Australian Water
Quality Guidelines

Membership

2010

July
CRC Research Report 55
Development of a Dissolved Organic Carbon Detection System for Size-Exclusion Chromatography PDF

June
WQRA Newsletter
Issue 25 (June 2010) outlines recent WQRA activiities and provides information on forthcoming workshops. Recent publications are highlighted. Updates on our research and education programs are included. There is a called for nominations for the inaugural Willie Grabow Young Investigator Award. The success of three WQRA projects in the recent ARC funding round is reported as well as a call for expressions of interest for the next ARC Linkage round.

CRC Research Report 80
Advanced Characterisation of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) in Australian Water Supplies PDF

CRC Research Report 74
Management Strategies for Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and their Toxins: a Guide for Water Utilities PDF

CRC Research Report 70
Decision Support Systems for Water Quality Optimisation PDF

May
WQRA Newsletter
Issue 24 (May 2010) outlines recent WQRA activiities and provides information on forthcoming workshops, conferences and courses. Recent publications are highlighted including the Community Water Planner Field Guide. There are also reports on recent node meetings and updates on our research and education programs.

CRC Research Report 71
Development of Tools for Improved Disinfection Control within Distribution Systems PDF

CRC Research Report 73
Tastes and Odours in Reservoirs PDF

CRC Research Report 65
BMAA in Potable Waters: an International Assessment of Exposure Levels PDF

CRC Research Report 76
Dissolved Organic Carbon Removal by Biological Treatment PDF

CRC Research Report 85
Development of Biological Treatment System for Concentrated Natural Organics Streams PDF

March
WQRA Newsletter
Issue 22 (February 2010) outlines recent WQRA activiities and meetings. We also welcome two new members to WQRA and provide updates on the Drinking Water and Wastewater/Recycled Water Research Programs and Education news. The upcoming workshops and conferences are highlighted, as well as a new funding opportunity from NARP for Settlements and Infrastructure.

CRC Research Report 84
Quality of stored rainwater used for drinking in metropolitan South Australia PDF

February
Cryptosporidium Workshop
On Tuesday 8 December, 2009 WQRA held a workshop in Melbourne to discuss research priorities for Cryptosporidium "Cryptosporidium - Identifying Key WQRA Research Priorities". Presentations covered the perspective from research, water utilities, catchment managers, regulators and a national overview, with facilitated group sessions to identify priority research areas for WQRA and development of details on how to progress these key areas.

WQRA submission on revisions to ADWG
On 15th January 2010 WQRA lodged a submission to the NHMRC on the proposed revisions to the Australia Drinking Water Guidelines.

January
WQRA AGM - November 2009
WQRA welcomed 60 people, including Member representatives and visitors, to the WQRA AGM at SA Water House in Adelaide on Friday 27th November 2009. Presentations from the AGM are now available in the Members Only section.

WQRA Newsletter
Issue 20 (December 2009) provides an update on the development of WQRA Research Programs and the Education Program. It reports on the new Board Members and special new Members. Also WQRA members are invited to submit expressions of interest seeking WQRA funding support for the May 2010 ARC funding call and submit NHMRC Partnerships Projects by 30 April 2010. Information on new
publications is included.

2009
December
Health Stream Newsletter
Issue 56 covers a new study on endemic waterborne disease in older people, the investigation into a waterborne Salmonella outbreak in Colorado and Legionella cases linked to industrial exposures. Plus news items and summaries of recent literature on a range of water quality topics.

CRC Research Report 77
Benchmarking Water Sensitive Urban Design – Payne Road PDF
The Payne Rd project was an initiative of the Qld Department of Natural Resources and Water to quantify the water, energy and nutrient balances of a cluster scale subdivision that incorporated a number of decentralised technologies, set in a context of Water Sensitive Urban Design. The project component funded by the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment focussed on water supply and its reliability from rainwater tanks, the avoided sewage discharge from on-site greywater reuse, and comparison of the energy footprint with that of a traditional (adjacent) suburb.

November
WQRA Newsletter
Issue 19 provides an update on the development of WQRA Research Programs and the Education Program. Also it reports on the outcomes of the October Board Meeting and the Monash Rainwater Drinking Project media briefing. The revised Australian Drinking Water guidelines are available for public consultation. New publications and information on the November WQRA AGM and the December Cryptosporidium workshop is included, also the WQRA Annual Report is now available.

Cryptosporidium Workshop
The Cryptosporidium Workshop will be held in Melbourne on the 8th of December 2009. The program will include presentations covering the perspective from research, water utilities, regulators and service providers, with facilitated group sessions to identify priority research areas for WQRA and development of details on how to progress these key areas.

