About WQRA

Water Quality Research Australia Limited (WQRA) is a not-for-profit company, established and funded by its members, to undertake collaborative research of national application on drinking water quality, recycled water and relevant areas of wastewater management.


With the impact of drought, climate change and population growth causing increasing stress on existing potable water supplies, both state and federal governments as well as the water industry has found it necessary to look towards alternative sources of water to supplement traditional supplies. This has resulted in greater complexity in the management of water and presents new challenges for industry and regulators. 

Water quality can never be taken for granted. WQRA has been tasked by its Members and stakeholders to develop research programs that will allow Members to keep pace with change and to fulfil WQRA’s vision as “the trusted provider of scientific evidence needed to ensure safe water for Australians”.

The primary aims of WQRA are to coordinate and manage a structured program of collaborative research in water quality and to ensure that the knowledge generated is transferred to industry. WQRA’s focus is on national issues in water quality with an emphasis on improving public health for Australians. WQRA is committed to the highest standards of governance and independence, and to realising its vision and achieving its mission by demonstrating the behaviours and values expected of a professional, member based organisation.

WQRA Vision and Mission

 

WQRA History

 What does WQRA do?

WQRA succeeded the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality, which ended in July 2008 after two rounds of funding from the Commonwealth Government.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment (CRCWQT) was formed under the Commonwealth Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program. Its participants included many of the significant players in the Australian water community. During its tenure of 13 years, the CRCWQT had a significant impact on... Read more

WQRA brings together key water research groups and industry members across Australia to conduct targeted, priority research. These relationships place WQRA in a unique position to rapidly address current and emerging issues in public health and water quality.

The main focus of WQRA research is on urban water issues related to public health and acceptability aspects of water supply, water recycling and aspects of wastewater management. WQRA also has an Education Program, which supports the training of young industry professionals to help build long term operational excellence and a strong research capability in the Australian water community.

International and National Relationships

 WQRA Members
WQRA has strong relationships with the national and international water research community. These relationships provide critical and timely information on emerging issues of concern and ensure that the best possible knowledge and skills available can be accessed by the Australian water sector when needed.... Read More

WQRA’s membership is both national and representative, covering all states and territories of Australia. Members include water utilities, research organisations/providers, private sector companies, and government departments and regulators.Membership of WQRA is open to... Read More

 

Benefits of Membership to the Australian Water Industry
  • Reduced risk of water quality incidents – An improved understanding and quantification of the health and environmental risks associated with water supply and water reuse results in both reduction and better management of unavoidable risks. As a consequence, the likelihood of water quality incidents can be greatly reduced. In addition, a more informed response to threats to water security can be facilitated.
  • Improved levels of customer trust – The increased knowledge base allows clearer and more definitive communication with customers and a steady improvement in public trust of water supply authorities.
  • Water industry skills – Support for the education and training of water professionals addresses the impending skills shortage.
  • Appropriate regulations – An improved understanding of risks and system operating characteristics can lead to appropriate, evidenced-based regulations. As a direct consequence, optimal capital investment decisions can be made which target  investment in areas of highest risk and avoid unnecessary expenditure on low risk areas.
  • Improved infrastructure design and operations – Better knowledge and understanding of all processes in the catchment to tap sequence can allow development of a range of system management tools. Application of these tools can lead to a reduction in direct operating costs while maintaining a high quality risk management  framework.

Benefits of Membership to the Australian Research Community
  • Building research capability – Support for capacity building in the Australian research community enables research groups to establish and maintain a critical mass for water quality and public health research and education;
  • Collaboration with Industry – WQRA’s membership offers a vehicle for providing interaction and collaboration with Industry on research related to water quality. In addition to offering financial support, WQRA assists Research Members in coordinating industry participation in Australian Research Council Linkage project grant submissions;
  • Assisting Higher Education Students – By providing funding for postgraduate education and research in water quality related areas, WQRA is able to build a pool of talented young researchers who might be expected to contribute to the Australian Water Community in future.
  Become a WQRA Member