Week in water: updates from across the water community
by Water Source
Australia’s water sector is moving ahead with major infrastructure upgrades, conservation innovation and regional water security programs, while global research highlights both risks and breakthroughs.
This week saw Victoria release a new Water Security Plan, Queensland commit $48 million to overhaul Wivenhoe pumped hydro, and TasWater deliver a national-first for regional communities. Utilities are also investing in innovation, from South East Water’s Fishermans Bend sewer upgrade to Hunter Water’s drone koala survey.
Internationally, new research and technology are reshaping responses to climate and water crises – from mushroom-powered composting toilets in Canada to the drying of the Ganges and ice destabilisation in North America’s Great Lakes.
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National
Floating wetlands offer cost-effective nature-based water treatment
An international study led by Australia's CSIRO and the University of South Australia has endorsed artificial floating wetlands as a sustainable and cost-effective way to improve water quality in rivers, lakes and wastewater systems.
Researchers analysed 11 projects in Australia, Pakistan, Canada and the USA, with capital costs ranging from A$22 to A$3800 per square metre and annual operating costs between A$0.76 and A$274.
Lead author Dr John Awad, CSIRO Research Engineer and UniSA Adjunct Research Fellow, said: “Floating wetlands mimic the functions of natural ecosystems, filtering nutrients and pollutants through plant roots and microbial communities".
"But until now, there’s been limited data on what they actually cost to build, maintain and operate at scale. Our study shows that while costs vary, floating wetlands can be competitive with other engineering treatment options, especially for nitrogen removal.”
Veolia expands mobile water services fleet in Oceania
Veolia is growing its mobile water treatment fleet across Oceania, strengthening its support for mining, municipal and industrial customers.
The expansion, part of the company’s GreenUp program, adds advanced clarification, filtration, reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration technologies to meet needs ranging from emergency response to long-term capacity upgrades.
States and territories
Drones detect koalas in Hunter Water’s backyard
Hunter Water and the University of Newcastle have used drones with thermal and spotlight cameras to survey 2,000 hectares around Grahamstown Dam, confirming a population of endangered koalas still thrives on utility-managed land.
“This project is helping us understand where they’re still surviving in the landscape,” said Dr Daniel Livingston, Hunter Water’s Team Leader Science & Research. “It’s about using innovation to support evidence-based conservation.”
Queensland invests $48m to overhaul Wivenhoe pumped hydro
The Queensland Government will spend $48 million upgrading the state’s only pumped hydro plant at Wivenhoe, operated by CleanCo.
Both 285 MW turbines will be refurbished over the next two years to boost reliability and efficiency, complementing the delayed Kidston pumped hydro project due for completion next year.
Victoria launches new Water Security Plan
The Victorian Government has released a Water Security Plan to ensure affordable and reliable supplies as population growth and climate pressures rise.
Minister for Water Gayle Tierney said: “We’re making sure Victoria continues to have a secure and affordable water supply as our state grows and climate gets drier. We know large-scale projects can take a decade to plan and deliver. That’s why we’re doing the work now to secure affordable and high quality water for generations to come.”
South East Water upgrades sewer network at Fishermans Bend
South East Water is investing $40 million in upgrades to Port Melbourne’s sewer system as part of the Fishermans Bend urban renewal project.
General Manager Charlie Littlefair said: “By 2050, Fishermans Bend is expected to house around 80,000 people, so renewal projects are essential to increase the capacity of the sewerage system to take away more waste for more people.”
TasWater delivers national first for regional communities
TasWater has completed the first project under the federal Water Infrastructure for Sustainable and Efficient Regions (WISER) program, connecting Ellendale to the Fentonbury Water Treatment Plant with a new pipeline and pump station.
TasWater CEO George Theo said: “This is a milestone in our commitment to improving water security for Tasmanians. The community will no longer have to rely on the Jones River for its water supply or cart in water during summer.”
International
World’s first waterless, mushroom-powered toilet unveiled in Canada
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have launched the MycoToilet, a prototype that uses mycelia, the root networks of mushrooms, to turn human waste into nutrient-rich compost.
Project lead Joseph Dahmen, associate professor at UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, said: “We wanted to turn a daily routine everyone knows into a pleasant experience that reminds us of our connection to ecological cycles.”
Ganges River drying at worst levels in 1,300 years
The Ganges River is experiencing its most severe drying in over a millennium, according to research from IIT Gandhinagar and the University of Arizona.
The study found the recent drying from 1991 to 2020 is 76% worse than the previous worst drought in the 16th century, with human activity identified as the primary driver.
