This week’s water community activity spans fundraising for clean water access, new approaches to water conservation and infrastructure investment to strengthen services and protect waterways.
Updates include wastewater upgrades in Tasmania and Western Australia, student-led water solutions in the Northern Territory and research into groundwater losses in the Colorado River Basin.
Walk for Water brings water sector together for clean water access
WaterAid Australia’s Walk for Water invited Australians to walk, run or ride over five days during National Water Week, raising awareness and funds for communities without access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.
With 696 million people globally still living without clean water close to home, the event highlighted the long distances many women and girls travel to collect water, affecting education, employment and health.
WaterAid Australia Chief Executive Tom Muller said: “The support of the water sector is absolutely vital in our mission to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to clean water. Their commitment, through events like Walk for Water, demonstrates the power of collaboration in tackling the global water crisis and creating lasting change for communities most in need.”
Coorong research examines changing harmful algal bloom risks
Flinders University-led research has identified salinity and water levels as major influences on phytoplankton communities in South Australia’s Coorong, helping inform management under changing climate conditions.
Combining sampling with 16 years of historical data, researchers found more than 80 species capable of producing toxins, although harmful bloom-forming species were present at low levels overall.
Flinders University Professor Sophie Leterme said: “High-nutrient and low-salinity conditions can promote cyanobacterial blooms, while drought-driven, high-salinity conditions can increase the risk of harmful dinoflagellate blooms,”
Community restores habitat at Beremboke sanctuary
Hundreds of native trees and shrubs have been planted at the Sanctuary of Sentient Beings in Beremboke, supported by Greater Western Water’s Thriving Communities grants program.
The Rewilding and Living Habitat Restoration project is improving habitat and local waterway health on the property adjoining Brisbane Ranges National Park, with further planting and restoration planned.
Sanctuary of Sentient Beings President and Co-founder Jodie Musto said: “For us, rewilding is about giving nature the space and opportunity to flourish. We are planting native trees and shrubs to extend habitat and strengthen the connection between the Brisbane Ranges National Park, the Sanctuary and an important local water source.”
Digital meters reveal hidden leaks in one in 10 households
Unitywater data shows 10.3% of customers with digital water meters have experienced a hidden leak, with 6,613 affected households identified between 2021 and August 2026.
More than 4,600 additional digital meters are scheduled for installation across Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa in October. The devices provide daily water use data, helping Unitywater identify unusual continuous consumption and notify customers.
Unitywater Executive Manager Customer Experience Katherine Gee said: “This technology means we can notify customers sooner of potential leaks at their property to help them save money in lost water that would otherwise appear on their water bill,”
Hunter Water launches campaign to encourage everyday water savings
Hunter Water has launched its Do Less, Save Lots water conservation campaign, encouraging households to adopt simple habits that reduce demand on the Lower Hunter’s water supply.
Launched alongside National Water Week, the campaign promotes four-minute showers, watering before 10am or after 4pm, using trigger nozzles and sweeping hard surfaces instead of hosing them.
Hunter Water Executive Manager Strategy and Engagement David Derkenne said: “Small actions taken by individuals, households and businesses can collectively make a significant difference in helping secure our water future,”
Hobart water main burst highlights ageing infrastructure challenge
TasWater restored water services following a burst main at the intersection of Bathurst and Argyle streets in Hobart, with preliminary investigations indicating the pipe was approximately 100 years old.
The burst damaged road pavement and traffic signal infrastructure, requiring traffic management while repairs and reinstatement works were undertaken. TasWater advised that it did not anticipate ongoing water service impacts for surrounding businesses or customers.
The incident highlights the challenge of maintaining ageing infrastructure, with TasWater planning to invest $1.2 billion in water and sewer upgrades across Tasmania over the next four years.
Completed sewer upgrades strengthen Tamar estuary health
A $129.2 million sewerage infrastructure project is complete in Launceston, with upgrades expected to reduce sewage and stormwater overflows into the Kanamaluka/Tamar estuary by almost 60% in an average rainfall year.
Delivered under the Tamar Estuary River Health Action Plan, works include a 10 million litre covered storage facility, pump station improvements and a three-kilometre pipeline beneath the estuary.
TasWater General Manager Project Delivery Tony Willmott said: “The true measure of success won't be the kilometres of pipe we installed or the size of the storage facilities we've built. It will be a cleaner, healthier waterway that future generations can enjoy.”
