http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/services/Feed ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2717 Using the Probabilistic Urban Rainfall and wastewater Reuse Simulator (PURRS), this study investigates the variability produced in mains water savings, wastewater flows and stormwater runoff at the allotment scale. Continuous simulation of rainwater harvesting and wastewater systems was performed with different water demands and roof areas on 600 m² allotments in Auckland, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Results indicate that there is plenty of water available at the allotment scale. For a variety of integrated water cycle management options (IWCM) options, a range of solutions can be obtained for an array of water demands (persons per household) and roof areas. Climatic regimes governing rainfall depth/distribution and water demand distribution are also shown to influence the magnitude of the IWCM options evaluated. This study highlights the benefits of a range of allotment scale IWCM options that result from different climate regimes, water demands and roof areas. The significance of results is that when rainwater tanks and/or wastewater systems are introduced at the allotment scale, there is plenty of water available for all uses. However, the extents of benefits are dependent on climate regime and water demand. In addition, the implications for catchment water resource management are highlighted in the context of perceived water shortages in the future. 2010-04-27T06:14:26.563Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:139 The AUSRIVAS modelling package is the most sophisticated rapid biological assessment technique available for assessing the health of Australian rivers. Macroinvertebrate samples are collected, and the observed taxa are compared to those expected to be present if the site was in pristine condition. However, the method relies on only a single sample collected from each site to be assessed. Multiple macroinvertebrate samples were collected from sites upstream and downstream of four wastewater treatment plants in the lower Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia, to assess the impacts of effluent discharge on creek health, and to investigate the implications of the within-site variability of AUSRIVAS outputs for impact assessment. Preliminary data demonstrate that the AUSRIVAS model can produce a range of outputs for a single site, and that this variability is then amplified creating greater uncertainty when sites are compared to quantify the actual ecological; impact of each wastewater treatment plant. 2010-04-27T06:00:33.430Z ]]>