The Integrated Water Management (IWM) toolkit is an innovative
water balance software tool that helps stakeholders to assess the
complex interrelationships between different quality source waters
and end uses, to arrive at more holistic sustainable
solutions.
GHD reviewed other water balance tools but found
that these were either inflexible or limiting in their approach.
Several research institutions were planning similar tools, but
these were in the development phase and their objectives did not
align with GHD's vision. In response to this challenge, GHD
developed the Integrated Water Management Software Toolkit (IWM
Toolkit).
The toolkit uses an intuitive graphical interface
to readily construct alternative water servicing strategies and
perform visual time-series water balance calculations. Typical
servicing strategies involve holistic assessments of existing and
potential water, recycled water, stormwater and wastewater systems.
The flexible data interface allows exchange in common formats
between specialist hydrological models and climate data.
Outputs from the toolkit are used as a basis for
life cycle, sustainability and multi-criteria analysis to identify
the greatest benefits to the community in areas of social, economic
and sustainable design.
Typical analysis is complex, time-consuming, ad
hoc and prone to error. GHD needed a more streamlined approach that
could assist clients to confidently and readily identify realistic
servicing strategies in a cost-effective way.
The IWM Toolkit enables GHD professionals to
build almost any IWM servicing scenario to meet client requirements
in minimal time, with minimal effort and greater accuracy. More
emphasis can be placed on generating and assessing options, rather
than option model building, resulting in best value for
dollars.
The IWM Toolkit won the Association of Consulting
Engineers Australia Silver Award 2008 and the Engineers Australia
Sydney Division Engineering Excellence Highly Commended Award
2008.