wqra annual report 2009 - 2010

Water Quality Research Australia Limited

Annual Report

2009 - 2010

The Financial Report Covers:

Water Quality Research Australia LimitedABN 32 127 974 261ACN 127 974 261

Registered Trading Address:

Level 3, SA Water House,250 Victoria Square, Adelaide 5000

GPO Box 1751, Adelaide SA 5001

Telephone: +61 8 7424 2447

Fax: + 61 8 7003 2447

Email: [email protected]

www.wqra.com.au

Contents

Chairman’s Report 2

Acting CEO’s Report 3

Executive Summary 5

1. Acknowledgement of Contributions 6

2. About WQRA 8

3. WQRA Research Programs 11

4. Drinking Water Research Program 19

5. Wastewater Research Program 29

6. Recycled Water Research Program 33

7. WQRA Education Program 35

8. Marketing and Communication 40

9. Corporate Services 49

10. National and International Alliances 50

11. Transition from CRCWQT 52

12. Financial Report 56

13. Independent Auditor’s Report 77

2 | Water Quality Research Australia Ltd Annual Report 2009-2010

Chairman’s Report

Michael R. Moore

The financial year 2009/10 has been an excellent year for WQRA. In this early phase of operations we have invested in a balanced portfolio of research projects within each of our research programs, Drinking Water,

Recycled Water and Wastewater. These projects have encompassed novel and innovative lines of research which fit into the strategic goals articulated by the membership this year. These are complemented by our Education Program. WQRA has continued to expand membership over the year and a warm welcome is extended to all new members.

The environment in which we operate has continued to evolve. Centres of Excellence in desalination and water recycling have been established. We have sought engagement with these centres and cooperative development is planned to promote knowledge transfer. Our continuing objective is to collaborate with all those working in the water quality arena and to develop joint programs where this is possible.

We continue to select strategic research projects and have placed them in our robust project management scheme. This has meant that progress in each of our programs has been dynamic.

Our financial strategy of seeking parallel funding from the research councils has borne dividends with a substantial number of grants awarded, achieving a leverage of around 4:1 on WQRA investment. We will pursue this strategy again next year and encourage the membership to make early plans for submission of grants to avail themselves of WQRA support in their preparation.

This is only one component of our strategy for 2010 to 2015, which is currently in preparation. As always the Board has sought to make this a membership-driven process, where renewal of our strategic aims depends upon members’ input and Board leadership for their adoption. A similar process will be pursued in the foreshadowed amendment to the constitution.

One ongoing strategic aim has been to create, build and maintain the community of water research scientists. Our commitment and contribution to training young water science professionals is clearly shown in the various initiatives that we have provided as well as the new mentoring scheme. These will continue in the future.

In this year we announced the first recipients of the prestigious WQRA Nancy Millis Scholarship – Jeremy Hartley from Curtin University and Jane-Louise Lampard from Griffith University. Significant benefits of these scholarships are not only in the monies provided but also in the networking links they carry with them to industry and research groups.

Our international engagement continues with the Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC) and International Water Association (IWA) as well as individual organisations in a number of countries. This year we thank Dr Frans Schulting for his contribution to our Scientific Advisory Committee and Professor Geoff Codd for his presentation on cyanobacteria. We benefit from the input of these organisations and individuals as they do from the research conducted in Australia.

In Australia a cooperative dialogue continues with a number of groups including the Water Services Association of Australia, the Urban Water Security Alliance and the Centre of Excellence for Water Recycling. As always our ultimate objective, seen in our Vision statement, is to “ensure safe water for Australians”. To achieve this goal we aim to work with all who aspire to the provision of quality research, education and training in water quality. We also aspire to attracting all eligible organisations to membership of WQRA. Where this is not possible, we still seek to engage with these organisations in our research objectives.

A key concept currently gathering momentum is “Cities of the Future”. The topic was discussed at length at Ozwater’10 in March this year (and will continue at the IWA Meeting in September 2010). Water Quality remains a key topic in a program that seeks to establish integrated management of our stretched resources, including drinking water and management of wastewater in future city environments. The research carried out by WQRA will contribute to this international debate.

As always my personal thanks for engagement and support goes to our membership, the Board, our sister organisations and the secretariat. Our CEO Jodieann Dawe, now on maternity leave (welcome Charlotte), has been ably supported by Michele Akeroyd as Acting CEO. The team in Adelaide (and Melbourne) has successfully managed WQRA business and supported the membership throughout the year, guaranteeing sound future prospects for WQRA.

Professor Michael Ritchie Moore

August 2010

Water Quality Research Australia Ltd Annual Report 2009-2010 | 3

Acting CEO’s Report

Despite improved rainfall in some areas of Australia, water security in response to climate change and population growth continues to be a major focus for all Australians, as demonstrated by the significant investment in

water initiatives at both the federal and state levels. While much of the emphasis has been on water quantity, water quality can never be taken for granted. Through its members, Water Quality Research Australia is bringing together key water research groups, regulators and industry to conduct targeted, priority research to address current and emerging public health issues in water quality.

Water Quality Research Australia was officially launched in August 2008. In now the second year of operations, the focus has been on continuing to strengthen the company foundations, to ensure a sustainable and efficient organisation that is able to provide value to its members and the Australian water community. The last 12 months have been a very productive time as WQRA has articulated its vision, mission and strategic aims, established its research portfolio – in excess of $50 million of value leveraged from a WQRA investment of $5 million, consolidated the education program initiatives and, most importantly, engaged with members and key stakeholders to continue to review the strategic priorities that need to be addressed both now and in the years ahead.

The establishment of the initial WQRA research portfolio has been a core objective during the year. The short-listed concepts prioritised by Members in November 2008 have all been reviewed by WQRA. In addition, WQRA has established a funding mechanism to support its research Members in their application to the ARC Linkage scheme. So far, WQRA projects have a 50% success rate with the ARC. A number of other collaborative opportunities have also been pursued, such as the Victorian Smart Water Fund, Water Research Foundation and NHMRC, where WQRA seed funding supports a larger project proposal. Issues- based workshops on decentralised systems and Cryptosporidium have been held to help inform the next round of WQRA investment in its core research program for 2010/2011.

The WQRA Education Program continues to be strengthened through its Summers, Honours and PhD initiatives. Building capacity and capability of young professionals in the water research area is critical as the water industry faces staff and skills shortage within the next 5 - 10 years. Targeted at budding undergraduate researchers, the third successful Summer Scholarships reporting seminar was held in Sydney, Feb 2010, with 8 students presenting on a wide range of industry related research topics. The Nancy Millis PhD Scholarship is awarded annually to exceptional students in the WQRA PhD program. In 2009/10 two Nancy Millis PhD Scholarships were awarded. There were also three new PhD students who commenced under the WQRA PhD Initiative. In the coming years, WQRA aims to build the Education Program so that it continues to provide high quality, motivated and trained researchers to the water industry.

The membership is the backbone of WQRA and two-way engagement with members is critical to the success of the research programs and WQRA. Therefore a key focus has been to ensure that WQRA is aware of the organisational needs of members, as well as determine how WQRA can continue to support members through research. Communication and engagement with members has been through many channels including meetings, newsletters, website and company visits.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the enthusiasm and dedication of the WQRA directors, the members of the Board Advisory Committees, the Project Review Team and the Education Committee. Input from these members and key stakeholders provides invaluable support to WQRA in determining the research direction and ensuring the governance and integrity of WQRA operations.

The heart of WQRA is the talented and dedicated team who are passionate and committed to delivering results for members. I would like to recognise the WQRA team, in particular for their support over the last few months whilst Jodieann has been enjoying motherhood. The achievements and successes that are outlined in this 2009-2010 Annual Report are truly a team effort.

Michele Akeroyd

Acting CEO

Acting CEO Michele Akeroyd


WQRA is pleased to present this Annual Report of activities and achievements of the 2009/10 financial year.

ü Growth of the WQRA family with seven new members – GHD, ChemCentre, Syme and Nancarrow Water, University of Newcastle, National Measurement Institute, Cradle Mountain Water, Water Futures

ü Articulation of WQRA’s Vision, Mission and Aims (Aug 2009) to encapsulate what WQRA will strive to achieve for its members

ü Successful negotiation, development and commencement of the foundation WQRA Research portfolio

ü WQRA’s Chief Operating Officer was appointed in September 2009, to take charge of the corporate services function, focusing primarily on financial and administrative support for the Programs, and support for the WQRA Board. This appointment separates out much of the administrative burden of the company business, borne largely by the CEO to that point.

ü Four successful grant applications to Smart Water Fund Victoria

ü Five projects awarded funding through the Australian Research Council Linkage program

ü Successful establishment and funding of projects with the Water Research Foundation

ü Successful negotiation of a project for funding with the WateReuse Research Foundation.

ü Assisted NSW agencies in organising and co-hosting the first National Cyanobacterial Workshop in Sydney, Aug 2009

ü Awarded the Nancy Millis PhD Scholarship to two exceptional post-graduate students (Feb and May 2010)

ü A high quality and stimulating Education Program Summer Scholarship reporting seminar held in Feb 2010

ü Five new WQRA PhD students selected

ü Finalisation of the Global Water Research Coalition-commissioned International Management Guide for the Management of toxic Cyanobacteria (April 2010)

ü The second WQRA AGM was held in Adelaide, (Nov 2009)

ü Completion and electronic publishing of all but one Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment Final Report

Executive Summary

Building CapabilityBuild capacity and capability to enable high quality

research to support the Australian Water Community and facilitate knowledge transfer and uptake of research outcomes to mitigate risk and deliver value/benefits

for Members

Scientific Evidence Provide scientific evidence to underpin the rolling review

of guidelines relating to safe drinking water and recycled water

CollaborationDevelop and implement the research strategic plan to address water quality issues of national significance in collaboration with Members and other key stakeholders

AdvocacyPromote importance on the national agenda of safe

water to the Australian community

Vision: The trusted provider of scientific evidence needed to ensure safe water for Australians

Mission: To lead and facilitate high quality and collaborative research of national significance and to

promote implementation of research outcomes to address current and emerging public health issues

in water quality


Acknowledgements

1. Acknowledgement of Contributions

1.1 General

WQRA’s ability to deliver a useful and high quality research portfolio owes much to the commitment and generosity of the collaborators within our membership, and from non-member organisations, who serve on our advisory committees, and particularly the Project Review Team.