Ultra Walk links Melbourne utilities for WaterAid appeal
An 83.3-kilometre Ultra Walk for Water was scheduled for 22-23 October, connecting Melbourne’s four metropolitan water utilities and targeting $10,000 for WaterAid Australia.
Sequana’s Zoe Walsh, Inside Water’s Chris Edwards and Finao’s Terry Down planned to complete the full route, with sector colleagues joining individual legs between South East Water, Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water and Greater Western Water.
Inside Water’s Chris Edwards said: “The Ultra Walk gives our industry a chance to come together around something fundamental: access to clean water and sanitation. By taking on the full distance and having people from across the sector join us along the route, we hope to build awareness, start conversations and raise meaningful funds for WaterAid.”
Subiaco wastewater upgrade planning supports future housing
An initial $105 million investment will fund detailed design, engineering and site preparation for a major upgrade of Perth’s Subiaco Water Resource Recovery Facility.
The proposed upgrade would increase treatment capacity by around 23 million litres a day, supporting 60,000 future homes while improving treatment quality and opportunities for water recycling. Engineering investigations will also consider advanced odour control systems.
Western Australian Water Minister Daniel Pastorelli said: “This $105 million investment is the next step in creating more opportunities to recycle water and reduce demand on our drinking water supplies while supporting 60,000 future homes.”
Territory students showcase water-saving ideas
Power and Water’s 11th annual That’s My Water! Expo showcased student ideas ranging from water-saving web applications to floating solar panels and models of future water storage.
Around 1,100 students from nine Greater Darwin schools participated in the program this year. Earlier school leak detection activities saved an estimated 22.5 million litres across three schools, equivalent to almost $55,000.
Power and Water Water Education Specialist Katie Grimshaw said: “One of the things we really want students to take away is that every drop counts, but also that there's a whole lot of science, engineering and innovation involved in delivering safe, reliable water.”
Eyre Peninsula desalination tunnel complete as timeframe revised
SA Water has completed a 440-metre marine tunnel for the Eyre Peninsula desalination plant, with first water now expected by the end of June 2027 after harder-than-expected granite delayed construction.
The plant will supply up to 5.3 billion litres annually to around 35,000 people. SA Water expects higher project costs and has extended water efficiency rebates through the 2026-27 financial year.
SA Water General Manager of Sustainable Infrastructure Peter Seltsikas said: “Importantly, we do not foresee the need to introduce water restrictions due to this revised timeframe, with our groundwater allocation for 2026-27, together with supply from the River Murray, sufficient to meet customer demands through to the plant’s commissioning.”
Farm visit showcases recycled water use in East Gippsland
East Gippsland Water has welcomed the Bairnsdale BEEFLAMM Group to its Kalimna West recycled water farm, sharing how treated water from Lakes Entrance supports pasture irrigation and cropping.
Discussions covered farm management, soil remediation and the long-term benefits of recycled water irrigation. Approximately 650 cattle are expected across the organisation’s Paynesville, Kalimna West and Metung farms in October, alongside silage production.
The farming operations produce livestock feed while providing an environmentally responsible outlet for recycled water. East Gippsland Water has also donated hay from its properties to support drought-affected Victorian farming communities.
South East Water redesigns bills with customer input
South East Water is introducing redesigned customer bills following almost 12 months of research, design and testing, with more than 165 customers participating in prototype testing.
The new layout makes amounts owing, payment due dates and support information more prominent, while simplifying account summaries and reducing clutter. A customer information campaign will accompany the rollout.
South East Water Acting General Manager Customer Experience Bryony Grice said: “A water bill is one of the most important communications we send our customers, so it needs to be clear, simple and easy to understand,”
Research reveals accelerating Colorado River Basin groundwater losses
Virginia Tech research has identified accelerating groundwater depletion in the Colorado River Basin after 2019, with the Upper Basin experiencing greater losses than the Lower Basin during the severe 2020-22 drought.
Using satellite measurements and water storage estimates from 2004 to 2023, researchers estimated Upper Basin groundwater losses of 17.4 trillion litres during the drought, compared with 9.5 trillion litres in the Lower Basin.
Virginia Tech geosciences graduate student and lead author Esther Oyedele said: “I did not expect to see so much groundwater loss there during the recent drought. What surprised me even more was that groundwater did not track surface-water shortages in the same way in the Upper and Lower Basins.”
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