This week in water, Australia’s water sector is turning its attention to long-term drought resilience, with new insights guiding everything from infrastructure planning and community behaviour change to environmental protection.
As fresh warnings emerge around PFAS contamination and climate-linked risk, the sector is also grappling with skills shortages, supply upgrades and community engagement on the ground.
Meanwhile, YouTube’s biggest stars are helping launch one of the world’s largest water campaigns, and cutting-edge digital tech is transforming how sewer networks operate – marking a shift towards more responsive, decentralised systems.
From national policy to neighbourhood infrastructure, the pace and diversity of action across water continues to build.
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Drought planning efforts intensify as rainfall fails to ease risk
Despite recent rain, long-term forecasts remain uncertain – and southern Australia’s drought outlook is growing more severe.
In response, a sector-wide workshop convened by WaterRA, IWN and VicWater has mapped critical research gaps across five priority areas, from low-flow water quality and recycled water risk to community trust, climate-smart infrastructure planning and catchment resilience.
Key themes include the need for better data on pathogen persistence in reuse schemes, stronger social media-informed behaviour change campaigns, and clearer triggers for investment in drought response infrastructure. The insights are expected to guide future research collaborations and policy interventions.
Productivity Commission calls for faster net zero transition
An interim report from the Productivity Commission urges governments to accelerate clean energy infrastructure approvals, fix gaps in emissions incentives and introduce a resilience-rating system for housing.
The report is the second in a five-part inquiry and identifies practical reforms to support Australia’s net zero transformation while keeping costs down.
PFAS experts push for stronger regulation and better tech
As the Commonwealth’s Select Committee on PFAS prepares to release its final report, Monash University experts are calling for tougher regulation and smarter removal methods.
Researchers are trialling the use of nanobubbles and next-gen filtration to trap and remove PFAS, while also calling on chemical manufacturers to rethink how substances are approved and assessed.
“Policy decisions can’t keep waiting for harm to be proven,” said Professor Rico Tabor. “PFAS is just one example – many chemicals in use today haven’t been shown to be safe, only that we haven’t yet seen the damage.”
qldwater snapshot flags urgent workforce challenges
Queensland’s 2024 Urban Water Workforce Snapshot reveals a sector under pressure, with gender diversity gaps, training system limitations, and high vacancy rates driving burnout and safety risks – especially in regional councils.
Only 10% of the operational workforce are women, and just 2% hold supervisory roles. qldwater is calling for major reform, including new apprenticeship pathways and more flexible training options to future-proof the sector.
South Australia completes vital Morgan pipeline upgrades
A statewide collaboration by SA Water teams has delivered major upgrades to the Morgan to Whyalla Pipeline, replacing a crossover valve critical to isolating sections for repair. The 358km trunk main supplies drinking water to over 130,000 homes and businesses across the Barossa, Mid North, Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas.
“This proactive replacement improves performance and reliability, while ensuring water supply can be maintained during unplanned repairs,” said Senior Manager Colin Bell.
Traralgon basin construction secures future supply
Gippsland Water has commenced construction on a new 50-megalitre treated water basin in Traralgon, following the award of an $8.3 million contract. Managing Director Sarah Cumming said the project is part of a broader upgrade program to meet growing summer demand in the region.
“This new basin will provide additional storage to meet peak day demand without needing to upgrade the treatment plant,” she said.
Boil Water Advisory lifted in Frankston South
South East Water has confirmed the water in Frankston South is safe to drink following a precautionary boil water advisory affecting 1,200 homes. The advisory was issued after a faulty valve triggered water quality concerns, now resolved.
Customers have been credited $90 to cover the inconvenience.
“We don’t issue these advisories lightly – customer health and safety will always be our number one priority,” said Service Delivery GM Tim Lloyd.
South East Water backs homelessness support in St Kilda
To mark Homelessness Week, South East Water has announced grants for two food relief organisations in St Kilda – Christ Church Mission and Sacred Heart Mission. Funding will be used for new kitchen equipment and large-scale cooking tools, boosting their capacity to serve healthy meals to locals in need.
“Community groups are the heart of our communities,” said GM Strategy and Stakeholder Karen Lau. “Their dedication makes such a difference.”
TasWater celebrates industry excellence in Devonport
TasWater hosted the 2025 WIOA Water Main Tapping Competition and IXOM Best Tasting Water Competition in Devonport this week, spotlighting the skill and teamwork behind Tasmania’s water operations.
The day featured live water main tapping challenges and a blind taste test of tap water from across the state – with Fern Tree water once again aiming for the national title.
“This is a celebration of the often-unseen people who deliver great-tasting, high-quality water every day,” said GM Brendan Windmeyer.
MrBeast and Mark Rober launch global #TeamWater campaign
YouTube giants Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) and Mark Rober have teamed up with WaterAid to launch #TeamWater – a creator-led initiative aiming to raise $40 million by 31 August to bring clean water to 2 million people.
The campaign harnesses the reach of over 84 countries’ worth of creators, uniting internet fandoms behind a clean water mission. “We’ve seen the power of the internet when it rallies behind a cause,” the duo said in a joint statement. “Now, we’re taking on clean water.”
New Zealand rolls out edge-intelligent sewer network
Watercare in Auckland is deploying 5,000 edge-based sewer level monitors to manage blockages and system failures in real time. The rollout uses AI-powered local processing to speed up alerts and reduce reliance on cloud systems.
“What’s unique is where the intelligence lives,” said Smart Systems Manager Dave Moore. “We’re enabling the network to respond faster, closer to the source of the issue.”
Dam removal restores stream ecosystem in three years
A study from the New York State Water Resources Institute has found that a small dam removal resulted in full ecological recovery of a stream within three years – a timeline that surprised even researchers.
The findings support broader interest in dam removal as a means to restore aquatic habitats and improve long-term water quality and fish passage.
“The resilience of nature is incredible,” said lead author Jeremy Dietrich. “We can reproduce these results elsewhere.”
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