October
CRC Research Report 79: Understanding the Growth of Opportunistic Pathogens within Distribution Systems. PDF

WQRA Newsletter
Issue 18 provides an update on the development of WQRA Research Programs and the Education Program and reports on the ARC and NHMRC grant success. Information regarding the media release of the Field Guide to the Community Water Planner and on the Monash Rainwater Drinking Project is available. Also new publications and information on forthcoming workshops.

Issue 17 provides an update on the development of WQRA Research Programs and the Education Program and reports on the August 2009 Board and Members Meetings and the Young Water Scientist Award 2009. The latest issue of Health Stream is now available on the WQRA website. The draft National Climate Change Adaptation Research Plan: Settlements and Infrastructure is now available for comment. Also new publications and information on forthcoming workshops.

Sydney Catchment Authority - EOI in cyanobacteria research
The Sydney Catchment Authority is calling for expressions of interest from universities and other research providers for projects under a number of research areas relating to the conditions that trigger toxicity in algae and the fate of toxins and tastes and odours in reservoirs.


Call to Water Authorities for participation in nitrosamine survey of Australian drinking and recycled waters
The AWQC has received funding through WQRA to undertake a survey to understand the extent of the problem of NDMA and other nitrogenous disinfection by-products in Australian drinking and recycled waters with the aim of identifying operational factors that impact their formation and therefore identifying systems at risk. The AWQC is asking for expressions of interest from water authorities who are keen to participate in this survey.

September
Health Stream Newsletter
Issue 55 (September 2009) contains reports on the investigation of the recent fluoride overdose incident in Brisbane, two water quality incidents affecting alpine resorts in New South Wales, and discovery of a novel source of NDMA contamination in drinking water systems. Plus news items and reviews of recent literature on a range of water quality topics.

WQRA Newsletter
Issue 16 provides an update on the development of WQRA Programs and reports on the National Cyanobacterial Workshop and the Rouse Hill Report which was launched in Sydney. A director is sought for Curtin Water Quality Research Centre. Also news from the Education Program (including invite for students to submit applications for Summer Scholarships), new publications and information on forthcoming workshops.

National Cyanobacterial Workshop
This workshop took place on August 12 & 13 at Parramatta, with around 110 attendees representing water management organisations, government agencies and research groups from all States and Territories. Presentations were delivered by thirty-three speakers who gave updates on recent events and issues, current research, and monitoring, testing and treatment.

July
Health Stream Newsletter
Issue 54 includes coverage of a new WSAA report on the impacts of recreational access to drinking water catchments, a fluoride overdosing incident in the city of Brisbane, and recycling stormwater for potable use. Plus news items and reviews of recent literature on a range of water quality topics.

June
Lagoon/Pond Treatment Systems Workshop
This workshop was held in Sydney, on May 28th with the purpose to engage relevant stakeholders to discuss a WQRA research proposal on lagoon/ pond treatment systems

WQRA Newsletter
Issue 14 provides an update on the development of WQRA Programs and reports on recent WQRA and Global Water Research Coalition meetings. Also news from the Education Program, new publications and information on forthcoming workshops.

Small Grant Scheme
WQRA is inviting applications for small grants of up to $5000 to support research by PhD students enrolled at a WQRA research member institution, who are undertaking a PhD research project which has significant alignment with the research priorities of WQRA. The grant may be used to purchase consumables, services, travel or equipment specifically pertinent to the project. The closing date for applications is midday, Monday 20 July 2009.

National Cyanobacteria Workshop & Cyanosurvey Project
Water Quality Research Australia is providing support to the National Cyanobacteria Workshop hosted by the NSW Department of Water and Energy. This workshop will be held in Sydney on the 12-13 August 2009. WQRA is also seeking participants for a new project currently in development called 'Cyanosurvey: A National Update on Toxic Cyanobacteria and their Distribution'.

WQRA Support for Members ARC November 2009 Research Projects
WQRA members are invited to submit project proposals seeking WQRA funding support for the November 2009 ARC funding call. Applicants will need to submit a project concept using the WQRA template by 30 June 2009. Late submissions will not be accepted.

May
WQRA Newsletter
Issue 13 provides a progress report on development of the WQRA research program and details of a forthcoming workshop on Lagoon/Pond Treatment Systems on 28 May in Sydney. The workshop will be followed by a WQRA Members Meeting on 29 May. Members will hear presentations by Dr Richard Davis (National Water Commission), Ross Young (WSAA). Peter Dennis (Hunter Water) and Paul Byleveld (NSW Health), and two of our Summer Research Scholars (Heather Brown and Nicole Thornton) as well as an update on the WQRA research and education programs.

