This course is comprised of three, 3 hour online training sessions (Parts 1,2,3). The first course is scheduled for three Tuesdays; September 6, September 13 and September 20 with all sessions from 9am to 12pm, using MS Teams.

What Is Covered

The WIPA approved course provides a comprehensive overview of public water supply networks and their operation. The course will be facilitated online by Richard Taylor who has over 30 years experience working with water supply networks. It covers a wide range of topics which will enable staff to understand:

- What water supply networks comprise

- How they operate

- Typical water use patterns

- Basic network design (for developments), fire flows, metering

- An overview of watermain construction and asset management.

Upskilling Opportunity

The training is intended for engineering and technical staff involved in network operations, planning, development processing and watermain design who feel they need a better understanding of the broad range of topics relating to water supply networks. The course will also be very effective for upskilling those staff new to water networks, involved in operations, planning and design. Typically, engineering and technical staff have a limited knowledge of operational and planning aspects relating to water supply networks, and this course offers a very efficient way of upskilling staff and filling gaps in knowledge.

Specific Training Areas

- Outlining of the various components of water supply networks and how networks operate

- An explanation of hydraulic grade line (HGL), static and dynamic pressure (and how to calculate static pressure)

- What is involved with operating water networks including issues relating to water quality

- An overview of pump stations, water meters (types, accuracy, design and installation, accuracy and testing)

- Understanding system water use (with examples) and forecasting water demand

- An overview of network modelling and demand management

- Firefighting flow requirements including basic information on fire sprinkler systems

- Water network design for developments

- An overview of watermain construction (typical drawings, schedule, construction photos), commissioning, and

- Basic asset management considerations.

Part 1 (alone) will be suitable for Call Centre staff and non-technical staff who want to gain an overview of water networks; what they comprise, and how they operate.

A full listing of the sessions is attached.

Under the Water Industry Professionals Association (WIPA) this course has been approved for 4 WIPA credits if all 3 parts are completed. If individual parts are completed it is 1 CPD point for each part.

The training is currently online only due to covid-19, but in-person training in the main centres may follow. On-site training for larger organizations or for a regional area can be arranged. Please contact Richard Taylor at email richard.taylor@tcec.co.nz if you are interested in either of these. Also, if more than two staff from an organization wish to register for the course, please contact Richard for a discounted deal. It is intended to run this course approximately every six months.

Information about the training facilitator – Richard Taylor from Thomas Consultants Ltd.

Richard Taylor has over 30 years experience working with water supply networks. His 22 years at the former Waitakere City Council (WCC) in Auckland provided him with first hand detailed operational and planning experience; Non-Revenue Water was reduced from 25% to 11%, and levels of real water losses were reduced to world class standards (ILI of 1.0). Since 2010 Richard has been employed by Thomas Consultants, his work comprised mostly of assisting Councils in NZ in the area of water loss management and network planning.