This week in water, the Water Technology Board appoints a new Chair, while a Senate inquiry hears calls for a comprehensive PFAS product ban. Across the states and territories, efforts are ramping up to improve water security in remote NT communities, and Melbourne’s historic Swanston Street water main receives a much-needed upgrade.
Internationally, Malta extends its smart metering partnership with SUEZ to bolster water efficiency, and new research highlights the disproportionate challenges faced by the global south in managing transboundary rivers.
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Water Technology Board announces new chair
The Water Technology Board has welcomed Warwick Bishop as Chair of the Board, starting January 2025. Warwick takes the reins from Andrew McCowan, who served as Chair for five years following a 20-year tenure as Managing Director. McCowan will remain on the Board as a Director.
The Board extended its thanks to McCowan for his leadership and dedication, while also expressing optimism for the year ahead.
Expert calls for a PFAS product ban
Professor Stuart Khan from the University of Sydney has called for a comprehensive ban on products containing PFAS, both domestically produced and imported.
His recommendations, which will be tabled at a Senate inquiry examining the extent of the use of PFAS in Australia, also advocate that the costs of remediation should fall on polluters rather than taxpayers.
In an interview with Source last year, Khan said: “We need to establish more stringent rules around what we allow to be included in consumer products and be more careful about testing those products”.
"We need to make sure the cost involved in figuring out how to remediate systems, as well as remediation implementation, actually goes back onto the companies that have profited from these chemicals, rather than onto consumers."
Boosting water security in remote NT communities
Power and Water, in collaboration with the Australian and Northern Territory Governments, is leading efforts to improve water security in 10 remote communities. Through the $34.3 million Better Bores for Communities program, the initiative will enhance water quality, expand supply in three communities, and provide greater certainty of water availability in seven others.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said: “Too many First Nations communities in the Northern Territory don’t have access to clean and reliable water”.
“This funding demonstrates the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to improving life outcomes for First Nations people.”
Transforming Canberra’s wastewater through innovation
Beca HunterH2O, in collaboration with Seymour Whyte and VINCI Construction, has secured a key contract under Icon Water’s 10-year Major Projects Delivery Program. The program aims to enhance water and wastewater services in the ACT, starting with an upgrade to the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre.
Beca Australia Managing Director Andrew Mailer said: “Australia needs resilient, sustainable and cost-effective water infrastructure to meet the complex challenges of our growing communities.”
Beca Group CEO Amelia Linzey added: “We are passionate about water and infrastructure to help communities prosper, and we look forward to delivering improved environmental outcomes for the ACT community.”
Lake Macdonald Dam project prepares for major works
Seqwater will host community information sessions for the Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project as preparatory works continue ahead of major construction activities in 2025. The project will strengthen the dam’s resilience to extreme weather events and ensure long-term water security for South East Queensland.
Seqwater’s Sarah Dixon said: “This project is critical to maintaining South East Queensland’s water security and ensuring the dam meets modern safety standards”.
The project includes building an upstream cofferdam, reconstructing embankments and upgrading the spillway, while maintaining environmental and recreational amenity during construction.
Pipeline upgrade to secure water for Geelong and beyond
Barwon Water has commenced an upgrade to the Melbourne to Geelong Pipeline, which will increase its capacity and expand its reach by next summer.
Acting Managing Director David Snadden said: “While storage levels are currently satisfactory, we continue to make important investments in securing our water future through upgrading the Melbourne to Geelong Pipeline and increasing recycled water for non-drinking water purposes, while focusing on water efficiency and conservation measures".
The upgrade will provide access to up to 22,000 million litres per year from Melbourne, a 6,000-million-litre increase.
Tree harvest supports waterway restoration in Shepparton
Goulburn Valley Water’s Shepparton Wastewater Management Facility has begun harvesting trees from a decades-old recycled water trial. The harvested trees will be used for riverbank erosion pins as part of a Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority program.
Managing Director Dr Steve Capewell said: “Not only will the trees be put to good use, but the cleared land will also be rehabilitated to allow our farming operations to continue expanding”.
“We have recycled water available at the Shepparton facility and the tree harvest will allow the land to be farmed using this water for irrigation, once soil rehabilitation has been completed,” he said.