Whether travelling to meetings or participating in teleconferences from across the country, these talented individuals give their valuable time to help WQRA to fulfil its goals.

In recognition, WQRA thanks all those who participated on the panels and committees listed in Tables 1 and 2 below.

Table 1: WQRA committee and Project Review Team members

Drinking Water Steering CommitteeAndrew Humpage (Australian Water Quality Centre)Amy Dysart (Power and Water Corporation)

Wastewater/Recycled Water Steering CommitteeJudy Blackbeard (Melbourne Water)Heather Chapman (Griffith University)

Project Review TeamAndrew Humpage – Chair (Australian Water Quality Centre)

Judy Blackbeard (Melbourne Water)Heather Chapman (Griffith University)Amy Dysart (Power and Water Corporation)Martha Sinclair (Monash University)Rino Trolio (Water Corporation of WA) Penny Knights (Sydney Catchment Authority) Brian Spies (Sydney Catchment Authority)

Education Program CommitteeFelicity Roddick (RMIT University) - Chair

Dennis Mulcahy (University of South Australia)Kathryn Linge (Curtin University)Richard Stuetz (University of New South Wales)Rita Henderson (University of New South Wales)Asoka Jayaratne (Yarra Valley Water)Chris Saint (Australian Water Quality Centre)Glen Shaw (Griffith University)Paul Atherton (Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water)Simon Groves (Hunter Water)

During 2009/10 Brian Spies retired from the Project Review Team, and Glen Shaw and Richard Stuetz stepped down from the Education Committee. We thank them for their time and dedication.

Richard Stuetz

Glen Shaw

Brian Spies


Acknowledgements

1.2 Regulatory and Scientific Advisory Committees

In addition to regular consultation with members to ensure that new and changing priorities are captured in the research portfolio, WQRA has assembled two high level Board Advisory Committees - Scientific and Regulatory - which will provide direction and advice to the WQRA Board in these two critical areas.

Table 2: WQRA Board Advisory committee members

WQRA Board Regulatory Advisory CommitteeJan Bowman - Chair (Department of Human Services, Victoria)

Sophie Dwyer (Queensland Health and Forensic Services)Vesna Cvjeticanin (National Health and Medical Research Council)David Cunliffe (Department of Health, SA)Paul Byleveld (New South Wales Department of Health)David Sheehan (Department of Human Services, Victoria)Xavier Schobben (Northern Territory Department Health & Families)

WQRA Board Scientific Advisory CommitteeJohn Howard – Chair (Australian Water Quality Centre)

Nancy Millis (University of Melbourne)Adam Lovell (Water Services Association of Australia)Don Bursill (Chair Water Quality Advisory Committee - National Health and Medical Research Council)Ian Falconer (University of Adelaide)Frans Schulting (Global Water Research Coalition)

1.3 Hosting Support for WQRA

WQRA is grateful to the South Australian Water Corporation for its support as the WQRA host organisation. SA Water’s significant in-kind contribution includes office space in SA Water House - a six star, green star facility in the Adelaide CBD - meeting room facilities, IT support services and access to office equipment. The central location in Adelaide makes the building an attractive and convenient base for nearly all WQRA staff as well as visiting WQRA members.

WQRA is also grateful to Water Services Association of Australia, which provides office space and support for the Program Manager Wastewater/Recycled Water, David Halliwell, who is based in Melbourne.

WQRA thanks the Smart Water Centre at Griffith University Gold Coast Campus for providing office space for the Chair of the Board, Professor Michael R Moore.

Finally, WQRA is indebted to the many members around the country who have made facilities, assistance and the expertise of their staff available for meetings during the year.

SA Water House, Victoria Square, Adelaide


About WQRA

2. About WQRAWQRA is a not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee, which is wholly owned and funded by its members who include Australian utilities, research organisations, private sector companies and government departments.

In August 2009 the WQRA Board held a Strategic Planning Workshop at which they discussed the way forward for WQRA and laid down their blueprint for the next few years. The Board articulated the following Vision, Mission and Aims to help focus WQRA’s endeavours.

2.1 Vision, Mission and Aims

Vision: The trusted provider of scientific evidence needed to ensure safe water for Australians

Mission Statement: To lead and facilitate high quality and collaborative research of national significance and to promote implementation of research outcomes to address current and emerging public health issues in water quality

Strategic Aims (2010 – 2015)

1. Building Capability Build capacity and capability to enable high quality research to support the Australian Water Community and facilitate knowledge transfer and uptake of research outcomes to mitigate risk and deliver value/benefits for members

2. ScientificEvidence Provide scientific evidence to underpin the rolling review of guidelines relating to safe drinking water and recycled water

3. Collaboration Develop and implement the research strategic plan to address water quality issues of national significance in collaboration with members and other key stakeholders

4. Advocacy Promote importance, on the national agenda, of safe water to the Australian community

WQRA acknowledges the need for strategic consultation to obtain timely and relevant advice on emerging issues and effective approaches to current issues. Two Board advisory committees - scientific and regulatory were established in 2008. The members of the advisory committees are nationally and internationally recognised and bring a high level of expertise to WQRA and its members.

WQRA focuses on coordinating and managing collaborative research of national application on behalf of Australian water utilities and suppliers to enable them to address issues in drinking water quality from both traditional and new sources including reuse water, utilisation of reuse water and aspects of wastewater management. WQRA brings together key water research groups and industry members across Australia to conduct targeted, priority research. These relationships place WQRA in a unique position to rapidly address current and emerging issues in public health and water quality.

Some of the highlights for WQRA this year were:

• Articulation of WQRA’s Vision, Mission and Aims (Aug 2009)

• Expansion of the membership with seven new WQRA members

• Establishment of the WQRA Foundation Research portfolio

• Four successful grant applications to Smart Water Fund Victoria

• Five projects awarded funding through the Australian Research Council Linkage program

• Assisted with co-hosting first National Cyanobacterial Workshop in Sydney in Aug 2009

• Awarding the Nancy Millis PhD Scholarship to two exceptional post-graduate students (Feb and May 2010)

• Annual Education Program Summer Scholarship reporting seminar held in Feb 2010

• Five new WQRA PhD students selected

• Finalisation of the International Management Guide for the Management of toxic Cyanobacteria to Global Water Research Coalition (April 2010)

• Second WQRA AGM held in Adelaide, (Nov 2009)


About WQRA

2.2 WQRA staff during 2009/10

Michele Akeroyd – Program Manager, Drinking Water, Acting CEO (from April 10)Philip Auckland – Chief Operating Officer (from Sep 09)Priscilla Barry – Administrative Officer (Jul 09 - Oct 09)Carolyn Bellamy – Education Program CoordinatorJodieann Dawe – Chief Executive Officer (maternity leave from April 2010)Fred Fleuren – Senior Finance OfficerAngela Gackle – Marketing and Communication ManagerDavid Halliwell – Program Manager, Wastewater/Recycled WaterSteve Papp – Publications Coordinator (Jul 09 - Dec 09)Gareth Roeszler – Project Administrator (from March 10)Susan Spragg – Executive Assistant to the CEO

WQRA MembersOrganisation - Industry Organisation - Research Organisation - GeneralAustralian Water Association LtdBarwon Region Water CorporationBen Lomond WaterCentral Gippsland Regional Water CorporationCentral Highlands WaterCity West Water LtdColiban Region Water CorporationCradle Mountain WaterDegrémont Pty LtdDepartment of Health, VictoriaGoulburn Valley Regional Water CorporationGrampians Wimmera Mallee Water CorporationHunter Water CorporationMelbourne Water CorporationPower & Water CorporationSouth Australian Water CorporationSouth East Water LimitedSydney Catchment AuthorityUnited Water International Pty LtdWannon Region Water CorporationWater Corporation of Western AustraliaYarra Valley Water Ltd

Australian Water Quality CentreCentre for Appropriate TechnologyChemCentreCurtin University of TechnologyFlinders UniversityGriffith UniversityMonash UniversityMurdoch UniversityNational Measurement InstituteRMIT UniversityUniversity of AdelaideUniversity of NewcastleUniversity of New South WalesUniversity of QueenslandUniversity of South AustraliaUniversity of Technology, SydneyUniversity of WollongongVictoria University

Department of Water Western AustraliaGHDLower Murray Urban and Rural Water CorporationNew South Wales Department of HealthSyme and Nancarrow WaterWater Futures

2.3 Members of WQRA

There are three categories of membership for WQRA – General, Industry and Research. Industry members fall into one of three bands according to their size, with corresponding differences in the level of financial contribution and voting rights for determination of research priorities. At 30 June 2010 WQRA had 46 members (see Table 3) comprising 22 Industry, 18 Research and 6 General members. During the year WQRA gained the following new member organisations: University of Newcastle, National Measurement Institute, ChemCentre, GHD, Syme and Nancarrow Water, Cradle Mountain Water and Water Futures.

