The winners of the Australian Water Association's Northern Territory (NT) Water Awards have been announced at the Water in the Bush Conference Dinner on 22 October in Darwin as part of National Water Week.
The NT Water Awards recognise the contribution of the Association's members for their inspiring leadership and innovative research, programs and infrastructure projects.
“The Association has been running the Water Awards Program for over 20 years to recognise the work our members do for their communities and the industry,” Australian Water Association Chief Executive, Corinne Cheeseman said.
“In the face of climate change, a global pandemic and economic recession, the water industry has displayed resilience and innovation.
“The finalists and winners of the NT Water Awards are testament to the outstanding work that our members are doing to reimagine our water future, and I would like to congratulate them all for their dedication and hard work.”
This year's NT Water Award winners will go on to represent the state in the national Australian Water Awards, which will be presented at the Association’s annual water conference and exhibition, Ozwater’21 in Adelaide on 4-6 May 2020.
Student Water Prize
Non-Revenue Water: The Effect of Pressure Reducing Valve Settings on a Reticulated Water Supply System – Andrea Georgiou, Charles Darwin University
Andrea’s project aimed to determine suitable pressure reduction of a reticulated water supply system. The outcomes of Andrea’s thesis allowed for better understanding of the extent of pressure surges within the system, the surge requirements under existing and reduced pressure settings, and future work for analysing further benefits arising from suitable pressure reductions.
Andrea is a graduate engineer from Charles Darwin University, currently employed by GHD and seconded to Power and Water Corporation's Water Services Division where she continues to work on water engineering projects in support of the Northern Territory.
Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Regional)
Ngukurr Leak Reduction Project – Power and Water Corporation
Through its not-for-profit subsidiary Indigenous Essential Services, this project enabled Power and Water to provide sustainable water supply to the Ngukurr Aboriginal community and support continual community growth with minimal capital infrastructure investment.
The success of this project has resulted in additional funding opportunities to address leaks to enable growth in another remote Aboriginal community.
Young Water Professional of the Year Award (sponsored by Xylem)
Andrea Georgiou, Graduate Civil Engineer, GHD
Andrea commenced her professional career 18 months ago and, in that time, has provided a valuable contribution to the water sector in the Northern Territory for Power and Water Corporation and other GHD clients.
The work she has produced in these first 18 months is extensive and covers areas from wastewater treatment pond modelling to recreational use values for Darwin’s water supply. She has formed trusted relationships across the water sector in Darwin and nationally not only from her work at GHD and PwC but also through the completion of her master’s thesis.
Andrea is an enthusiastic and passionate person who shows great determination to achieve technical excellence and useful outcomes for real life application in the water industry.
“Andrea represents the huge potential of our Young Water Professionals and it is with great pleasure that we recognise her tonight as one of the Territory’s rising stars,” said Cheeseman.