Historic water main upgrade completed in Melbourne CBD
Greater Western Water (GWW) has upgraded 250 metres of a nearly century-old water main along Swanston Street in Melbourne. The project aligns with the Metro Tunnel development and ensures the infrastructure meets the city’s growing demand.
GWW General Manager for Growth and Infrastructure Ian Burton said: “Our pipes are built to last about 100 years, and this water main, which was built in 1928, was in need of a vital upgrade to serve Melbourne’s growing population”.
“We always do our best to minimise disruptions to the communities we work in and that's why we've collaborated with other major projects in the area to coordinate works at the same time, limit the impacts and protect the city's heritage,” he said.
Barellan’s first sewage treatment plant completed
An $8.8 million project has brought Barellan its first-ever centralised sewage treatment plant, connecting over 175 households and replacing outdated septic systems.
NSW DCCEEW Director of Infrastructure Development Lisa Hingerty said: “This is a groundbreaking development for Barellan locals who have had to put up with outdated septic tanks for too long that are not only impractical but also need to be maintained at great expense to residents”.
“Wastewater services often go unnoticed but they’re essential for day-to-day living, which is why delivering a modern, centralised sewerage system will make a huge difference,” she said.
“It has been 20 years in the making, which is why I’m absolutely thrilled we’ve been able to give Barellan the vital infrastructure it needs to thrive today and into the future."
Malta extends smart metering partnership with SUEZ
Water Services Corporation in Malta has extended its collaboration with SUEZ for a further five years to manage the smart metering service for water consumption in the archipelago.
The Maltese Archipelago, which faces demographic pressure from over 2 million tourists annually, relies heavily on rigorous water resource management.
SUEZ Digital Solutions SVP Patricia Villoslada said: “We are delighted and proud to extend our long-term collaboration with Water Services Corporation, whose renewed trust confirms the quality and performance of our smart metering service”.
“Since our initial pilot in 2009, our solution has consistently contributed to improving the efficiency of our customer’s network and service, helping to make Malta a model of smart water management and sustainable water preservation,” she said.
Global south’s water needs overlooked in research
A University of Manchester study has highlighted significant disparities in global research on transboundary rivers, showing that the needs of the global south are often neglected compared to those of the global north.
The study, which analysed 4713 case studies across 286 river basins, found that research in the global north focuses on technical river management, while studies in the global gouth often concentrate on conflict and resource competition.
One of the study’s authors Dr Mehebub Sahana said: “Our analysis shows a clear need for a shift in how research is conducted on transboundary rivers. We need to empower local researchers, enhance science diplomacy, and increase funding for underrepresented regions”.
“Collaborative North-South partnerships should prioritise addressing socio-economic, cultural and geopolitical complexities while bridging critical knowledge gaps in these vital areas to ensure effective and equitable management of water resources," he said.
US EPA highlights PFAS risks in biosolids
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a draft risk assessment evaluating the potential health risks of PFAS chemicals, often called “forever chemicals,” found in biosolids or sewage sludge.
The report highlights risks from land application, surface disposal in landfills and incineration of biosolids contaminated with compounds like PFOA and PFOS.
EPA Acting Administrator Jane Nishida said: “EPA under President Biden’s leadership has taken unprecedented actions to advance research and science on PFAS and to protect people from these dangerous forever chemicals”.
“This draft assessment provides important information to help inform future actions by federal and state agencies as well as steps that wastewater systems, farmers and other stakeholders can take to protect people from PFAS exposure, while ensuring American industry keeps feeding and fueling our nation,” she said.
Extreme weather events threaten groundwater stability
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that climate change-induced extreme weather events are altering groundwater quality and recharge dynamics.
The research, led by the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry and Friedrich Schiller University, used novel methods to track dissolved organic matter as a proxy for water contaminants.
Postdoctoral researcher Simon Schroeter said: “Our results suggest that climate change-induced extreme weather events are already altering groundwater quality and its recharge dynamics”.
The team studied hydroclimatic conditions at three geologically distinct sites in Germany between 2014 and 2021. By tracking thousands of molecular entities, the researchers detected changes in the chemical composition of organic molecules, providing a more detailed understanding of groundwater contamination risks compared to traditional methods.
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