Member Spotlight

Luke Kay, Digital Solutions Delivery Lead – Logan Water

Logan Water provides essential water and wastewater services to the city of Logan in South East Queensland, Australia.

Logan Water has pioneered the Australian’s first biosolids gasification facility. What do you see as the risks and opportunities in this area?

Logan Water’s innovation in this space lies in integrating known technologies, with a number of valuable lessons learnt along the way. Risks have probably included the uncertainties inherent in innovation and being the first to put something like this together. Opportunities have certainly arisen from the marketability of biochar, the byproduct, and the potential to destroy PFAS and microplastics, sequestering carbon. Excitingly, this venture ushers in a new era where biosolids are seen as a resource rather than waste which has laid the platform for Logan Water’s net zero goals.

You recently attended SWAN APAC Workshop in Melbourne, can you share your key takeaways and their application to Logan Water?

The things that really stood out to me were how Coliban Water stressed the critical role of trust in extreme events, setting a focus on community consequences. The panel discussions showcased digital improvements by South East Water and PUB Singapore, highlighting continuous transformation and cross-functional collaboration which has been a great change for us at Logan Water. Managing change fatigue emerged as a shared challenge and we have certainly experienced this recently with new offices, new management and new ways of working in recent times. The future, with its emphasis on hyperconnectivity and AI, were definitely an eye-opener. The tour of South East Water’s digital initiatives and Aquarevo’s water-saving residential development were great to experience and see first-hand.

Can you share about Logan Water Integrated Services Hub (ISH) and its impact on your customers?

Logan Water’s ISH is our physical operations hub at our office in Beenleigh, that integrates and coordinates Logan Water’s service delivery. There is a clear focus on the end-to-end delivery of services to the Logan community, which has led to significant improvements in our customer service. By uniting teams to plan, schedule and monitor services by harnessing technology, we can ensure swift and efficient responses to customer issues. This collaborative approach has completely transformed service delivery and turned potential delays into prompt solutions.

What do you see as the value of SWAN membership?

The global reach of SWAN is really valuable. It cuts across borders and allows members to really see a more holistic view of smart water solutions out there, which brings together utilities and technologies to learn and develop. The learnings from the forum ultimately improve our service to the customers and communities that we serve and push us to innovate within a safe environment with the sector.

What advice have do you have for young professionals entering the smart water sector? What is the value of working in an innovative utility?

It’s an exciting time with AI and technology driving the next phase of innovation. I’d say embrace the changes that continue to be made in this industry and begin to explore the energy integration. Working in an innovative utility like Logan Water, you get to appreciate the contribution in delivering a prudent and efficient service. Lately, we’ve also been able to witness the resilience of our network during events like floods, and we’re always looking to enhance it using technology. I believe the value lies in giving back to the community and shaping a resilient future.