This week in water, floods in North Queensland have reinforced the growing risks of extreme weather, with Water Research Australia resharing insights on managing water supplies during crises.
Across the states and territories, TasWater confirms Tullah’s water supply is safe after an oil spill, while Water Corporation launches an accessibility plan to improve services for people of all abilities. TRILITY secures a UV maintenance contract with TasWater and Adelaide’s desal plant increases production to counter dry conditions.
Internationally, South Korean researchers develop a water-powered fire sensor and engineers unveil a cost-cutting breakthrough in desalination to make seawater safer to drink.
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North Queensland floods a stark reminder of climate challenges
The record-breaking floods in North Queensland serve as a sobering reminder of Australia’s increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events. Water Research Australia (WaterRA) has responded by resharing a 2022 webinar series on managing water supplies during crises, including floods, bushfires and drought.
The flooding-focused session featured key insights from experts including Dr Alison Oke (Bureau of Meteorology) on extreme rainfall and runoff trends, and Brian Hester (Seqwater) on lessons from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald in 2013.
These webinars, now available to both members and non-members, provide critical guidance for ensuring water supply security during extreme events.
New leadership for Seqwater
Seqwater has announced Emma Thomas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) following a nationwide search, bringing more than 30 years of experience across aviation, rail, public transport, infrastructure and local government.
Emma Thomas, a proven leader in delivering major projects, is expected to play a key role in guiding Seqwater through a period of significant growth and investment.
Seqwater Board Chair Neville Ide welcomed the appointment: “The Board is delighted to welcome Emma, and we look forward to working closely with her to oversee Seqwater’s strategic priorities, including ensuring the region’s growing communities have access to a safe, secure and valued water supply into the future, especially as we face population growth and climate challenges".
Water Corporation commits to inclusion
Water Corporation has launched a new Access and Inclusion Plan (AIP) to improve services and facilities for people of all abilities.
General Manager People and Safety Group Sarah Bagshawe said: “We’re improving support for customers with disabilities by enhancing communication options, offering accessible digital platforms and diversifying employee training programs".
Water Corporation will also implement changes to its work sites to promote accessibility, flexible working and better support for employees with diverse abilities.
“Our Access and Inclusion Plan will help the organisation find and retain the right people for the job, regardless of their individual differences,” Bagshawe said .
TRILITY secures major contract with TasWater
TRILITY has secured a three-year UV System Maintenance Servicing contract with TasWater, covering 57 sites and 106 UV systems across Tasmania.
TRILITY Service Manager Simon Canning said: “I am very proud of my team; they have worked tirelessly to secure this contract. With the contract in place, we look forward to providing best-in-class UV System Maintenance Services and further strengthening our relationship with TasWater and the communities it serves".
Water testing gives Tullah the all-clear
TasWater will resume operations at the Tullah Water Treatment Plant after extensive sampling confirmed that an oil spill in Lake Rosebery has not impacted the water supply.
TasWater Incident Controller Matt Jordan said: “Multiple intake water samples taken from the site have not detected any contamination".
“Given that, and the fact that our intake is approximately 26 metres below the water surface and some distance from the shore, we are confident we can safely resume supply at Tullah, with a number of operational precautions in place,” he said.
Adelaide desal plant ramps up production
Water production at the Adelaide Desalination Plant is increasing to secure supply amid sustained dry conditions.
With only 347mm of rain recorded in 2023 – Adelaide’s driest year since 2006 – reservoir inflows have dropped to their lowest in 40 years, prompting SA Water to temporarily boost desalination output until mid-2025.
Minister Nick Champion said: “It has been an exceptionally dry 12 months, but Adelaide’s water supply will remain consistent and secure, with sufficient supply to meet the needs of the community".
“In this dry time we are reaping the benefits of long-term strategic thinking of the former Rann Government to appropriately invest in critical infrastructure,” he said.
Victorian water corporations unite against workplace aggression
Victoria’s rural water corporations – including Goulburn-Murray Water, Lower Murray Water, Southern Rural Water, and Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water – have joined forces to reinforce a zero-tolerance approach to workplace aggression.
GMW Distribution Services Manager Greg Shannon said: “Whether an employee is on someone’s property to resolve a maintenance issue, or is talking to a customer on the phone, they are there to help".
“We understand some customers are currently in stressful situations due to the dry weather, but threats and abuse are never acceptable,” he said.
Gippsland’s growing women in water workforce
Gippsland Water’s 2024/25 summer internship program has recorded its highest female participation in five years, with six of the 12 students being women, including three in STEM roles.
Managing Director Sarah Cumming said: “This year we had three talented young women take on STEM roles in our environment and asset management teams as part of our internship program, along with a further three placed in other departments".
“Employing more women in STEM is not just a goal; it’s necessary to expand talent pools and bring in fresh perspectives," she said.
Sydney Water teams up with olympian Jess Fox
Sydney Water has launched a ‘Water is Our Life’ campaign featuring Olympic gold medallist Jess Fox, highlighting the vital role of water in daily life.
Sydney Water supplies 5.4 million customers with 1.5 billion litres of drinking water per day, monitoring its quality every two seconds and conducting over 330,000 tests annually before it reaches taps.
Jess Fox said the campaign aims to help Sydneysiders better understand water’s journey.
“‘Water is Our Life’ is not about Sydney Water, it’s about Sydney and the people who live and visit here,” Fox said.
NSW expands leak detection program
The NSW Government is investing $3 million into the next phase of its Active Leak Detection Project, aiming to save up to 4,000 megalitres (ML) of water per year – enough to supply 20,000 regional households.
Part of the $35.3 million Water Efficiency and Regional Leakage Reduction Program, the initiative has already saved 7,500ML annually across 60 regional locations since 2022. The next phase will see 6,000km of water mains surveyed in high-priority areas, including Dubbo, Lithgow, Moree Plains and Cobar, using advanced leak detection technology.
In addition to fixing leaks in local water networks, the project will now also identify leaks in residential properties, notifying homeowners of potential issues. Work is already underway and will continue until June 2026, securing long-term water resilience for NSW communities.
Water-powered fire sensor developed
Researchers at Chung-Ang University have developed a hydrovoltaic (HV) system that generates electricity from water while also serving as a fire sensor.
Associate Professor Byungil Hwang said the innovation could provide a safer alternative to traditional battery-powered fire sensors.
“Our hydrovoltaic system can produce up to a few tens of microwatts, making it perfect for small-scale applications like fire detectors and health monitoring systems,” he said.
New tech makes seawater safer to drink
Engineers at the University of Michigan and Rice University have developed a new desalination technology that removes boron from seawater without expensive chemicals.
The study, published in Nature Water, details how carbon cloth electrodes can selectively bind to boron, cutting desalination costs by up to 15%.
“This system significantly enhances environmental sustainability and cuts costs by up to 20 cents per cubic metre of treated water,” said co-author Weiyi Pan.
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