Table 3: WQRA Member Organisations


Name Title Organisation

Prof Michael Ritchie Moore ChairMr Keith Cadee General Manager, Acquisition

GroupWater Corporation of Western Australia

Ms Jodieann Dawe CEO Water Quality Research Australia Dr Michele Akeroyd (Alternate Director from May 2009 while Acting CEO)

Acting CEO Water Quality Research Australia

Dr Dharma Dharmabalan Executive Manager, Planning Coliban WaterMs Anne Dorothy Howe Chief Executive South Australian Water CorporationDr John Rushton Howard Head, AWQC and SA Water

Head, Water Quality and Environment

Australian Water Quality Centre

Prof Simon Beecham Director, SA Water Centre for Water Management and Reuse

University of South Australia

Prof David Waite Head, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of New South Wales

Ms Janette Anne Bowman Assistant Director, Health Protection Branch

Department of Health (Vic), Division of Wellbeing, Integrated Care & Ageing

Board Members (L-R): Jodieann Dawe (CEO), Phil Auckland (COO), Keith Cadee, Michael R Moore (Chair), Simon Beecham, Jan Bowman, Michele Akeroyd (Acting CEO), Anne Howe, David Waite. Inset Dharma Dharmabalan and John Howard

About WQRA

2.4 The WQRA Board

WQRA is fortunate to have a dedicated and skilled governing Board with exceptional engagement in, and understanding of, the water industry and community, its drivers and challenges.

The WQRA Board is led by an independent Chair and consists of Directors, elected by the membership at the AGM and drawn from member organisations, and the WQRA CEO. The Chair is Professor Michael R Moore, who is the former Director of the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology. The current Board represents a broad cross section of experience and expertise from within the water industry and associated research and regulatory organisations.


WQRA Research Programs

3. WQRA Research Programs

3.1 Background

Research commissioned and managed by WQRA addresses priority scientific and technical knowledge gaps and emerging risks, identified by WQRA members and key industry stakeholders in 2008/09. These priorities are detailed in Figure 1 and form the basis of WQRA research investment. The Australian water community’s position is enhanced by relevant and targeted research outcomes that support evidence-based decision making.

Figure 1: WQRA Research Priorities determined by Members in 2008/09


In 2009/10 the focus was on commencing the projects shortlisted by members at the November 2008 AGM. Over the past twelve months these priority projects have been developed into full project proposals and submitted to the WQRA Board.

WQRA’s research approach was specifically designed to enable WQRA to leverage member investment to support relevant research and demonstrate return on investment for members. WQRA has been successful in securing support from Australian government initiatives including the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant Program and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnership Projects Initiative, as well as support from other national and international organisations.

During 2009/10 the key overall achievements in the Research Programs were:

• Program Managers working with Project Leaders and the Project Review Team to develop the shortlisted concepts into full project proposals and commencement of projects

• WQRA achieved approximately $4 of external cash funding for every WQRA $1 invested, and approximately double this funding ratio, when in-kind funding is included

• The NHMRC Partnerships Project Initiative - “Establishing Australian health-based targets for microbial water quality” (Monash University) successful

• Securing ARC Linkage funding for five research proposals in conjunction with WQRA Research members

• Success in four applications for funding support from the Victorian Smart Water Fund

3.2 Research Programs Overview

WQRA coordinates its research efforts through three programs - Drinking Water (DW), Wastewater (WW) and Recycled Water (RW). The Drinking Water Program is managed by Dr Michele Akeroyd and the Wastewater and Recycled Water Programs are managed by Dr David Halliwell.

3.3 Industry Research Priorities

Good governance is critical to any organisation and WQRA has established robust, transparent processes in relation to implementing the three research programs. The process used to develop the initial research priorities and the suite of core research projects within the WQRA research portfolio is shown in Figure 2. It was designed to ensure that WQRA

members are consulted and, through a voting process, have the opportunity to determine the direction of research.

Figure 2: Process to identify research priorities and develop project proposals

3.4 Project Selection

The initial focus of WQRA projects has been on commissioning the shortlisted concepts resulting from the November 2008 AGM and implementing the WQRA ARC Linkage Industry partner policy. The policies and processes for commissioning future WQRA projects are being developed; however, the broad direction was endorsed by Board in November 2009 and follows three broad categories:

a) Core WQRA Research Projects: Core research addressing research priorities defined and agreed by WQRA. Investment is through a WQRA Request for Proposal process through the membership.

b) ARC Linkage Industry Support: WQRA will provide support for Research Members applying for ARC Linkage funding for projects that align with WQRA research priorities of 10% of the cash budget, up to $50,000 whichever is lesser.

c) Collaborative Projects: WQRA will support members in collaborative projects (including NHMRC projects), where WQRA will support through seed funding. This type of project also allows for WQRA to undertake consultancies on behalf of non-members.

Elements of the process, such as eligibility criteria, cost sharing and approval process vary depending on the type of project.

WQRA provides guidelines and templates for applicants, which are available in electronic format via the WQRA website and are sent directly to member representatives.




DRINKING WATER PROGRAMProject Number and Title

Lead Researcher – Organisation/Other Partners

1001 – Guidelines and Best Practice Documentation - Water Supply in Remote lndigenous Communities

Robyn Grey-Gardner – Centre for Appropriate Technology/National Water Commission/Water Corporation of WA/Power and Water NT/ NSW Dept of Health

1003 – Evaluation of Integrated Membranes for Tastes and Odours and Algal Toxin Control

Assoc Prof Gayle Newcombe – Australian Water Quality Centre/Veolia/United Water/Water Research Foundation

1004 – Establishing Australian Health Based targets for Microbial Water Quality

Dr Karin Leder – Monash Univ/NHMRC/Water Services Association Australia/NSW Dept of Health/SA Health/Dept of Health (Vic)/Dept of Environment and Resource Management Queensland/Water Futures

1005 – Alternative and Innovative Methods for Source Water Management of Algae and Cyanobacteria

Assoc Prof Mike Burch – Australian Water Quality Centre/National Cheng Kung Univ/Virginia Tech Univ/Univ of Adelaide/Water Corporation of WA/ Water Research Foundation

1006 – Implications for enumeration, toxicity and bloom formation ‘Are there more toxin genes than toxic cyanobacteria?’

Assoc Prof Chris Saint – Australian Water Quality Centre/Univ of Tennessee (USA)/United Water International/Water Research Foundation

1007 – Methods for Measuring Toxins in Finished Waters

Dr Andrew Humpage – Australian Water Quality Centre/Water Research Foundation

1008 – Optimal water quality to minimise distribution system problems

Mary Drikas – Australian Water Quality Centre/Delft Univ of Technology/United Water International/SA Water Corporation/Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water/Water Corporation of WA/Orica Watercare

1009 – Physico-chemical controls on growth, toxicity and succession of Microcystis and Anabaena species in Sydney Water supply reservoirs (ARC Linkage)

Prof David Waite – Univ of NSW/ Sydney Catchment Authority

1010 – Identification and prevention of chemical contamination causing taint and odour in water from coal tar enamel lined pipes

Prof Felicity Roddick – RMIT Univ/Melbourne Water/South East Water Limited/City West Water/ Yarra Valley Water

1011 – Health effects of drinking water from rainwater tanks

Dr Karin Leder – Monash Univ/Australian Water Quality Centre/SA Health/NHMRC

1012 – Technology Transfer Officer for water and wastewater in remote Aboriginal communities

Stephen Purvis – Centre for Appropriate Technology

1013 – Water chemical database Alan Ferguson – NZ Ministry of Health/ Power and Water NT

1014 – Enabling rapid response for the removal of pesticides from drinking water (ARC Linkage – Submitted May 2010)

Dr Nichola Porter – RMIT Univ/Melbourne Water/Goulburn Valley Water/ Dept of Primary Industries (Vic)

1015 – Novel treatment methods for reduction of bromide and iodide in drinking water sources (ARC Linkage)

Assoc Prof Anna Heitz – Curtin Univ/ Water Corporation of WA

1018 – Occurrence and management of NDMA and other nitrogenous disinfection by-products in Australian drinking and recycled waters

Assoc Prof Gayle Newcombe – Australian Water Quality Centre/Barwon Water/Central Highlands Water/ Melbourne Water/Yarra Valley Water/South East Water Ltd/Coliban Water/Lower Murray Water

1019 – Scale formation and prevention in small water supplies reliant on groundwater

Prof David Waite – Univ of New South Wales/Power and Water NT/Water Corporation of WA

1020 – Use of on-line surrogate parameters for rapid hazard detection and improved system performance

Dr Chris Chow – Australian Water Quality Centre/Curtin Univ/Univ of SA/Univ of Adelaide/ Univ of Washington/SA Water Corporation/Water Corporation of WA/Sydney Water Corporation

Table 4: All projects approved by the WQRA Board as of 30 June 2010


1021 – Implementation of biological filtration for the treatment of cyanobacterial metabolites

Assoc Prof Gayle Newcombe – Australian Water Quality Centre/United Water International/Barwon Water/Melbourne Water/Hunter Water/ Coliban Water

1022 – Cyanosurvey: A national update on toxic cyanobacteria and their distribution

Dr Andrew Humpage – Australian Water Quality Centre/SA Water Corporation/Power and Water NT/Barwon Water/Hunter Water/Sydney Water Corporation/United Water International/Wannon Water/Water Corporation of WA/Sydney Catchment Authority/Melbourne Water/Murray Water/Dept of Sustainability and Environment, Vic/Wakool Shire Council/ North East Water/Ballina Shire Council/Dept of Environment and Resource Management Qld/ Central Queensland Univ

1023 - Public perception of source protection and its relationship to recreation and water treatment

Blair Nancarrow – Syme and Nancarrow Water/Water Corporation of WA/SA Water Corporation/Melbourne Water/Sydney Catchment Authority/Power and Water NT/Urban Water Security Research Alliance/National Water Commission

1025 – Capacitive deionisation for high recovery and low energy desalination of brackish water supplies

Assoc Prof. Linda Zou – Univ of South Australia/ SA Water Corporation

1027 – Fluorescence monitoring as a surrogate for wastewater contamination of drinking water supplies in remote Indigenous communities (ARC Linkage – Submitted May 2010)

