This week’s water community activity celebrates the connections water makes possible, alongside efforts to improve water efficiency, strengthen services and support communities through emergencies.
As National Water Week highlights why Water is Life, the latest developments span recycled water for agriculture, digital leak detection, catchment protection and international recognition of water sector leadership.
National Water Week celebrates why Water is Life
National Water Week (19-26 October) is bringing communities, schools and organisations together to recognise water’s role in everyday life, with Water is Life highlighting its importance to people, cultures, economies and environments.
The week celebrates how water supports healthy communities, sustains biodiversity, enables prosperity and builds resilience in a changing climate. It also recognises water’s central place in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander connection to Country.
For schools, the 2026 theme Water Connects Everything encourages students to explore these connections through learning and participation.
Workplaces and community groups can join the celebrations by sharing stories, starting conversations and exploring the resources available through National Water Week.
Learn more about how to get involved.
AECOM appoints new water infrastructure Industry Director
AECOM has promoted Marco van Winden to Industry Director, Civil, Water Infrastructure, bringing more than 33 years of experience in infrastructure planning, design and construction management to the role.
His experience includes serving as design manager for Sydney Water’s $600 million Prospect to Macarthur Distribution Link pipelines and pump stations.. Van Winden has also supported technical capability development as course director for AECOM’s Pressure Pipelines Design global technical academy.
Wamuran growers invited to connect to recycled water scheme
Unitywater is inviting growers to join the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme, which supplies Class A recycled water from the Caboolture South Wastewater Treatment Plant to support local agriculture.
Unitywater and City of Moreton Bay will host a farmer showcase in Caboolture on 21 October, offering information about irrigation opportunities and experiences from participating growers. The scheme also reduces nutrient discharges to the Caboolture River and Moreton Bay.
Unitywater Executive Manager Customer Delivery Rhett Duncan said: “For growers, access to a secure, climate-independent water source provides the confidence to invest, plan for the future and extend production beyond the limits of rainfall,”
Brisbane emergency hub strengthens regional disaster response
Veolia has launched an Asia-Pacific emergency response hub in Brisbane, providing $250,000 of equipment and technology alongside a trained volunteer team to support communities affected by disasters and humanitarian crises.
Twenty-seven volunteers have completed training, including exercises with mobile water treatment units capable of supplying drinking water for between 2,000 and 7,500 people.
Veolia Australia and New Zealand CEO Craig Barker said: “This is a critical resource for a region particularly exposed to climate extremes and natural disasters. Establishing the Veoliaforce Hub in Brisbane, reinforces our commitment to every community across Australia, New Zealand, and the broader APAC region.”
UNSW report explores how to recognise research impact earlier
A new UNSW Science report proposes a framework for recognising research contributions before a final product, policy or innovation emerges.
Drawing on eight case studies, the report examines how partnerships, community engagement and understanding practical needs contribute to outcomes. The approach considers contributions across commercialisation, scholarly outputs, policy, lives changed and sustainability.
UNSW Science Dean Scientia Professor Sven Rogge said: “If we only measure impact once there is a product, policy or treatment, we miss much of what made that impact possible,”
Smoke testing identifies hidden wastewater network faults
Unitywater’s annual smoke testing program is underway across Moreton Bay, identifying faults and improper connections that allow stormwater to enter the wastewater network.
Testing will cover seven suburbs in 2026-27, using a safe, non-toxic vapour to reveal potential problems. The program has identified defects in about 4,000 private plumbing connections over five years.
Unitywater Executive Manager Strategic Infrastructure Solutions Mike Basterfield said: “Across Moreton Bay 85% of these defects have been rectified, which has reduced stormwater inflow by 24%, which reduces the likelihood, frequency and volume of overflows occurring,”
No PFAS detected in latest regional water testing
SA Water’s latest sampling has found no detectable PFAS in underground bores at Penola, Robe and Hawker, or at Middle River Reservoir on Kangaroo Island.
