Contracts to manage and service SA Water's state government assets awarded to SUEZ and Lendlease in 2021
Allwater took over managing SA Water's government-owned assets in 2011, succeeding United Water. Allwater was a joint venture of Ventia and SUEZ Group that was awarded the new contract in 2021.
Image courtesy Allwater Adelaide
South Australia state government's SA Water awarded new contracts in 2020 worth more than $500 million to support its delivery of services in metropolitan Adelaide, securing the expertise to improve outcomes for customers.
A five-year agreement for up to $275 million was signed with SUEZ Water to operate five water treatment plants and five wastewater treatment plants, and with Lendlease Services on four year contract for up to $237 million for field services supporting around 9,200 kilometres of water mains and 7,500 kilometres of wastewater mains.
SA Water announced in 2018 it would not renew its 10-year Adelaide metropolitan services alliance contract with Allwater when it ended in 2021. Allwater, a co-operative owned by labour firm Broadspectrum (formerly Transfield), GDF Suez and Degremont, was awarded the $1.129 billion contract to manage Adelaide’s water and wastewater networks in 2011, taking over from United Water.
In wastewater treatment, Allwater said its operational improvements had resulted in less discharge into the sensitive local marine environment without additional capital investment or energy requirements, while boosts to recycled water supported South Australia’s leadership in this area.
Around 100,000 mechanical and electrical assets had been optimised across 2,700 sites, bringing improved reliability and cutting maintenance costs. At Christies Beach wastewater treatment plant, a feasibility study for advanced aeration control systems delivered enhanced nitrogen removal rates and potential annual savings of $90,000, while a blower and diffuser efficiency review contributed to a 13% energy efficiency gain at the plant. Allwater had experienced protests from Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union members in its workforce over claims of cutbacks in its conditions of the enterprise agreement.
SA Water chief executive David Ryan said the new contracts, in effect from 2021, to replace the current 10-year alliance with Allwater (a joint venture of SUEZ and Ventia), would ensure the utility’s services stayed responsive to customer expectations over the long term: “The new field services arrangements will deliver better outcomes for our customers and community, with a 24/7 team – equipped with new modern vehicles, machinery and tools – that will be able to respond more quickly and complete more work overnight while the city and suburbs sleep, to reduce impact on commuters.”