Dr Stuart Khan – Univ of New South Wales/Power and Water NT/Univ of Auckland

1028 – Monitoring organic matter in drinking water systems using fluorescence: improved early warning devices, process optimisation and distribution water quality (ARC Linkage – Submitted Nov 2009)

Dr Rita Henderson – Univ of New South Wales/Birmingham Uni/Melbourne Water/Seqwater/Sydney Water Corporation/Water Corporation of WA

1031 – Ultrasound for control of cyanobacteria (ARC Linkage – Submitted Nov 2009)

Dr Carl Howard - Univ of Adelaide/Water Corporation of WA/Melbourne Water/Veolia/ SA Water Corporation

1032 – Optimum control of chloramine in water distribution systems

Prof Graham Dandy – Univ of Adelaide/Water Corporation of WA/SA Water Corporation

1033 - Optimizing conventional treatment for the removal of cyanobacteria and their toxins

Assoc Prof Gayle Newcombe – Australian Water Quality Centre/Water Research Foundation/Southern California Water Board/Hunter Water

1035 – Evaluation and validation of rapid molecular methods for the detection and identification of pathogens in water

Dr Paul Monis – Australian Water Quality Centre/Murdoch Univ/Flinders Univ/SA Water Corporation/ Melbourne Water/Sydney Water Corporation

1036 - Treatment requirements for Australian source waters to meet health-based targets

Dr Arran Canning – Water Services Association of Australia/Water & Health Pty Ltd/NSW Dept of Health/Monash Univ/Murdoch Univ/Ecos Environmental Consulting/Univ of New South Wales/ Australian Water Quality Centre

1038 – Nitrosamines, including N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), and other nitrogenous disinfection by-products in Australian drinking waters (ARC Linkage – submitted May 2010)

Anna Heitz – Curtin Univ/Water Corporation of WA/Univ of New South Wales/Univ of Alberta

1040 – NDMA Standards – Development of improved certified reference materials for nitrosamines and other trace organics in water using lyophilisation (NHMRC Partnership – submitted May 2010)

Cheryl Lim – National Measurement Institute/NHMRC/Univ of New South Wales/Curtin Univ/NSW Dept of Health/Australian Water Quality Centre/WA Health/ Queensland Health Scientific Services/ChemCentre/Sydney Water Corporation

1041 – Characterisation of THM formation for water quality management – Stage 1

Mary Drikas – Australian Water Quality Centre/United Water/SA Water Corporation/Melbourne Water/Water Corporation of WA




1043 - MT-PCR: A rapid, reliable and effective tool for assessing toxic algal blooms in Victorian water supplies: aiding protection and preservation

Dr Aaron Jex – Univ of Melbourne/Melbourne Water/South Gippsland Water/Barwon Water/Southern Rural Water/Western Water/Goulburn Murray Water/South East Water/Grampian Wimmera Mallee Water/Goulburn Valley Water/Dept of Health (Vic)

1044 -Investigation into the cause of low recovery of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts

Christobel Ferguson – ALS/Australian Water Quality Centre/Seqwater, Sydney Water Corporation

WASTEWATER PROGRAM Project Number and Title

Lead Researcher - Organisation / Other Partners

2001 – Quantification of pathogen removal in activated sludge treatment

Dr Therese Flapper – Water Futures/La Trobe Univ/Australian Water Quality Centre/Smart Water Fund Victoria/Melbourne Water/South East Water Ltd

2002 – A national approach to the health risk assessment, risk communication and management of chemical hazards from recycled water

Assoc Prof Heather Chapman – Griffith Univ/Australian Water Quality Centre/Univ of New South Wales/National Water Commission/Sydney Water Corporation/Melbourne Water/United Water/ACTEW AGL/CSIRO

2003 – Ecotoxicity toolbox to evaluate water quality for recycling

Assoc Prof Heather Chapman – Griffith Univ/Univ of New South Wales/Dept of Water (WA)/ Water Corporation of WA

2004 – Optimal management of corrosion and odour problems in sewer systems (ARC Linkage)

Prof Zhiguo Yuan – Univ of Queensland/Univ of Newcastle/Univ of New South Wales/Curtin Univ/Gold Coast City Council/SA Water Corporation/ Melbourne Water/South East Water Ltd/Sydney Water Corporation/United Water/ Water Corporation of WA/CH2MHill/Barwon Water/ Hunter Water

2005 – Development of ecotoxicity toolbox to evaluate water quality for recycling

Assoc Prof Heather Chapman – Griffith Univ/Univ of New South Wales/National Water Commission/Dept of Water WA/Water Corporation of WA

2006 – Membrane integrity testing for virus particle removal - Stage 1 Literature Review

Dr Greg Leslie – Univ of New South Wales/Melbourne Water/Dept of Health (Vic)/SA Water Corporation

2007 – Risk assessment for pathogens and organic contaminants in biosolids

Dr Michael Warne – CSIRO/Curtin Univ/RMIT Univ/Univ of Adelaide

2008 – Development of predictive tools for membrane ageing

Dr Pierre Le Clech – Univ of New South Wales

2009 – Protocol for developing chemical pretreatment for high pressure membranes

Dr Greg Leslie – Univ of New South Wales/Water Research Foundation/Victoria Univ/ Univ of California (UCLA)

2010 – Investigation of endocrine disruption in Australian aquatic environments (ARC Linkage)

Dr Fred Leusch – Griffith Univ/Univ of Technology Sydney/Curtin Univ/RMIT Univ/Univ of New South Wales/Smart Water (Qld)/Landcare Research (NZ)/Sydney Water Corporation/Sydney Catchment Authority/Seqwater/Queensland Environment Protection Agency/Melbourne Water/Dept of Water WA/Water Corporation of WA

2011 – Optimisation of nutrient removal, membrane fouling and excess sludge dewatering in hybrid coagulation/submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) treatment of wastewaters (ARC Linkage)

Prof David Waite – Univ of New South Wales/Tsinghua Univ/Origin Water/Sydney Water Corporation

2015 – Inactivation of Cryptosporidium across the wastewater treatment train for water recycling

Dr Alex Keegan – Australian Water Quality Centre/Smart Water Fund Victoria

2016 – Converting waste or solar heat to treated water

Assoc Prof Mikel Duke – Victoria Univ/Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water/City West Water/ Smart Water Fund Victoria


2017 – Part 2: Quantification of pathogen removal in activated sludge treatment

Dr Alex Keegan – Australian Water Quality Centre/La Trobe Univ/Smart Water Fund Victoria/Melbourne Water/South East Water Ltd

2018 – Real time integrity monitoring for RO membrane systems

Prof Stephen Gray – Victoria Univ/Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water/Coliban Water

2019 – Treating wastewater for potable reuse: removal of chemicals of concern using advanced oxidation processes (ARC Linkage)

Assoc Prof Cynthia Joll – Curtin Univ/EAWAG (Switzerland)/Water Corporation of WA/GHD

RECYCLED WATER PROGRAM Project Number and Title

Lead Researcher – Organisation / Other Partners

3001 – Detection of cross connections in potable water distribution systems - Stage 2: Field trials of candidate detection parameters

Dr Roger O’Halloran – CSIRO/South East Water Ltd /Sydney Water Corporation/City West Water/Melbourne Water/Yarra Valley Water

3002 – Exposure assessment using tracer chemicals – Stage 1

Dr Martha Sinclair – Monash Univ/RMIT Univ/ Water Futures

3003 – Fate and effects of micropollutants in water recycling: influence of dissolved organic matter(ARC Linkage - submitted)

Prof Beate Escher – Univ of Queensland/ Water Secure

3004 – Safety of recycled water for end users determined by a mouse in vivo multigenerational study

Dr Fiona Young – Flinders Univ/Australian Water Quality Centre/Griffith Univ/Melbourne Water/ SA Water Corporation

3005 – Utilisation of HACCP approach for evaluating integrity of treatment barriers for reuse

Dr David Halliwell – WQRA/Water Futures/DDB Engineering (US)/Univ of New South Wales/Melbourne Water/Michigan State Univ/WateReuse Foundation/Melbourne Water/South East Water Ltd/Yarra Valley Water /City West Water/SA Water Corporation/Gold Coast Water/ Public Utilities Board Singapore

3006 – Greywater use in the backyard: what are the health risks?

Dr Martha Sinclair – Monash Univ/Melbourne Univ/Smart Water Fund Victoria


Graph shows values and number of projects by issue (excluding project 2004 – budget = $19.8 M)



3.5 Issues-based Workshops

To ensure that WQRA meets the needs of its members and stakeholders, WQRA is proactive and alert to opportunities to organise or co-host workshops to identify and address current water quality research knowledge gaps. Once research gaps have been identified, there may be several options for WQRA to progress ideas to full proposal development including, for example, through a Request for Funding Proposal (RFP) process.

During 2009/10 WQRA convened or participated in the following workshops in the high priority areas of Decentralised systems, Cyanobacteria and Cryptosporidium.

Decentralised Systems Workshop – Brisbane 27 August 2009WQRA convened a ‘Distributed (decentralised) Systems’ workshop that was attended by thirty-five people, representing a variety of organisations. A pre-workshop survey provided good insights into some of the key issues and challenges on this topic. Keynote presentations were made by Suzie Sarkis, Department of Health, Victoria (a regulator), Michelle Carsen, South East Water Ltd (a water authority) and Phil Krasnostein, Nubian Water Systems (an industry representative), as well as an update by the facilitator Therese Flapper (Water Futures), on some of the key outcomes from the pre-workshop survey. A second workshop was held following ReUse‘09 in Brisbane (21-25 September 2009) where outcomes from the August meeting were presented to a broader audience. WQRA’s co-sponsorship of this workshop, along with Nubian Systems, enabled the organisers to invite Professor Robert Rubin from North Carolina, an expert on decentralised systems. The participation by all was very interactive and the presentations are available to members on the WQRA website.

