Week in water: updates from across the water community

This week in water, scientists are turning their attention below the canopy to better understand how native vegetation uses water during floods and droughts. In New South Wales, a new digital tool offers communities greater transparency over water planning, while Queensland’s refill van continues to deliver environmental and economic wins. 

Tasmania has unveiled a new education initiative to engage students with water sustainability, and internationally, leaders and researchers are focused on water resilience – from policy settings in Europe to deep-ocean efforts to track microplastic pollution. 

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States and territories 

Keeping tabs on native vegetation in times of flood and drought 
Australia’s native forests face the dual pressures of drought and flooding, prompting researchers to develop more advanced tools to manage their water needs.  

A new study led by Flinders University is working to improve estimates of water use by understorey vegetation – the plants and shrubs beneath forest canopies – to support better woodland management. 

Researchers tested a new method to measure evapotranspiration (ET) in the understorey at two different rainfall locations in South Australia. ET, which returns water from soil and plants to the atmosphere, is a key part of the terrestrial water cycle, but difficult to measure in areas below the treetops. 

“Woodland understorey ET is difficult to monitor using conventional methods,” said Professor Huade Guan, from the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training at Flinders University. “Our latest study tested a new method of measuring understorey evapotranspiration in floodplains and catchment areas.” 

NSW launches statewide map of water plans and projects 
Communities across New South Wales can now access a new interactive map that brings together all current water plans, infrastructure projects, funding initiatives and community engagement events in one place. 

Published by the Water Group within the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the platform allows users to zoom into their region to see what’s underway and what’s being planned. 

The department said it hopes the tool will make it easier for stakeholders to stay informed about projects that affect their region and understand when and how they can participate. 

Refill van avoids 344 plastic bottles at netball game 
Unitywater’s Drink Tap van has helped netball fans stay cool and plastic-free, dispensing 172 litres of fresh tap water at a Sunshine Coast Lightning home game – the equivalent of 344 avoided single-use bottles. 

Executive Manager Strategic Engagement Joshua Zugajev said the van is equipped with a digital meter to track water use and calculate the environmental benefit. 

“This means we can track how many single-use water bottles have been avoided – a great outcome for people’s wallets and the environment,” he said. “Choosing to fill up your reusable water bottle at the tap prevents more single-use plastic water bottles contributing to this figure.” 

The van will appear at events across the region in the coming months, including Pasifika Vibes Festival in May, Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show in June, and Moreton Bay Eco-Fest in November. 

Tasmania launches Water Guardians education initiative 
TasWater has launched a suite of custom educational resources aimed at inspiring Tasmanian students to become Water Guardians. The new program, hosted on a dedicated website, includes three storybooks that will soon be distributed to every primary school across the state. 

The launch event took place on 1 May at Waterworks Reserve in Dynnyrne, with students and TasWater’s environment team on hand to celebrate the new resources. TasWater General Manager Customer and Community Matt Balfe led the launch, which aims to empower young people to protect Tasmania’s water future. 

Yarra Valley Water brings bill support to local libraries
Yarra Valley Water customers can now get financial advice and support while borrowing a book, with pop-up stands at Craigieburn, Glenroy and Lalor libraries throughout May and June.

The water utility’s financial support team will be on hand to help customers apply for payment assistance, including up to 50 per cent off bills for Pension and Concession Card holders and up to $650 in Utility Relief Grants for eligible customers.

Chief Financial Officer Natalie Foeng said: “We know times are tough, and we're here to help. Our dedicated financial support team is heading into the community to assist customers with concessions, payment plans, and government grants.”

“Our team can often help on the spot with savings for eligible customers or easier ways to pay, so we’re encouraging everyone to drop in and talk with us,” she said.

International 

Water Europe engages EU leaders on resilience and skills 
Water Europe has held a series of high-level meetings with members of several European Commissioners’ cabinets throughout April, continuing its push to embed water resilience into the continent’s economic and social strategies. 

Topics included integrating water-related skills development into the EU’s Pact for Skills and positioning water resilience as central to economic competitiveness and regional cohesion. 

Scientists map microplastics through the world’s oceans 
In a major global research effort, scientists have mapped how microplastics move through critical ocean systems – from the surface to the deep sea. 

Led by an international team including researchers from Florida Atlantic University, the study synthesised data from 1,885 sites collected over ten years, examining plastic fragments ranging from 1 micron to 5 millimetres. 

Unlike earlier studies that focused on surface samples, this research tracked how microplastics behave at different depths, shedding new light on where they accumulate and how they affect marine ecosystems. 

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