Australian Water Association

Week in Water: updates from across the water community From groundbreaking local initiatives to global water challenges, this week’s updates dive into: 💧 Closing the Gap dashboard: water and land ownership data update. 💧 Aquarevo’s innovation: Melbourne’s first integrated recycling plant is set to redefine water reuse. 💧 Record blockages in Adelaide: wet wipes are wreaking havoc in the sewers. 💧 International insights: methane emissions from treated wastewater and Pacific Island climate strategies at COP29. Stay on top of the latest water news here: https://hubs.la/Q02Z07M40 #AustralianWaterAssociation #WeekinWater #ClosingtheGap #Recycling #ClimateStrategy

🥽 Step inside NSW’s premier water research labs 🥽 Join us next week for a rare behind-the-scenes tour of NSW’s leading water research facilities: Manly Hydraulics Laboratory and UNSW Water Research Laboratory. 🔗 Spots are limited – secure your place now! https://hubs.la/Q02Z82ky0 👀 What’s in store? ✅ Discover cutting-edge research tackling the toughest water challenges. ✅ Explore world-class facilities driving innovation in hydraulics, coastal engineering, and water resource management. ✅ Engage with experts leading the charge in water technology and management. ✅ Network with professionals who share your passion for water and sustainability. 📅 When: 27 November, 1–3:30pm (AEDT) 📍 Where: 110/110B King Street, Manly Vale This is more than a tour – it’s your front-row seat to water innovation in action! Whether you’re an industry expert or just curious about the latest water research, this event offers insights, inspiration, and plenty of hands-on learning. Register now: https://hubs.la/Q02Z82ky0 #NSWTechnicalEvent #WaterResearch #Tour

Earlier this week, AWA hosted a delegation of 18 Korean Young Water Professionals (YWPs) and staff from the Korea Water and Wastewater Association (KWWA) at our Chatswood office. 🌏💧 This visit provided a fantastic networking opportunity between Australian YWPs and International YWPs, fostering meaningful knowledge-sharing and collaboration in the global water industry. We were delighted to welcome Xanthe Petridis and Devi Rangarajan, two exceptional YWPs from Sydney Water, to participate and share their insights with the delegation. The Korean YWPs, selected as the top 20% of graduates from the 2024 Korean Water Industry Professional Training Course, brought a wealth of curiosity and expertise, with a particular interest in desalination and recycled water as part of climate change adaptation efforts. Highlights: 💧 Introduction to the Australian Water Sector and AWA: Presented by AWA’s Kirsty Jones, covering governance, sustainable water policies, and challenges in the Australian water industry. 💧 Sydney Water Experience: Presented by Xanthe Petridis, who shared insights into Sydney Water's history, current operations, and challenges and opportunities of desalination and purified recycled water. This collaboration showcases the importance of international knowledge exchange in tackling shared challenges and creating sustainable water solutions. 🌍 Thank you to the Korean delegation, Sydney Water, and our Australian YWPs for making this event a success. We look forward to more collaborations that strengthen our collective commitment to sustainable water management. #AWA #KWWA #SydneyWater #KoreaWaterandWastewaterAssociation #2024KoreanWaterIndustryProfessionalTrainingCourse #ClimateChange #Desalination #PRW #Australia #SouthKorea

Meet our 2024 TAS Water Award winners 🏆 We're thrilled to recognise the top projects and professionals shaping the future of Tasmania’s water sector. A big round of applause for: ➡️ TasWater and Jacobs - Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Regional) ➡️ Kurt Debruille, University of Tasmania - Student Water Prize ➡️ Josh Clark, Tasmanian Irrigation - Young Water Professional of the Year ➡️ Sarah Jones, Pinion Advisory - Water Professional of the Year Take a look at all the details here: https://hubs.ly/Q02Z0-9P0 A special thank you to our sponsors – CPB Contractors, UGL, TasWater, Fulton Hogan, SMEC and Stornoway for their support of this event and these important industry awards. #TASWaterAwards #AustralianWaterAssociation #Awards #Excellence #Innovation

Do you know a high school student who has some brilliant ideas around water conservation, reuse or treatment? Help us spread the word about the Australian Stockholm Junior Water Prize, the annual water science competition for high school students that is proudly supported by Xylem ANZ. Winning the Australian component means travelling to Stockholm, Sweden in August to compete in the international finals during World Water Week. If you know a young person passionate about water science - perhaps a family member, friend, or even a connection in the community - please share this fantastic opportunity with them. We’re excited to see young minds dive into topics ranging from local to global water issues, employing rigorous scientific methods and fresh perspectives. And if your organisation works with local high schools, please spread the word so they too have the opportunity to enter the competition. Find out more: https://hubs.la/Q02Y_4Sx0 #StockholmJuniorWaterPrize #YoungWaterProfessional #HighSchool #Students #Australia

The Australian Water Association is excited to announce that Melbourne Water has signed on as a founding partner for our Careers in Water program. Melbourne Water touches all parts of the water cycle that are essential to Victorian’s way of life: from providing clean drinking water, treating sewage, planning to manage flooding, and keeping Melbourne’s rivers, creeks and catchments healthy. Please join us in welcoming Melbourne Water to the Careers in Water program. #MelbourneWater #CareersinWater #Water #Sustainability #Community

Celebrating #WorldToiletDay with WaterAid's sanitation work in Cambodia Observed every 19 November, World Toilet Day isn’t just about toilets – it’s a call to action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. With over 3.5 billion people lacking safe sanitation, this day is dedicated to improving health and quality of life worldwide. This year, we’re spotlighting the incredible efforts of WaterAid in Cambodia's floating villages along the Mekong. Here, residents often rely on the river for drinking water, bathing and fishing – yet without proper sanitation systems, waste ends up in the same water. In response, WaterAid is creating innovative floating toilets that preserve health, protect water quality and honour local traditions. Read more about the unique challenge and innovative solutions here: https://hubs.la/Q02Yt6bb0 Let’s take this World Toilet Day as a reminder: sanitation solutions save lives and uplift communities. #WorldToiletDay #WaterAid #SanitationForAll #AustralianWaterAssociation

Week in water: key updates on Australia’s water sector From the announcement of the IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water in Australia competition winner to innovative partnerships and groundbreaking conservation efforts, this week’s highlights include: 💧Unitywater's restoration of platypus habitats 🦦 💧Barwon Water's milestone water treatment project in the Otways 💧Sydney Water's infrastructure investment plan for the future of Greater Sydney Stay informed, stay engaged, read more here 👉 https://hubs.la/Q02Yt4Vq0 #WeekinWater #AustralianWaterAssociation #AWA #Habitat #Infrastructure #WaterTreatment

In a bold step for sustainable infrastructure, Greater Western Water is piloting a project using recycled materials – glass, plastic, rubber and crushed concrete – for trench backfilling. Backed by Sustainability Victoria and Victoria University, the trial aims to reduce landfill waste, cut emissions and pioneer a circular economy approach within construction. The trial will assess how these recycled blends withstand heavy traffic. If successful, it could change road infrastructure across the water sector. Learn more about this innovative approach: https://hubs.la/Q02XFB7c0 #AustralianWaterAssociation #Source #RecycledMaterials #Sustainability #Construction

Congratulations to Dr. Amanda Binks, Unitywater and Saskia Kempener, Aurecon for taking out the Best Paper Award at QWater'24 for their paper 'NET ZERO NUTRIENTS TO WATERWAYS: HOW DO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESS DESIGN OPTIONS STACK UP?' Thank you to The University of Queensland for their generous support of this award. #QWater24 #BestPaper #Queensland #Water #Conference