National Cyanobacteria Workshop - Sydney, 12 & 13 August 2009A co-operative event organised by the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water and WQRA, the National Cyanobacterial Workshop had around 110 attendees representing water management organisations, government agencies and research groups from all States and Territories. Presentations were delivered by thirty-three speakers who gave updates on recent events and issues, current research, and monitoring, testing and treatment. A large contingent of WQRA members gave presentations on their research. At the end of day two, an hour was devoted to a general discussion of a range of steps and strategies that can lead to establishing a network of interested people, regular meetings and other ways of managing this very significant national problem.

In the longer term, options for supporting national coordination and sharing of information will be developed in consultation with workshop attendees. This is likely to include support for a communication network, electronic means to store and share information, an annual forum and a mechanism to address national priorities. It was recognised that to make this successful a dedicated resource was required. Identification of funding opportunities would be explored during the development of these options. WQRA has taken on the role of coordinating the development of a package of work that will support national coordination of algal management.

The abstracts of all presenters were compiled in a booklet Cyanobacterial Bloom Management – Current and Future Options, which was provided to workshop attendees and is on the WQRA website.

Cyanobacterial Workshop abstracts can be downloaded from the WQRA website: www.wqra.com.au



Cryptosporidium Workshop - Melbourne, 8 December 2009On Tuesday 8 December, 2009 WQRA held a workshop in Melbourne ‘Cryptosporidium - Identifying Key WQRA Research Priorities’.

Presentations covered the perspectives from researchers, water utilities, catchment managers, regulators and a national overview, with facilitated group sessions to identify priority research areas for WQRA and development of details on how to progress these key areas.

To help inform preparations for the workshop, and to ensure that outcomes were achieved on the day, a pre-workshop survey was sent out to all WQRA member representatives and newsletter subscribers.

A number of research gaps were identified in discussion at the workshop and will be scoped in more detail. The workshop outcomes and these projects will form the basis of future RFP’s and projects to be established regarding Cryptosporidium. The key research areas identified were:

• Understanding variability in raw water recovery rates from existing data.

• Standardisation of methodology.

• Understanding the effectiveness of land management actions to reduce pathogen loads and quantify economic costs between investment in catchments and additional downstream treatment.

• Addressing the practical aspects of the application of the DALY (disability adjusted life year) approach to setting drinking water treatment standards for Australia, including cost implications, source water challenge and minimum treatment requirements.

3.6 WQRA Project Review team

The Project Review Team (PRT) is a high level technical and advisory group that provides expert evaluation of WQRA project submissions and recommendations to the Board. The Project Review Team (PRT) was formed in January 2009, bringing together WQRA Industry and Research Members to assess each of the projects being considered for funding.

The PRT comprises the WQRA CEO and Program Managers, and selected Industry and Research representatives. The PRT assesses full project proposals against the WQRA Project Prioritisation Criteria and provides advice on each of the project proposals including, but not limited to, the following:

a. An assessment of the project against each of the WQRA criteria

b. Identification of additional information required by the proponent before the project proposals can be considered for funding

c. Identify weaknesses/deficiencies in the project proposal and, as appropriate, request that the Program Manager ensures that these issues are addressed for reconsideration by the PRT prior to the proposal being submitted to the Board for a funding decision

d. Identify project proposals that require external peer review prior to the proposal being recommended to the board for a funding decision

e. Endorse project proposals that meet the WQRA criteria

The PRT met formally five times during 2009/10 to review project proposals. In addition to the formal meetings, where possible, electronic communications were employed to undertake the work of the PRT in review of proposals and other relevant documents.

Project Review Team: Heather Chapman, Andrew Humpage (Chair), Martha Sinclair, Judy Blackbeard, Amy Dysart, Rino Trolio, absent Penny Knights


WQRA Research Programs - Drinking Water

4. Drinking Water Research ProgramThe focus of the Drinking Water Program has been on the development of the core WQRA research projects shortlisted at the November 2008 AGM that address critical knowledge gaps in the public health aspects of drinking water quality. In 2009/10 the main areas of research development have been in the chemical and microbiological contaminants in water supplies, cyanobacteria, optimisation of treatment processes and distribution systems, regional and remote water supplies, novel treatment steps to improve water supply quality and measuring public perceptions of water supply.

Murray Radcliffe National Water Commission, and Ken Mathews, CEO of the National Water Commission with Robyn Grey-Gardner from the Centre for Appropriate Technology at the launch of the Community Water Planner Field Guide, photo courtesy of AWA

4.1 Key achievements for the Drinking Water Program in 2009/10

• The Field Guide to the Community Water planner (WQRA Project 1001) was developed through the project for the National Water Commission (NWC) by the Centre for Appropriate Technology. Highlights of this work include:

o Ken Matthews, CEO and Chair, NWC, launched the Field Guide during Water Week on 19 October 2009;

o 2000 copies of the Field Guide package were printed and distributed to relevant State and Territory Health Departments for implementation;

o The Centre for Appropriate Technology has developed training materials and run training sessions on request and on a cost recovery basis;

o The electronic documents are available through the WQRA website; and

o A paper about this project has been accepted for presentation at the Montreal International Water Congress and the IWA Water Safety Plans Conference in Kuching, Malaysia.

• A number of research gaps were identified at the WQRA Cryptosporidium Workshop in Melbourne on 8 December 2009. The workshop outcomes and these projects will form the basis of future RFP’s and projects to be established regarding Cryptosporidium.

• A report from WQRA Project 1023 ‘Public perception of source protection and its relationship to recreation and water treatment’ was circulated to the Western Australian Parliamentary Inquiry and the recreational stakeholder group that participated in the survey. The report was included in the Water Corporation submission to the WA Parliamentary Inquiry on the policy relating to the protection of drinking water catchments.

• The Australian Research Council recently announced the outcomes of the November 2009 ARC Linkage round. Three Drinking Water projects were successful in this round. These projects are:

o Project 1015: ‘Novel treatment methods for reduction of bromide and iodide in drinking water sources’ received funding of $410,000 from the ARC

o Project 1028: ‘Monitoring organic matter in drinking water systems using fluorescence: improved early warning devices, process optimisation and distribution water quality’ received funding of $152,000 from the ARC

o Project 1031: ‘Ultrasound for the control of cyanobacteria’ received funding of $400,000 from the ARC

• The Global Water Research Coalition Project ‘International Guidance Manual for management of Toxic Cyanobacteria’ was approved for public release by the GWRC Board in April 2010. It is designed to be a ready reference for industry encountering Cyanobacterial blooming and is timed well for the coming summer season.



• A partnership project with the Water Services Association of Australia was established. WQRA Project 1036 ‘Treatment requirements for Australian source waters to meet health based targets’ was Board approved in February 2010.

• A study into the suitability of rainwater for human consumption was completed by Karin Leder and her team at Monash under WQRA Project 1011 ‘Health effects of Drinking Water from Rainwater Tanks.’

• The report for WQRA Project 1007 ‘Methods for Measuring Toxins in Finished Waters’ (AwwaRF 4020) led by Andrew Humpage of AWQC was completed and accepted by the Water Research Foundation.

4.2 Projects

4.2.1 WQRA Projects completed in 2009/10Guidelines and Best Practice Documentation - Water Supply in Remote lndigenous Communities (Project 1001)

Collaborators: Centre for Appropriate Technology

Budget: $311,000; WQRA Budget: $0

The aims of the project were to develop an information package, including materials such as diagrams, maps, and tables, to assist remote, indigenous communities to prepare usable and understandable drinking water management plans, consistent with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. The information package was trialled at four locations – one in each of New South Wales, Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland. The Field Guide was launched during Water Week in October 2009 by Ken Matthews, CEO and Chair of the National Water Commission. 2000 copies of the Field Guide package were printed and have been distributed to relevant State and Territory Health Departments for implementation.

Methods for Measuring Toxins in Finished Waters (Project 1007)

Collaborators: Water Research Foundation 4020, Australian Water Quality Centre


The project had a broad scope divided into four key areas:

• evaluation of potential chlorine neutralisers for efficient quenching activity and for lack of effect on biological assay systems

• evaluation of various toxicity assay formats to identify those with adequate sensitivity and rapidity for use with finished waters

• determination of assay sensitivity to confounding compounds in real waters

• recommendation of a suite of assay/quencher combinations, and definition of quality control parameters ensuring their reliable use

HealthEffectsof DrinkingWaterfromRainwaterTanks(Project 1011)

Collaborators: Monash University, SA Health, Australian Water Quality Centre, NHMRC

Budget: $1,215,414; WQRA Budget: $35,270

This project consisted of a health study of 300 Adelaide households that were drinking rainwater. Adelaide was the location chosen for the study as it has the highest use of rainwater tanks in Australia.

This study was the first prospective randomised study to investigate the health effects of rainwater consumption, either in Australia or internationally. The results showed that people who drank untreated rainwater displayed no measurable increase in illness compared to those whose rainwater was filtered. While the results may not be applicable in all situations, these findings about the low risk of illness from drinking rainwater imply that it can be used for activities such as showering/bathing where inadvertent or accidental ingestion of small quantities may occur.

The final report on this project is on the WQRA website, (Research Report 84).

Project 1011 - Suburban rainwater tank in Adelaide



4.2.2 WQRA Projects UnderwayEvaluationof IntegratedMembranesforTastesandOdours and Algal Toxin Control (Project 1003)

Collaborators: Water Research Foundation 4016, Australian Water Quality Centre

Budget: $96,000; WQRA Budget: $41,610

Transferred from the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment (CRCWQT)

This project commenced in December 2007 and is now nearing completion. This project evaluates ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse-osmosis (RO) membranes, in integrated treatment systems, for the removal of taste and odour compounds and cyanobacterial toxins. A final project report is expected in late 2010.

