This week in water, innovation is flowing across the sector, with researchers and water authorities unveiling new solutions to long-standing challenges. From a groundbreaking filtration membrane targeting persistent PFAS chemicals to nanotech materials that purify water using sunlight, science continues to drive sustainable outcomes.
Water sector leaders are also being recognised, with South East Water’s Ben Evans awarded Operator of the Year, while VicWater farewells a respected Chair.
Meanwhile, new green spaces, infrastructure upgrades and a major cyanobacteria event round out a week full of momentum. Internationally, the greening of one of the world’s driest deserts highlights climate shifts on a global scale.
Do you want in-depth articles on water trends delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Australian Water Association’s weekly newsletter, Source.
9th Australia and New Zealand Cyanobacteria Workshop
Water Research Australia will soon be calling for abstracts for the 9th Australia and New Zealand Cyanobacteria Workshop, to be held on 23–24 September 2025 at the CSIRO Marine Laboratories in Hobart.
The two-day in-person event will bring together water supply managers, health officials, ecologists and toxicologists to explore the latest in cyanobacterial research and management.
Highlights include five-minute challenge talks, student showcases, an elicitation workshop, and a demonstration of PhytotoxiGene by Diagnostic Technology.
Victorian Operator of the Year named
South East Water’s Ben Evans has been awarded the 2025 WIOA Victorian Operator of the Year, recognising 37 years of dedicated service.
Managing Director Lara Olsen said: “Ben embodies everything that’s great about our organisation and our industry – reliability, teamwork and a deep sense of responsibility in delivering for our customers and community”.
“He’s a mentor to many, a steady hand in a difficult situation, and a highly respected leader at South East Water,” she said.
VicWater farewells outgoing Chair David Middleton
VicWater has farewelled Chair David Middleton, who is stepping down after nearly three years leading the association and Greater Western Water.
During his tenure, Middleton helped steer a new CEO appointment, the launch of a five-year strategy, and stronger collaboration across the Victorian water sector.
VicWater thanked Middleton for “championing our work to make the Victorian water sector ‘Better Together’”.
Researchers warn of a threat to water safety from wildfires
Wildfires in or near urban areas pose the threat of contamination of drinking water, according to water quality and treatment experts from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
The researchers write that: “Authorities in areas of recent wildfires, such as the 2025 Los Angeles fires, should ensure that drinking water is safe by monitoring and mitigating contamination in water distribution systems.
“Over the past decade, more than 50 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including carcinogens such as benzene, have been detected in water distribution systems after wildfires.
“These VOCs likely enter the distribution systems through plastic pipes that have suffered thermal degradation or the infiltration of smoke into depressurised pipes."
New Monash-designed filter removes stubborn PFAS
A Monash University team has developed a new water filtration membrane that removes even the smallest PFAS molecules, a challenge traditional filters often fail to address.
The GO-βCD membrane, developed using graphene oxide and beta-cyclodextrin, filters out and concentrates harmful chemicals while allowing clean water to pass through.
PhD candidate Eubert Mahofa said: “PFAS are difficult to manage because they dissolve easily in water and can spread far from their original source. Our approach solves this by filtering out these harmful chemicals efficiently.”
Pipeline transformed into park at Truganina
Melbourne Water and Wyndham City Council have opened a new community park in Truganina, transforming part of the old Main Outfall Sewer into public open space.
The park features an amphitheatre, garden, and education shelter, forming part of a broader 27-kilometre green corridor project stretching to Werribee.
Melbourne Water Service and Asset Lifecycle Executive General Manager Craig Dixon said: “For more than a century, this pipeline has contributed to the health of generations of Melburnians. It will continue to do so as a new space for amenity and activity”.
Water main upgrade underway in Goolwa South
SA Water has started laying 240 metres of new water main in Goolwa South, as part of its four-year, $287 million water main management program.
Acting GM of Sustainable Infrastructure Peter Seltsikas said: “Our water main replacement program is one of the ways we are proactively working to limit the frequency and impact of leaks and breaks”.
The new PVC pipe is designed for greater flexibility and resistance to soil movement compared to older fibro-cement infrastructure.
Nanotech blankets harness sunlight to clean water
Researchers from The Ohio State University have developed a 3D nanotech blanket that uses sunlight to purify water and generate energy.
Constructed from copper-enhanced titanium dioxide fibres, the nanomats absorb light and break down harmful pollutants in water, offering a new path to solar-powered water treatment.
Lead researcher Pelagia-Iren Gouma said: “There hasn’t been an easy way to create something like a blanket that you can lay on water and start creating energy. But we are the only ones to demonstrate that they actually work”.
Monsoons and pumping drive Thar Desert greening
A new study has linked greening in India’s Thar Desert to increased monsoon rainfall and human-led groundwater pumping.
Published in Cell Reports Sustainability, the research shows how climate change and irrigation have altered vegetation patterns in one of the world’s driest regions.
Led by the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, the study offers insight into how drylands globally are shifting in response to both natural and human-driven changes.
Want in-depth articles on water trends delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Source, the Australian Water Association’s weekly newsletter.