Welcome to Urban Water Cycle Solutions

We believe in a better world.
sustainable and equitable ecosystem supports this aim.
Forensic examination of systems provides best knowledge to guide our journey.
Transfer of wisdom derived from courageindependence and honesty is our approach.

Featured Projects

Water Policy Challenges for Victoria

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

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.

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Publications

SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE ON CHARACTERISING RESILIENCE IN URBAN WATER MARKETS

Results from two decades of accumulated big data and systems analysis of Greater Melbourne and Sydney was investigated to develop insights into the resilience of each city. The key resilience parameters are distributed water sources and conservation in an urban water market, household welfare, government policy and regulation, pricing strategies, total dam storage and supply of desalinated water. These parameters have different levels of impact and significance across the two cities. Further studies are needed to better define the attributes and benefits of these parameters.

An Interesting Year for a Systems Scientist

An interesting year for a systems scientist
It has been an interesting and productive year that included fascinating applied science and policy projects, research activity and contributions legal, economic and planning domains.

Is zero afflux the question or answer to better flooding outcomes?

Presentation by Peter J Coombes and Andrew Allan at HWRS 2022: Is zero afflux the real challenge or solution for better flood management? It is vitally important to establish science and legally based rules for fair administration of the objectives and exploration of options that respond to flood risks. Otherwise, there will be a substantial administrative burden for marginal benefit. Our professionals and agencies need to be prepared for a different and challenging future, and our methods need to be fit for purpose from a whole of society perspective.

Borrowing from nature to create self organising systems frameworks of urban water behaviours

Borrowing from nature to create self organising systems frameworks of big data to understand urban water behaviours Peter J Coombes Contribution at 12:20 pm on Monday 13 June 2022 to the SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF ALGORITHMS 2022 online conference convened at the...

Available Storage in Rainwater Tanks – Stormwater Benefits

Impact of rainwater tanks on stormwater infrastructure. What is the available storage in rainwater tanks prior to a rain event that is significant to stormwater infrastructure? The use of design storms is current Australian practice for design of stormwater management...

Featured Publications

Systems Analysis of Water and Sewage Services, Costs and Prices

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

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

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

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.

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