EstablishingAustralianHealthBasedtargetsformicrobialwaterquality(Project 1004)

Collaborators: Monash University, NHMRC, Water Services Association Australia, NSW Dept of Health, SA Health, Dept of Health (Vic), Dept of Environment and Resource Management Queensland, Water Futures

Budget: $320,502; WQRA Budget: 110,000

Approved: November 2008

Status: Underway

This project commenced at the end of financial year 08/09 and is in the early stages of research. This project will:

• develop health impact models for key waterborne pathogens by using local data gathered from existing data sources (surveillance, research and clinical practice) on the frequency, severity and outcomes of gastroenteritis caused by enteric pathogens in Australia

• coordinate expert groups and workshop discussions in order to evaluate updated international weightings given to gastroenteritis outcomes, thereby facilitating appropriate interpretation and adaptation of these weightings relevant to the Australian setting

• combine the outcomes of the two arms of the project to develop Australian-specific disease burden models for key waterborne pathogens

• develop a national consensus position on health targets for microbial water quality in Australia which is supported by all major stakeholder groups and informed by the best available scientific evidence and expert judgement

AlternativeandInnovativeMethodsforSourceWaterManagement of Algae and Cyanobacteria (Project 1005)

Collaborators: Australian Water Quality Centre, National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan), Virginia Tech University (US), University of Adelaide, Water Corporation of WA


Transferred from CRCWQT

This project, which commenced in March 2009, has been evaluating a range of alternative and innovative techniques for control of algae and cyanobacteria that have potential for application in drinking water reservoirs. The study is considering a range of commercial products and some other techniques that are available in the US, Australia and Asia but have differing degrees of acceptance and testing within the water industry. A large proportion of the scope being funded by the Foundation is now complete, and promising techniques have been identified for further research.

Implicationsforenumeration,toxicityandbloomformation - Are there more toxin genes than toxic cyanobacteria? (Project 1006)

Collaborators: Water Research Foundation 4060, Australian Water Quality Centre, United Water, University of Tennessee



This project aims to establish the relationship between cyanobacterial genes, especially toxin genes, and cells using real-time PCR, cell counts and flow cytometry. It will investigate the effect of growth on gene number, examine if the number of toxin genes affects toxin production and, examine the potential of combined data to better forecast the growth of toxic cyanobacteria in water systems. The project is now in its final stage, with the final report expected early in FY11.


Optimal Water Quality to Minimise Distribution System Problems (Project 1008)

Collaborators: Australian Water Quality Centre, Delft University of Technology, United Water, SA Water Corporation, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water, Water Corporation of WA, Orica Watercare



The aim of this project is to determine the extent of treatment necessary to minimise water quality deterioration after passage though the distribution system. This will be achieved by comparing the impact of a range of water qualities provided from four different treatment schemes on four parallel distribution test rigs, with a range of detention times. The water entering the test rigs will be chlorinated to satisfy chlorine demand but with minimal chlorine residual entering the test rigs to maximise biofilm growth.

A range of water quality parameters and analytical tools including on-line techniques will be used to monitor treated water quality and changes within the distribution systems. This will identify water quality parameters and analytical tools which are most suited for monitoring water quality within distribution systems and can be used to predict water quality deterioration. This project is not expected to finish until May 2011.

Physico-chemicalcontrolsongrowth,toxicityandsuccession of Microcystis and Anabaena species in SydneyWatersupplyreservoirs(Project 1009)

Collaborators: University of New South Wales, Sydney Catchment Authority


Approved: March 2009

This project commenced late in FY10. The objectives of this project are to:

• determine the key nutrient (N, P and Fe), light and temperature requirements of Microcystis and Anabaena species (including the impact of nutrient form and transformation dynamics on uptake kinetics) that typically occur in Lake Burragorang and other selected Sydney water supply reservoirs and to gain insight into the mode of nutrient acquisition by the organisms

• assess the impact of nutrient availability and growth conditions on production of toxins by these Microcystis and Anabaena species

• relate the nutrient requirements, growth characteristics and exudate production of the Microcystis and Anabaena species to biogeochemical and physical conditions in Lake Burragorang and other Sydney water supply reservoirs

Characterisation and management of taste and odours from coal tar enamel lined mains (Project 1010)

Collaborators: RMIT University, Melbourne Water, South East Water, City West Water, Yarra Valley Water


Approved: April 2009

The project commenced early in FY10, though delays in sample availability have affected project timeframes. This project aims to:

• identify chemicals responsible for tastes and odours from coal tar enamel lined pipes. A desktop survey of the toxicity of these chemicals is included

• replicate and investigate the mechanism of tainting by laboratory simulation, and to analyse any disinfection by-products

• investigate methods for eliminating the taste and odours, and to verify that any recommended treatment does not produce any toxic by-products

TechnologyTransferOfficerforWaterSuppliesinremoteIndigenouscommunities (Project 1012) ‘

Collaborators: Centre for Appropriate Technology



The Technology Transfer Officer for Water Supplies in Remote Indigenous Communities focuses on the public health aspects of water quality, in particular:

• provides a link between national and international water research and practice and Indigenous communities

• provides a basis for coordination of research needs, practice and Indigenous knowledge between Commonwealth, state and territory agencies

• facilitates the sharing of knowledge and practice amongst WQRA members for small water systems




The Technology Transfer Officer provides a direct link between the needs of Indigenous people and research related to supplying safe drinking water and treatment knowledge, as well as a link to researchers regarding knowledge gaps and emerging issues in remote locations.

Occurrence and management of NDMA and other nitrogenous disinfection by-products in Australian drinkingandrecycledwaters(Project 1018)

Collaborators: Australian Water Quality Centre, Curtin University, Monash University


Approved: May 2009

Major aims of this project are to:

• undertake a comprehensive survey to identify the levels of nitrosamines in chloraminated drinking water supplies and chlorinated recycled water in Australia

• identify operational parameters that affect the formation of nitrosamines and recommend options to minimise formation of these disinfection by-products

• identify any issues with nitrosamines that may arise from blending recycled/raw waters as drinking water sources

• produce guidelines to assist water and recycled water treatment plants to minimise formation of nitrosamines

Scaleformationandpreventioninsmallwatersuppliesreliantongroundwater(Project 1019)

Collaborators: University of New South Wales, Power and Water Corporation (NT), Water Corporation of WA

Total Budget $215,053; WQRA Budget: $80,639

Approved: May 2009

The purpose of this project is to:

• review the major ion composition of waters considered to be a problem with regard to scale formation. This review will be based on existing data provided by Industry members

• review methods for measuring the extent of scale formation and possible treatment approaches

• provide recommendations on appropriate management actions based on the analysis of the potential extent of the scale problem and treatment options

Based on the research outcomes, it is intended to prepare a Stage 2 project outlining a comprehensive solution to address the problem of scaling in water supplies. The final report for this project is currently undergoing peer review. The final report is expected to be ready for release early in FY11.

4.2.3 New WQRA Projects in 2009/10Noveltreatmentmethodsforreductionof bromideandiodideindrinkingwatersources(Project 1015)

Collaborators: ARC, Curtin University, Water Corporation of WA


Approved: May 2009

Status: Contracting

This project aims to develop innovative new water treatment processes to selectively remove both bromide and iodide from potable source waters by:

• Drawing together all relevant information on adverse impacts of elevated levels of bromide and iodide from related current water quality projects, and build on this information if necessary

• Developing innovative new water treatment processes to selectively remove both bromide and iodide from potable source waters

Determining if reducing the bromide and iodide concentrations reduces the concentration of disinfection by-products and improves the organoleptic

Water appliances showing scale deposition to varying extents



Use of on-line surrogate parameters for rapid hazard detectionandimprovedsystemperformance (Project 1020)

Collaborators: Australian Water Quality Centre, Curtin University, University of South Australia, University of Adelaide, and the University of Washington, SA Water Corporation, Water Corporation of WA, Sydney Water Corporation


Approved: July 2009

Status: Underway

The project concentrates on two application areas:

• Implementation of a real-time water quality monitoring system for hazard detection and triggering of operational responses, including rapid assessment and investigation of water quality incidents

• Implementation of control strategies (coagulant and disinfectant dosing control) for process optimisation

Implementationof biologicalfiltrationforthetreatmentof cyanobacterial metabolites (Project 1021)

Collaborators: Australian Water Quality Centre, United Water, Barwon Water, Melbourne Water, Coliban Regional Water Corporation WA, Hunter Water Corporation


Approved: August 2009

Status: Underway

Specific issues to be addressed in this project are:

• The identification of the most effective substrate for optimum biofilm formation, and the range of operating conditions (hydraulic loading, temperature, metabolite concentrations) under which the optimum removals can be achieved

• The conditions under which biological filtration may render the filtrate more toxic than the influent

• The development of a standard suite of laboratory tests, both simulated filtration tests and genetic tests, to identify the potential of an existing filter to remove cyanobacterial metabolites

• The identification of the source of the lag period, or delay, sometimes of several days, prior to the onset of degradation of several

metabolites. This delay would necessitate additional measures such as the application of activated carbon. Genetic techniques will be applied to understand, with the ultimate aim of controlling, this lag period

• The feasibility of artificially inoculating or “seeding” filters to enhance removal of the cyanobacterial metabolites

Cyanosurvey:Anationalupdateontoxiccyanobacteriaand their distribution (Project 1022)

Collaborators: Australian Water Quality Centre, Griffith University, Central Queensland University, United Water, Sydney Water Corporation, Power and Water Corporation (NT), Barwon Water, Goulburn Valley Water, Hunter Water, Wannon Water, Water Corporation of WA, Sydney Catchment Authority, Melbourne Water, Lower Murray Water, Dept of Sustainability and Environment Vic, Ballina Shire Council, North East Water, DERM Qld, Wakool Shire Council

Budget: 1,414,247; WQRA Budget: $341,448


Status: Underway

This project will:

