Stormwater Australia is the custodian of an industry-formulated, independent evaluation process for verifying the performance of devices and technologies for improving stormwater quality.
This process administered is for SQIDEP (Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Evaluation Protocol).
Once devices and technologies have been independently assessed under SQIDEP, the results are provided to Stormwater Australia.
If the devices have passed their assessment, they are able to
receive a Stormwater Australia stamp of verification.
Many Local Councils and other industry stakeholders are
now requiring a SQIDEP verification before approving the
Installation of stormwater devices.
Rapid rates of development have led to the need for an extensive stormwater pipe network, often with significant space constraints. These developments include large areas of industrial and commercial use, with land uses (e.g. service stations) that can have potential water quality impacts for local creeks and downstream natural environments. To manage the water running off these potentially contaminated sites, devices and technologies have been developed to fit into tight spaces (usually underground) and treat the water before it flows into the natural environment.
With the fast rate of development, there has been a proliferation of stormwater treatment devices and no verification process to ensure that the devices are actually providing the outcomes required (i.e. able to meet the required water quality objectives at the site). This has led to a number of challenges, such as; a backlog of approvals sitting with Local Councils who had no way of ensuring that devices would achieve the desired outcome, a large number of underground devices being installed with only a small number actually performing as required, and a large maintenance burden for local Councils who are managing the devices once development has been completed.
Stormwater Australia worked with a broad range of industry stakeholders to develop a protocol that requires each device to be assessed by a team of qualified independent parties
(including Universities and Specialist Scientists within the stormwater consulting field). Each device is then recommended to be verified by Independent Evaluators. Stormwater Australia then verifies the SQIDEP device for it to be recognised as an effective device for stormwater management.
Many local Governments are now requiring this SQIDEP verification before these treatment devices can be installed within their jurisdiction.
Stormwater Treatment Options
It is important to note that SQIDEP currently focuses on verifying the performance claims of proprietary devices only. It is acknowledged that these devices are only one of the many tools available to stormwater managers and that the suite of suitable tools will vary with Local Government area, catchment, climate and project needs. The SQIDEP program does not seek to replace Local Government planning requirements or to specify what type of stormwater assets are most appropriate for your local needs.
Many Local Governments are seeking to maximise stormwater treatment while also designing assets that have co-benefits for recreation, green space and biodiversity. If you are seeking to achieve multiple benefits from your stormwater assets, WSUD style treatments like biofiltration systems may be most suited to your needs. However, in locations where space is highly constrained, where pre-treatment is required or where it is appropriate to the treatment train, proprietary devices may be your best option for treatment.
In order to have a device recognised under SQIDEP, an
applicant is required to follow the steps outlined below.
The full detail of what is required can be found in the
Protocol, which is available at this link.
The Protocol provides a uniform set of criteria to which stormwater treatment measures can be field-tested and reported. These criteria should guide and inform field monitoring programs seeking to demonstrate pollutant removals for stormwater treatment measures included in pollutant export modelling software.
Future versions of the protocol are anticipated to also include laboratory testing.
SQIDEP should be recognised to be a living document.
There are two pathways available for the Device Evaluation under the SQIDEP process:
The first pathway is the Body of Evidence pathway (BOE) for those submitters that commenced Australian field testing prior to the release of Version 1.3, 31st December 2018. This option is no longer available from 1 January 2025.
The second pathway is the Field Evaluation pathway which has two stages. Two separate Submission Forms are required at different stages for the Field Evaluation Pathway.
Please refer to the SQIDEP Evaluation Process Chart for an overview of the process
flow for each application/submission and the SQIDEP Governance Framework for
more information on how this independent assessment is implemented.
SQIDEP Evaluation Process Chart
Note: all methods and data collected, analysed and submitted should be checked and verified by an independent 3rd party, such as a NATA accredited laboratory or research facility.
Regardless of the pathway chosen, the following data and information is likely to be required during your device assessment. Please note that there are standardised data formats required for applications and these should be referred to prior to submission of your application.
If following the Field Evaluation pathway, you can discuss the following requirements and your proposed monitoring design with independent evaluators during the QAPP process, prior to undertaking the monitoring.
1. For Pollutant Reduction Claims, the following field and/or laboratory parameters will be required (depending on the parameters relevant to your device)
2. Treatment Device Details, including:
3. Laboratory Studies
4. Field Sampling
When a submission for a Device (‘Product’) is successfully Verified by either the BOE pathway, or Stage Two of the Field Evaluation pathway, a Verification Certificate is issued to the submitter.
