Top 10 most popular articles in 2025
by Water Source
From net-zero sewers and the rise of desalination to water pressure from data centres and the promise of new engineering talent, the stories that captured your attention in 2025 revealed a water community determined to innovate and adapt.
Together, these articles charted the themes that defined the year – a sector responding to climate extremes, investing in resilience and pushing for smarter, cleaner infrastructure. They also reflected a growing focus on people and capability, with readers gravitating towards stories about leadership and future workforce needs.
Take a look below at all the topics that helped shape 2025.
Announcing the 2025 Australian Water Awards finalists
This year’s finalist list showcased the depth of innovation across every state and territory, highlighting projects tackling everything from climate resilience and recycled water to regional infrastructure. It set the tone for a year defined by leadership, ingenuity and a clear commitment to a sustainable water future.
How can we cut water consumption in data centres
As cloud demand surges, readers turned to this story to understand how the digital world intersects with water security. The piece explored practical ways to shrink the industry’s water footprint – from advanced cooling and reuse options to smarter co-location and circular water design.
Inside Sydney Water’s capital works momentum
With billions in upgrades underway, this article opened the door to the strategy behind Sydney Water’s accelerated capital works program. It walked readers through the long-term planning, partnership models and major projects now reshaping Greater Sydney’s water and wastewater backbone.
Is desalination becoming Australia’s most reliable water source?
A deep dive into desal’s growing role in our national supply mix, this story unpacked why climate-independent water is fast becoming indispensable. It also compared approaches across states and explored how desalination complements recycling and other long-term supply measures.
Game-changing water treatment innovation tackles remote challenges
This feature followed the development of breakthrough treatment technology designed specifically for remote communities. It highlighted how on-site, low-cost disinfection is removing barriers around chemical handling and accessibility, delivering safer drinking water at the edges of the grid.
Celebrating Australia’s first net-zero carbon sewer infrastructure project
A milestone moment for sustainable infrastructure, this story broke down the methods and mindset that enabled the country’s first verified net-zero sewer upgrade. Readers were drawn to the project’s blend of emissions reduction, smart construction and tangible social value.
Smart solutions to future-proof Australia’s water security
Facing hotter, drier conditions and rising demand, this article explored how digital tools are helping utilities squeeze more value from every litre. Smart metering, leak analytics and interoperable platforms featured heavily as the sector turns towards data-driven water management.
Adelaide Hills water crisis: a local problem is a global wake-up call
This widely read piece laid bare the lived impacts of water scarcity as residents in the Adelaide Hills struggled through severe shortages. It placed the crisis within a global pattern of climate volatility, underscoring the need for long-view planning and resilient local systems.
Tapping the next generation of water engineers
A favourite among readers, this article made the case for boosting the visibility of water careers. It looked at how universities and industry can better attract engineering talent to tackle the sector’s biggest challenges, from circular water systems to net-zero infrastructure.
Desal initiative bolsters water security for WA’s Wheatbelt
Rounding out the top ten, this story spotlighted small-scale, on-farm desalination as a lifeline for drought-hit farming communities. It revealed how local innovation is helping farmers adapt to a rapidly drying climate and rebuild resilience from the ground up.
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