• Identify changes in distributions of cyanobacterial species since 1991 in order to support an up-to-date risk assessment and to help predict future trends in species distribution and changes in toxicity

• Cross-validate a range of analytical methods for detection of toxic species and toxin production

• Develop a compendium of national data on cyanobacterial species and strain distribution, linking water quality parameters, toxicity, morphology and genetic characterisation to support current risk assessment and future climate change studies



Public perception of source protection and its relationshiptorecreationandwatertreatment (Project 1023)

Collaborators: Water Corporation of WA, Syme & Nancarrow Water,



Status: Underway

This project aims to develop a national framework around:

• the findings of public and stakeholder surveys on the determinants of public perceptions of catchment protection policy in relation to the purity of water supply, recreation and treatment

• the development of risk scenarios/policies for the professional risk assessment in the next phase of the project

Capacitivedeionisationforhighrecoveryandlowenergydesalinationof brackishwatersupplies (Project 1025)

Collaborators: University of South Australia, SA Water Corporation, Water Corporation of WA


Approved: October 2009

Status Underway

The main objectives of the proposed project include:

• Designing and fabricating bench scale capacitive deionisation and membrane capacitive deionisation units using different electrodes and ion-exchange membranes to assess the efficiency of these electrode and ion-exchange membrane materials in removal of salt and avoiding silica fouling from brackish water

• Understanding the interaction of silica and the electrode surface

• Establishing the cause-effect relationships of applied electrical voltage, flow rate, initial feed concentration of silica/salt, effect of pH and investigating anticipated silica interference and the regeneration of the porous electrode materials

• Evaluating a commercial capacitive deionisation unit with Australian water samples, under laboratory conditions, and preparing recommendations on the technical feasibility of a targeted field trial

Optimumcontrolof chloramineinwaterdistributionsystems (Project 1032)

Collaborators: University of Adelaide, Australian Water Quality Centre, University of South Australia, SA Water Corporation, Water Corporation of WA



Status: Underway

With advances in on-line monitoring for ammonia, there is an opportunity to develop artificial neural network (ANN) models to optimise disinfection in chloraminated water distribution systems. This project consists of using on-line monitoring information at strategic points in the water distribution system to develop an ANN model based on the information collected from one trial location in WA.

Together with on-line sensors and the ANN model, this project aims to demonstrate the real-time application of this approach. The aim of the project is to demonstrate that real-time advisory control is practical for real distribution systems and that it offers significant benefits in terms of reduced cost of chemicals and improved management of disinfectant levels in water distribution systems.

Optimisingconventionaltreatmentfortheremovalof cyanobacteria and their toxins (Project 1033)

Collaborators: Australian Water Quality Centre, Water Research Foundation, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Hunter Water


Approved: February 2010

Status: Finalising project scope with Water Research Foundation

Laboratory scale studies will be conducted under controlled conditions and will look at:

• Different coagulants, cell concentrations and source waters

• Determining the optimum conditions and coagulant type and pH for each cyanobacteria type in different source waters

• Whether it is possible to quantify the removal of cells during the optimised process, as well as the removal of intracellular and extracellular toxin, and any potential toxin release into the dissolved state that may occur during treatment



The results from this suite of experiments will add substantially to the existing knowledge regarding the optimisation of conventional treatment for the removal of cyanobacteria and allow the project team to formulate guidelines regarding the most appropriate conditions required to meet the expected drinking water quality criteria in both North America and Australia.

Evaluationandvalidationof rapidmolecularmethodsforthedetectionandidentificationof pathogensinwater(Project 1035)

Collaborators: Australian Water Quality Centre



Status: Underway

The aim of this project is to identify the appropriate sample processing methods for the DNA-based analysis of selected water matrices, and to evaluate or improve DNA-based detection methods for Cryptosporidium, Anabaena and adenovirus. The ultimate output of this project will be the standardisation and inter-laboratory comparison of methods for the rapid detection and / or identification of microorganisms that have been selected on the basis of their importance to the Australian water industry.

TreatmentrequirementsforAustraliansourcewaterstomeet health based targets (Project 1036)

Collaborators: Water Futures, Water Services Association of Australia,



Status: Underway

There are no projects currently underway to address some of the practical aspects of the application of the DALY approach to setting drinking water treatment standards for Australia: cost implications and source water challenge. This is the gap to be filled by this study by providing the Australian Water industry with:

• A scientifically credible, refereed WQRA Research Report available that can be used to support water utility’s and regulator’s treatment decisions by early 2012

• A fact sheet on treatment requirements for Australian source waters to meet health based targets incorporated into Australian Drinking Water Guidelines by late 2012

Pointof Entry/Pointof UseManagementandcostingstudy (Project 1039)

Collaborators: Victoria University, Coliban Water, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water Corporation (others to be confirmed)



Status: Finalising final work program, seed funding from WQRA, seeking external funding

It is recognised that supplying drinking water to small, remote communities through large, centralised, traditional water treatment systems is not economically viable. The potable water needs of these communities may be better serviced by small point of entry (POE) and point of use (POU) treatment systems. The effectiveness of POE/POU systems in delivering safe drinking water to a selection of small, remote, communities has already been demonstrated in recent trials (CRC for Water Quality and Treatment, Research Report 50). These systems have not, however, been widely implemented in Australia due to a number of issues. This study will look to address two of these issues:

• The absence of well documented case studies demonstrating POE/POU systems reliability in the production of potable water from raw water that is non-potable

• Lack of knowledge of the management and maintenance requirements for the reliable delivery of safe drinking water with POE/POU systems under Australian rural conditions

The data supplied by this study will assist water corporations and health regulators in the evaluation of the feasibility of implementing treatment systems for the delivery of safe drinking water to small, remote communities.



Characterisationof THMformationforwaterqualitymanagement – Stage 1 (Project 1041)

Collaborators: United Water, SA Water Corporation, Melbourne Water, Water Corporation of WA, Central Highlands Water


Approved: May 2010

Status: Contracting

This project aims to determine the extent of formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) resulting from chlorination of waters containing various bromide levels. DBPs to be measured include trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids and total halogenated DBPs. In addition, toxicity test kits will be applied to assess the overall genotoxicity of the water. Laboratory studies will be undertaken to identify the extent that DBP formation may be reduced under a range of conditions using 3 water sources chosen to represent differing water quality from around Australia. Stage 1 of the project uses one water source from Western Australia.

This will include optimisation of disinfection and water quality using conventional treatment employing coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation and filtration.

MT-PCR–Arapid,reliableandeffectivetoolforassessingtoxicalgalbloomsinVictorianwatersupplies:aidingprotectionandpreservation(Project 1043)

Collaborators: Melbourne University, Melbourne Water, Gippsland Water, South Gippsland Water, Barwon Water, Southern Rural Water, Western Water, Goulburn Murray Water, South East Water, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water, Goulburn Valley Water, Dept of Health (Vic)


Approved: June 2010

Status: Contracting

The aim of the present proposal is to develop a rapid, reliable and sensitive molecular diagnostic tool for the detection, identification and quantification of toxigenic cyanobacteria. A rapid, inexpensive and reliable tool to assess the toxigenicity of ‘algal’ blooms will thus represent a critical service to the industry allowing management decisions to be made from an informed position underpinned by cutting-edge science.

Investigationintothecauseof lowrecoveryof Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts (Project 1044)

Collaborators: ALS Global, Australian Water Quality Centre, Sydney Water Corporation, Seqwater


Approved: June 2010

Status: Contracting

WQRA held a Cryptosporidium workshop in December 2009 and understanding the recovery rate of Cryptosporidium and Giardia was identified as a research priority. It was considered that this would be a straight forward and simple project if the analytical laboratories were prepared to participate and share their data. Christobel Ferguson (ALS Global) has developed up the project scope and collaborations (including ALS, Australian Water Quality Centre, Sydney Water Corporation, Seqwater and WQRA).

The project objectives are to:

• Summarise the current literature understanding of factors able to reduce Cryptosporidium and/or Giardia recovery from water samples.

• Examine a pooled dataset of Cryptosporidium and Giardia recovery data from several Australian laboratories for correlation of low recovery with other available sample parameters.

• Report on parameters correlated with low recovery, and recommend potential approaches to overcome and/or predict low recovery in water samples.



4.3 Projects with WQRA support for NHMRC and ARC funding – successful

Two of the five projects submitted to the November 2009 ARC linkage were successful. The announcement was made in June 2010. The projects are:

• Project 1028: Monitoring organic matter in drinking water systems using fluorescence: improved early warning devices, process optimisation and distribution water – Rita Henderson (University of New South Wales) – ARC Nov 2009.

• Project 1031: Ultrasound for control of cyanobacteria – Carl Howard (University of Adelaide) – ARC Nov 2009.

Drinking Water Program Manager Michele Akeroyd giving presentation at May 2010 Members Meeting

4.4 Projects with WQRA support for NHMRC and ARC funding – decision pending

Four current projects are awaiting a decision from external agencies. Financial support was granted for three ARC Linkage submissions in May 2010 and one project submitted to the May 2010 round of the NHMRC partnership project initiative. They are:

• Project 1014: Enabling rapid response for the removal of pesticides from drinking water – Felicity Roddick (RMIT University) – ARC May 2010.

• Project 1027: Hand-held fluorescence monitoring as a surrogate for wastewater contamination of drinking water supplies in remote indigenous communities – Stuart Khan (University of New South Wales) – ARC May 2010.

• Project 1038: Nitrosamines (including NDMA) and other nitrogenous disinfection by-products in Australian drinking waters – Anna Heitz (Curtin University) – ARC May 2010.

• Project 1040: NDMA Standards – Development of improved certified reference materials for nitrosamines and other trace organics in water using lyophilisation – Cheryl Lim (NMI) and (University of New South Wales) – NHMRC May 2010.


