclusion of smaller scale options and alternative business models.

Renaissance Rise at Mernda
The water sensitive urban design (WSUD) development includes a unique stormwater treatment train that includes rainwater tanks, protection of old river red gums in multiple purpose rain gardens, bio-retention swales and restored waterways.
Review of the Hill End Water and Sewerage Scheme
The township of Hill End was established during the 1880s due to the discovery of gold in the area and in 1967 part of the town known as the historical village of Hill End was proclaimed as a historical site. Hillend is located about 70 km northwest of Bathurst and 69 km south of Mudgee.
Sydney Water Alternative Water Strategy – A vision of what is possible and a road map to get there
The purpose of this investigation was to provide an alternative view of the potential for water cycle management throughout the Greater Sydney region and the role of Sydney Water Corporation (SWC).
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Featured Publications
Systems Analysis of Water and Sewage Services, Costs and Prices
Bottom up systems analysis of urban water resources and market mechanisms for pricing water and sewage services
Presentation Peter J Coombes, Michael Barry and Michael Smit at the HWRS 2018 conference in Melbourne at 11:00 am on Tuesday 3 December 2018. Consumers in the Greater Melbourne region pay uniform fixed and variable tariffs for utility water and sewage services. Removing fixed tariffs creates substantial reductions in water demands and improvements in water security to 2050 at a net present value of $8.6 billion. A full usage tariff regime was seen to increase water efficient behaviours and reveals improvements in household welfare.
ARR 2016 Urban Book workshop at HWRS2018
Australian Rainfall & Runoff 2016 Urban Book workshop at the Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium
Workshop by Peter Coombes, Steve Roso and Mark Babister at 11 am on Monday 3 December 2018 at Ballroom 3 Pullman Hotel 192 Wellington Pde Melbourne.
Introduction to Australian Rainfall & Runoff 2016 Urban Book workshop
Introduction to Australian Rainfall & Runoff 2016 Urban Book workshop by Peter Coombes and Steve Roso at 1 pm on Thursday 18 October 2018 at Reg Sparks Room, Sporting Car Club of SA, 51 King William Road, Unley. Join the authors and editors of Australian Rainfall and Runoff (ARR) Urban Book as they cover the philosophy and application of ARR in urban catchments.
Direct Rain Investigation and Urban Stormwater Design
Presentation by Peter Coombes, Mark Colegate and Sophia Buchanan at Stormwater 2018 conference at 3:45 pm on Wednesday 10 October 2018. Urban stormwater catchments can be subject to complex hydrological and hydraulic responses that are driven by unresolved sub-catchment influences, flow pathways and local depression storages. This paper provides an overview of the processes to define complex urban hydrology, establish evidence based targets for urban catchments and design of detention basins using ARR2016 resources.