CRC Research Reports
WQRA is managing the production of final reports from a number of projects undertaken by the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment.The full range of CRC Occasional Papers and Research Reports is available free to download in PDF format. Recently added titles include:
• 43 Optimisation of adsorption processes: Stage II
• 49 Small water system reliability in remote Indigenous communities in the Kimberley
• 67 A Practical Guide to Reservoir Management
• 68 Optimising the water treatment and disinfection train for pathogen removal

March
Summer Research Scholarship Seminar
Photos of the Seminar, Technical tour and dinner are now available, as well as feedback from the students on their experiences.

Health Stream Newsletter
Issue 53 is the first to be produced under the Auspices of Water Quality Research Australia. This issue includes articles on the impact of bushfires on drinking water quality, and a major new study on the toxicological relevance of trace levels of endocrine disrupting compounds and pharmaceuticals in drinking water. Plus news items and reviews of recent literature on a range of topics.

WQRA Brochures (PDF)
Introducing WQRA - a brief overview of Water Quality Research Australia.
WQRA General Information - more detail on the formation, aims and activities of WQRA.
WQRA Membership - describes the benefits of becoming a member of WQRA.

Positions Available
Curtin Water Quality Research Centre in Western Australia is seeking research staff to work on a 3-year project entitled "Treating wastewater for potable reuse: removal of micropollutants using advanced oxidation". The project will commence in early 2009. Position descriptions may be downloaded for the positions of Research Fellow / Senior Research Fellow and Research Assistant / Associate. Closing date 31 January 2009.

November
Annual Report
The first WQRA Annual Report can be downloaded as a PDF file. The report summarises the context and processes leading to the formation of Water Quality Research Australia Limited, and the activities of the new centre since it was established as a legal entity in October 2007.

October
PhD Scholarship
A full WQRA-ARC PhD scholarship is available for a project located in Adelaide. The project involves characterising the interactions of Cryptosporidium with other microorganisms isolated from naturally occurring biofilms and sediments.

September
Small Grants Scheme
WQRA is offering small grants of up to $5000 to support postgraduate student research projects. Applications may be lodged by supervisors on behalf of students enrolled at WQRA member universities.

Program Workshops
WQRA member organisations have been invited to two WQRA Program workshops as part of the process to develop the WQRA research agenda.

PhD Scholarships
WQRA is offering 5 PhD Scholarships (comprising 4 top-up scholarships and 1 full scholarship) for students commencing in 2009. Closing date for applications: 31 October 2008.

August
Summer Research Scholarships
WQRA is offering 10 Summer Research Scholarships to provide talented undergraduates with an introduction to career and research opportunities relevant to the needs of the Australian water industry. Closing date for applications: 15 September 2008.

Project Manager - ARC Linkage Project on Corrosion and Odour Management in Sewers
Applications are invited for the position of Project Manager for a 5-year national research project involving major Australian water utilities, four Australian universities and several international collaborators. Closing date 5 September 2008.

July
WQRA Education Committee
Nominations are invited for the WQRA Education Committee. The committee will develop and implement the Education program for WQRA.

Call for Summer Research and PhD Project Outlines
WQRA invites member organisations to submit project outlines for both Summer Research Scholarships and PhD scholarships.

Careers at WQRA
WQRA is currently seeking applicants for two Program Manager positions. The successful applicants will play key roles in the design and delivery of the WQRA Research Agenda. (Applications have closed)

Meetings and Workshops
Dates for forthcoming WQRA meetings and program workshops have been announced.   

New Members
WQRA is pleased to welcome two new members, who were approved at the WQRA Board meeting in June. Victoria University has joined as a Research member and Wannon Region Water Corporation has been admitted as a new Industry Member. In addition, GWM Water has upgraded from a General Member to a Band Three Industry Member.

June
WQRA joins GWRC
WQRA has become a member of the Global Water Research Coalition. The GWRC is an international alliance of leading water research organisations, and is dedicated to promoting international cooperation and collaboration in water-related research. WQRA's application for membership was accepted at a meeting of the GWRC Board during World Water Week in Singapore.

May
WQRA CEO and Chair announced
Water Quality Research Australia Limited announced the appointment of Jodieann Dawe as CEO of the new organisation. Professor Michael R. Moore (currently Director of the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology) has agreed to become Chairman of the Board of WQRA Limited. Position available
WQRA Ltd is seeking a Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for ensuring high quality deliverables in all facets of company operations, financial and corporate management.

February
WQRA Summer Research Scholarships
The first group of WQRA Summer Research Scholars presented their work at a Seminar in Melbourne on 21 February 2008, along with the final group of CRC Summer Research Scholars.

December
First WQRA Limited Project Agreement Signed
Following the signing of the project agreement for "A National Approach to Health Risk Assessment, Risk Communication and Management of Chemical Hazards from Recycled Water" the first research project for WQRA is formally under way.

October
Water Quality Research Australia Pty Ltd established
Water Quality Research Australia Limited was established on Friday 12 October 2007 as a not-for-profit scientific research institution under Australian Corporations law.