The Canberra least cost planning case study A. Turner*, S. White* and G. Bickford** *Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia (E-mail: Andrea.Turner@uts.edu.au) **ACTEW Corporation Ltd, GPO Box 366, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia Abstract This paper provides details of a preliminary least cost planning (LCP) assessment carried out for Canberra, the capital city of Australia, as part of the development of a 50 year Water Resources Strategy. In the assessment a suite of options consisting of demand management, source substitution, reuse and supply were developed to determine how to satisfy water demand requirements for the projected population over the 50 year planning horizon whilst also achieving the identified demand reduction targets. The options developed were then compared on an equal basis using the principles of LCP to identify the suite of lowest cost options to be considered for further analysis and implementation. The suite of demand management options developed was found to have the lowest whole of society levelised cost. Since the preliminary analysis and release of the Water Resources Strategy in April 2004, a water efficiency team has been set up to develop an implementation plan, implement options, develop an end use model, conduct pilot studies and undertake program evaluations. Keywords Australia; demand management; end use modelling; least cost planning Introduction Due to population rise, drought security issues, climate change and catchment regener- ation resulting from extensive forest fires, Canberra is likely to need another major water supply source before 2020. However, the ACT Government has indicated that building of further major water supply dams will be avoided if possible and have identified demand management targets of 12% and 25% reduction in per capita demand by 2013 and 2023 respectively. Similar reuse and stormwater targets have also been set. Hence a suite of demand management, source substitution and reuse options have been developed to determine whether such targets could be met and to enable comparison of such options against supply options being developed by ACTEW, the water service provider. This paper provides details of a preliminary least cost planning (LCP) assessment carried out for Canberra as part of the development of a 50 year Water Resources Strategy. LCP is a process whereby, for example, a water service provider determines a range of options that at lowest cost provide their customers with the water related services they require rather than the water itself. This process recognises that customers do not necessarily want more water, rather they want the services that water provides such as aesthetically pleasing landscapes, sanitation and clean clothes. The process aims to investigate the whole of society costs and benefits to highlight the most economically, environmentally and socially appropriate solution. In the course of the assessment a suite of options (demand management, source substi- tution, reuse and supply) were developed to determine how to satisfy water demand requirements for the projected population over the 50 year planning horizon whilst also achieving the identified demand reduction targets. The options developed were then com- pared on an equal basis using the principles of LCP to identify the suite of lowest cost options to be considered for further analysis and implementation. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply Vol 5 No 3–4 pp 257–263 Q IWA Publishing 2005 257 Downloaded from http://iwaponline.com/ws/article-pdf/5/3-4/257/417854/257.pdf by guest on 04 March 2021