Details are listed below of successful Verifications, along with the final Verification
Report from the Independent Evaluators.
| Product | Details |
Verification Certificate |
Verification Report |
Verification Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlan Basin | Website Link | Certificate.pdf | Report.pdf | 25 Sep 2020 |
| Atlan FlowGuard | Website Link | Certificate.pdf | Report.pdf | 22 Jun 2021 |
| Atlan Filter | Website Link | Certificate.pdf | Report.pdf | 22 Jun 2021 |
| Atlan Filter (Half Height) | Website Link | Certificate.pdf | Report.pdf | October 2023 |
| Ocean Protect Jellyfish Filter | Website Link | Certificate.pdf | Report.pdf | November 2023 |
| Ocean Protect StormFilter | Website Link | Certificate.pdf | Report.pdf | December 2023 |
| Ocean Protect OceanGuard | Website Link | Certificate.pdf | Report.pdf | December 2023 |
| Atlan Stormwater FlowFilter | Website Link | Certificate.pdf | Report.pdf | August 2024 |
| Ocean Protect StormFilter NPSorb | Website Link | Certificate.pdf | Report.pdf | August 2024 |
| Atlan Vortceptor | Website Link | Certificate.pdf | Report.pdf | September 2024 |
| Ocean Protect Filterra biofiltration system | Website Link | Certificate.pdf | Report.pdf | October 2024 |
| Product | Details |
Verification Certificate |
Verification Report |
Verification Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HumeFilter | Website Link | Certificate Link | Report Link | August 2023 |
| Atlan Stormsack | Website Link | Certificate Link | Report Link | September 2024 |
| Atlan Bafflebox | Website Link | Certificate Link | Report Link | January 2025 |
Here are the submission forms required for each of the application pathways:
BOE PATHWAY
Not available after 1 January 2025
FIELD EVALUATION PATHWAY
which is Stage One of Two
stages of the FIELD
EVALUATION PATHWAY
which is Stage Two of Two
stages of the FIELD
EVALUATION PATHWAY
Fees associated with evaluation against the assessment pathways are detailed in the Submission Forms and are also outlined below.
| Body Of Evidence (BOE) | Field Evaluation Pathway | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) | Detailed Performance Report (DPR) | |
|
Application
AUD$26,500 (Excluding GST) |
Application
AUD$4,250 (Excluding GST) |
Application
AUD$18,500 (Excluding GST) |
Stormwater Australia is the custodian of an industry-formulated, independent evaluation process
for verifying the performance of technologies for improving stormwater quality.
A robust and transparent Governance Framework has been established for the Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Evaluation Protocol
(SQIDEP) process.
The SQIDEP Governance Framework consists of three Panels:
For general enquiries please email: SQIDEP administration
Once received by Stormwater Australia, SQIDEP applications/submissions are independently
assessed by two (2) Independent Evaluators (IEs) from the SQIDEP Independent Evaluators Panel
(IEP) for verification of the water quality treatment effectiveness of each device.
The two Independent Evaluators (IEs) will undertake their assessment
separately, using the criteria defined in the Protocol and once they have reached
their independent conclusion, they negotiate to provide a final combined evaluation.
Non-conformances with SQIDEP and issues with performance claims will be
discussed with the Applicant/Claimant prior to any Verification Certificate
being issued.
Independent Evaluators will provide a Detailed Performance Report (DPR) and
once the device has been verified, both the Report and Verification Certificate
(VC) will become publicly available on the Stormwater Australia website.
How Independent Evaluators are Selected for each Application
Membership of the Panel is by application through a public Expression
of Interest (EOI) process.
Current SQIDEP IEP Members include:
| Adam Joyner | NSW Department of Finance, Service & Innovation - Manly Hydraulics Laboratory |
| Andrew Allan | Afflux Consulting Pty Ltd |
| Andrew Judge | NSW Department of Finance, Service & Innovation - Manly Hydraulics Laboratory |
| Baden Myers | University of South Australia |
| Chris Beardshaw | Afflux Consulting Pty Ltd |
| Damian McCann | Australian Wetlands Consulting |
| Dr Mark Bayley | Australian Wetlands Consulting |
| Mark Liebman | Sustainability Workshop Pty Ltd |
| Dr Ricky Kwan | AECOM |
| Dr Robin Allison | Design Flow Consulting Pty Ltd |
| Rod Wiese | Wiese Insight Pty Ltd |
| Shaun Leinster | Design Flow Consulting Pty Ltd |
The SQIDEP Technical Review Panel (TRP) was formed to regularly assess the criteria of SQIDEP
and emerging science, research and industry findings to improve the outcomes of the SQIDEP and
confidence in environmental outcomes of stormwater technologies.
The TRP considers the latest research, policy changes, industry updates, field
data and lab testing to develop and update SQIDEP technical documents.
Future draft versions of SQIDEP will be finalised after review
and consultation with the Industry.
The TRP replaces the previous Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Advisory
Committee (SQIDAC) which was originally formed in June 2014 for the first version
of SQIDEP. SQIDAC finalised and released the publication of SQIDEP Version 1.3 on
31st December 2018.
Membership of the Panel is by application through a public Expression
of Interest (EOI) process.
Current SQIDEP TRP Members include:
The SQIDEP Governance Panel (GP) members are independent, experienced professionals. The SQIDEP GP
oversees the SQIDEP process to ensure probity, equity and dispute resolution, where necessary.
The SQIDEP GP provides recommendations through resolutions to the Board of Stormwater Australia on the
engagement of SQIDEP Independent Evaluators for each SQIDEP submission; and recommendations through
resolutions on the acceptance of each of the SQIDEP Evaluation reports.
SQIDEP Charters, Policies & Procedures
Join more than 1,200 stormwater professionals and organisations to enjoy the benefits of
Stormwater Australia membership including design innovation, pooling of resources, networking
opportunities, SQIDEP evaluation and national-level advocacy.
