Why I work in water: Jordan Montgomery

Jordan Montgomery is helping Hunter Water deliver social, environmental and economic improvements while catering for the Lower Hunter’s booming population.

“Construction is everywhere around us, and is vital to meet the growing needs of the region,” he says.

“As you’d expect, construction uses a lot of energy, water, waste and materials, and the sector accounts for roughly 18 per cent of the total carbon emissions in Australia.

“This is a big number and presents a huge opportunity for us to explore how we can deliver our projects with less impact.”

In his role as Sustainability Officer Strategy and Engagement, Jordan works closely with the Asset Solutions Group and others to improve the systems and processes in place when delivering capital works projects.

Some of the steps Hunter Water is taking include maximising recycled water usage, focusing on local procurement, and buying products like cement and asphalt made with recycled aggregates.

It is also investing more than $15 million to install renewable energy systems at wastewater treatment plants and pump stations across its network, and considering how it can enhance the ecological, Indigenous and heritage value of its sites.

“These include CO2 emissions, water usage and ecotoxicity, which is the potential for biological, chemical or physical stressors to affect ecosystems.”

While his work focuses on sustainability, Jordan says his involvement in another worthy cause has been one of the highlights from his time at Hunter Water.

In 2021, he signed up for a charity event called the Newy 100 to support Lifeline Hunter.

“I split the load with three colleagues and we walked or ran 100 kilometres over about 20 hours,” he says.

“We managed to raise around $5,000 for suicide prevention and crisis support services – it was a rewarding experience.”

For more information about our sustainability initiatives, visit our Sustainability page.