The results form part of an ongoing program that has sampled more than 50 drinking water systems across South Australia, with no detectable PFAS reported to date. Samples undergo independent, accredited laboratory testing.
SA Water Senior Manager of Water Expertise Dr Lionel Ho said: “Due to the prevalence of PFAS in many consumer and industrial products, our specialist samplers follow strict guidelines to prevent sample contamination.”
Mining camp audits identify water savings opportunities
Water Corporation has partnered with seven mining camp operators across the Goldfields and Pilbara to identify potential annual water savings exceeding 176 million litres.
Audits found opportunities to reduce average water use by almost 39%, informing a new water efficiency guide covering leak detection, monitoring, fixtures, irrigation and reuse. At one camp near Leonora, improvements reduced daily use from about 185,000 litres to 70,000 litres.
Western Australian Water Minister Daniel Pastorelli said: “This new guide will help existing and future camps build on that work through practical measures such as fixing leaks, improving monitoring and installing efficient fixtures.”
New watering arrangements aim to protect Esperance groundwater
A two-day weekly sprinkler roster for domestic bores will begin across the Shire of Esperance and Munglinup on 1 December 2026, followed by a winter sprinkler switch-off from June 2027.
The changes respond to declining groundwater levels and rising salinity. Planning is also underway to explore desalination and greater recycled water use, while maintenance works have repaired 63 leaks, saving up to 30 million litres.
Western Australian Water Minister Daniel Pastorelli said: “By acting now, we can preserve our precious groundwater and help ensure future generations have a secure and reliable water supply.”
New rules strengthen Sydney drinking water catchment protection
WaterNSW has welcomed new catchment protection regulations, including increased penalties and remediation and cost-recovery powers to address illegal dumping.
The organisation spent approximately $300,000 over the past year removing waste from Greater Sydney’s drinking water catchment. Motion cameras, patrols and joint surveillance with other agencies are also supporting protection efforts.
WaterNSW Executive General Manager Rob O’Neill said: “These areas are intended to be as clean and free from contamination as possible. Illegal dumping is therefore a direct threat to the quality of Greater Sydney’s water supply.”
Moreton Bay wastewater upgrades support growing communities
Unitywater is upgrading wastewater infrastructure across Moreton Bay to improve reliability, extend asset life and accommodate population growth.
Works include pump station and pipeline upgrades in Burpengary, new infrastructure on Hercules Road, improvements in Strathpine and Caboolture, and enhancements to low pressure sewer systems in Donnybrook.
Unitywater Executive Manager Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions Mike Basterfield said: “We’re actively planning our projects to cater for the growing population and changing climate and a new overflow structure in Caboolture will help prevent wet weather overflows from impacting the community and environment,”
School tree planting program reaches 90 schools
Ninety schools across Melbourne’s west have planted 3,911 native trees through Greater Western Water’s Trees for Schools program, supporting greener school grounds and reduced stormwater run-off.
Delivered with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, the program has grown from 22 schools in 2021 and provides trees, planting materials and advice.
Greater Western Water General Manager Strategy and Partnerships Kessia Thomson said: “Trees play a crucial role within our water cycle by releasing water vapour that turns into rainfall, helping to strengthen our soil layers with their root systems, which is important for sustainable water management,”
South East Water reaches 300,000 digital meter installations
South East Water has installed more than 300,000 digital meters across Melbourne’s south-east and the Mornington Peninsula, helping customers monitor water use and detect leaks.
By June 2026, the rollout had saved an estimated 4.2 billion litres of drinking water and reduced customer bills by around $19.2 million. Once complete in 2029, the program is expected to save up to five billion litres annually.
South East Water General Manager Digital and Transformation Andrew Forster-Knight said: “We’re innovating with purpose to help our customers manage their water use, avoid bill shock and protect our precious drinking water for the future.”
Want water sector insights delivered weekly? Subscribe to Source, the Australian Water Association's newsletter.