Research Programs

The WQRA Programs are designed to ensure delivery on the core aims of the company to benefit both Members and key stakeholders, including the Australian public.

Addressing Knowledge Gaps and Emerging Risks

WQRA’s Research Programs aim to address key water industry scientific and technical knowledge gaps and emerging risks. Research projects funded by WQRA serve to support the industry by underpinning the decision-making process with weight-of-evidence based science and research outcomes.

Research Objectives:

The core outcomes that WQRA is seeking to deliver to the industry and key stakeholders through the WQRA Research Program are:

  • To have an improved and rational understanding of issues in relation to public health risk, in current water sources but also in relation to the introduction and integration of new and alternative water products and services into the urban water product and service cycle. In doing so, research will close critical knowledge gaps and provide the evidence to support and inform the development of public health policy and management plans, and
  • To be able to better identify appropriate intervention strategies to address these risks. This will include the development of targeted management and monitoring systems to support public health outcomes.

Focus:

In addressing the critical water quality research needs of the Australian water industry, the research has an emphasis on public health impacts to the community, in both traditional and alternative sources of water. On-going scientific discovery provides improved understanding of existing and emerging risks and pathways to address and manage these risks to ensure safe water for all Australians.

To achieve its research outcomes WQRA has organised research into the three main programs, Drinking Water (DW), Recycled Water (RW) and Wastewater (WW). The programs are closely aligned with industry needs, originating during the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment through a series of industry-driven and funded workshops and projects. Core WQRA research projects were shortlisted at the November 2008 Annual General Meeting. These projects address critical knowledge gaps in the public health aspects of water quality.

Remote Areas

Whilst much of the research agenda is focused towards the urban centres of Australia, WQRA continues to undertake research to improve water quality and public health in remote areas, especially with regard to access to appropriate drinking water for remote indigenous communities. While many of the issues are similar to those in urban water supplies, the solutions need to take account of the diversity of infrastructure and social conditions in rural and remote areas.

Drinking Water Recycled Water Wastewater
Key Topics*
  • chemical and microbiological contaminants in water supplies
  • cyanobacteria,
  • optimisation of treatment processes and distribution systems,
  • regional and remote water supplies,
  • novel treatment steps to improve water supply quality
  • studying public perceptions of water supply
 Key topics*
  • membrane and treatment technologies,
  • chemical contaminants,
  • waste stream disposal and reuse,
  • fit for purpose technologies
  • risk assessment
 Key topics*
  • membrane and treatment technologies,
  • chemical contaminants,
  • waste stream disposal and reuse,
  • fit for purpose technologies
  • risk assessment