WQRA Research Programs - Wastewater

5. Wastewater Research ProgramThe Wastewater (WW) Program is closely aligned with industry needs, originating during the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment (CRCWQT) through a series of industry-driven and funded workshops and projects. In late 2008, under the auspices of the newly formed WQRA, a workshop was held to identify current and future priority industry issues. Key issues identified included membrane and treatment technologies, chemical contaminants, waste stream disposal and reuse, fit for purpose technologies and risk assessment. Project development has subsequently focused on these areas.

5.1 Key achievements for the Wastewater Program in 2009/10

• The Distributed Systems Workshop provided the top ten priority research issues for WQRA members on distributed and decentralised systems.

• Two Wastewater projects were awarded funding in the November 2009 Australian Research Council Linkage round. The projects are:

o Project 2010: Investigation of endocrine disruption in Australian aquatic environments received funding of $395,000 from the ARC

o Project 2011: Optimisation of nutrient removal, membrane fouling and excess sludge dewatering in hybrid coagulation/submerged membrane bioreactor treatment of wastewaters received funding of $548,000 from the ARC

• Three Wastewater projects were awarded funding from the Smart Water Fund Victoria as part of their Round 7 funding initiative. The projects are:

o Project 2015: Inactivation of Cryptosporidium across the wastewater treatment train for water recycling received funding of $132,000

o Project 2016: Converting waste or solar heat to treated water received funding of $67,515

o Project 2017: Part 2: Quantification of pathogen removal in activated sludge treatment received funding of $213,297

• The final report for Project 2006 Membrane integrity testing for virus particle removal – Stage 1: Literature review was completed. The report made several recommendations on the practical application of this knowledge, and this information has been developed into a Stage 2 project submission, which is likely to commence in 2010/11.

• The development of a suite of environmental tools (i.e. ‘environmental toolbox’) for assessment of chemical risk for human and environmental health in recycled waters and wastewaters.

• The successful funding and establishment of a project with the Water Research Foundation called Protocol for developing chemical pretreatment for high pressure membranes. Water Research Foundation has committed to funding of $119,128.

5.2 Projects

5.2.1 WQRA Projects completed in 2009/10Quantificationof pathogenremovalinactivatedsludgetreatment (Project 2001)

Collaborators: Water Futures, La Trobe University, Australian Water Quality Centre, Smart Water Fund Victoria



The objective of this project was to provide information to assist the prediction of pathogen removal performance of activated sludge plants (ASP) and to enable the effect of ‘upset’ plant conditions on pathogen removal to be integrated into treatment plant management plans. The project had two elements:

• conduct a literature review on pathogen and indicator reduction by activated sludge plants, including an additional report to collate and analyse Australian data sets for pathogen and indicator removal by ASPs

• using a pilot scale ASP to determine the usefulness of indicators for Cryptosporidium reduction by ASP

The final report for Project 2001 was submitted to the Smart Water Fund Victoria in May 2010. The project team has successfully applied for new funding (WQRA Project 2017) from the Smart Water Fund Victoria to



continue work at the pilot plant at Eastern Treatment Plant (Victoria), which was established through this project. The final report is available for members.

Ecotoxicitytoolboxtoevaluatewaterqualityforrecycling (Project 2003)

Collaborators: Griffith University, Curtin University, University of Queensland, Water Corporation of WA, Department of Water (WA)



The project developed a toolbox of ecotoxicity tests that can be used to characterise water that is intended for recycling or discharge into the environment. In vitro tests for estrogenicity, androgenicity, phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were undertaken towards this aim. Due to a successful funding bid to the National Water Commission after the commencement of this project, the research has been extended through Project 2005.

Developmentof ‘ecotoxicitytoolbox’toevaluatewaterqualityforrecycling(Project 2005)

Collaborators: Griffith University, Department of Water (WA)



This project assessed the suitability of an ‘ecotoxicity toolbox’ approach to characterise water intended for recycling, using the Beenyup Wastewater Treatment Plant trial as a case study. The project included seasonal sampling of raw, primary, secondary and tertiary treated wastewater over a 12 month period. The project final report was delivered to the Department of Water (WA) in May 2010.

Membraneintegritytestingforvirusparticleremoval-Stage1LiteratureReview (Project 2006)

Collaborators: University of New South Wales



The objective of this project was to conduct a literature review on virus particle removal by membrane based water recycling plants. The review was completed in February 2010, and the project team has planned the second phase to this project. Stage 2, which comprises the field work component, will commence in the 2011 financial year. The final report from Project 2006 is available for members.

5.2.2 WQRA Projects UnderwayA national approach to the health risk assessment, risk communication and management of chemical hazards in recycledwater(Project 2002)

Collaborators: Griffith University, University of New South Wales, Australian Water Quality Centre, Griffith University, University of Queensland, United Water, CSIRO, ACTEW-AGL, Sydney Water Corporation, Melbourne Water, National Water Commission



This project aims to measure the biological activity in purified recycled water extracts using in vitro toxicity tests to assess the effectiveness of the treatment technologies and to inform risk assessment of recycled water for potable reuse. This project is well advanced and scheduled to be completed by December 2010. The tools and techniques developed during this project will have wide applicability in assessing and understanding the potential human health risks of a range of chemical mixtures in wastewaters.

Optimal management of corrosion and odour problems insewersystems(Project 2004)

Collaborators: University of Queensland, University of Newcastle, University of New South Wales, Curtin University, Sydney University, CH2MHill, Gold Coast Water, Melbourne Water, Sydney Water Corporation, South East Water, SA Water Corporation, United Water, Water Corporation of WA, Barwon Water, Hunter Water, Brisbane City Council



Managing corrosion and odour emissions from sewer systems incurs massive costs in Australia. This project will generate advanced knowledge and develop innovative technologies to support the Australian water industry in achieving efficient and cost-effective sewer management. As part of the on-going communication effort from this large, multi-stakeholder project, a project web site was established so that key project information and reports can be accessed.



Risk assessment for pathogens and organic contaminants in biosolids (Project 2007)

Collaborators: CSIRO, RMIT University, Curtin University, Water Corporation of WA, Department of Human Services (Vic)



The broad objective of this project is to better understand the risks posed to ecosystem and human health by contaminants and pathogens associated with biosolids. Specific objectives are to establish the persistence of pathogens and possible regrowth in land-applied biosolids and the persistence and mobility of organic contaminants in land-applied biosolids.

This project commenced under the CRCWQT and will be completed during the 2011 financial year.

Developmentof predictivetoolsformembraneageing(Project 2008)

Collaborators: University of New South Wales


Approved: March 2009

The objectives of this project are to develop analytical techniques to detect indicators of incipient changes due to membrane ageing; conduct accelerated ageing studies for five membrane materials; assess the long-term ageing propensity during cyclical fouling/cleaning experiments; and collect industrially-aged membrane from local filtration plants to be assessed with the same analytical tools.

Protocolfordevelopingchemicalpretreatmentforhighpressure membranes (Project 2009)

Collaborators: University of New South Wales, Water Research Foundation, Victoria University, University of Nevada



The objectives of this project are to evaluate the current methods used for dosing the chemicals in reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membrane systems; develop and validate a novel protocol for the evaluation of antiscalants; and develop and evaluate criteria to relate the decrease in operational cost of water treatment plants to the optimisation of chemical pretreatment for high-pressure membrane systems.

Investigationof endocrinedisruptioninAustralianaquaticenvironments(Project 2010)

Collaborators: Griffith University, University of Technology Sydney, RMIT University, University of New South Wales, Landcare Research (NZ), Sydney Water Corporation, Melbourne Water, Department of Water (WA), ARC



This project will survey Australian aquatic environments to determine the concentrations and sources of EDCs in natural waters and assess the potential effect of these concentrations on fish. The anticipated outcomes of this research will have significant national benefits in providing an accurate measure of the state of endocrine disruption in the Australian aquatic environment.

Optimisationof nutrientremoval,membranefoulingandexcesssludgedewateringinhybridcoagulation/submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) treatment of wastewaters(Project 2011)

Collaborators: Tsinghua University (China), Sydney Water Corporation, Origin Water (China), University of New South Wales, ARC



This project will improve nutrient removal, minimise membrane fouling and aid the dewatering of excess sludge by improved understanding of the behaviour of coagulants in the submerged membrane bioreactor treatment of wastewaters.

5.2.3 New WQRA Projects in 2009/10Tools for analysing androgenic, thyroid, glucocorticoid andprogestagenicactivityinenvironmentalwaters(Project 2014)

Collaborators: Global Water Research Coalition, Griffith University, KWR (Netherlands), TZW (Germany), WRC (South Africa), Veolia Anjou Recherche (France), USEPA, WERF, Water Research Foundation

Budget: $800,000 (approx.); WQRA Budget: $160,000


This project seeks to investigate methods for reliable detection of androgenic, thyroid, glucocorticoid and progestagenic activity in water to expand our knowledge and capacity to assess this issue.



Inactivationof Cryptosporidiumacrossthewastewatertreatmenttrainforwaterrecycling(Project 2015)

Collaborators: Australian Water Quality Centre, SA Water Corporation, Melbourne Water Corporation, City West Water, South East Water, Smart Water Fund Victoria



The project aims to optimise the foci of infectivity analytical technique for detection of low numbers of oocysts observed in recycled waters and to investigate the inactivation of Cryptosporidium across a range of wastewater treatment trains.

Convertingwasteorsolarheattotreatedwater (Project 2016)

Collaborators: Victoria University, City West Water, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water, Smart Water Fund Victoria



Status: Underway

Membrane distillation (MD) is a thermally-based desalination process that can treat water using low grade heat, i.e. solar or waste, for reuse in industry, thus substituting precious potable water and reducing discharge volumes to sewer. This project will demonstrate the capacity of MD to reduce discharge volumes to sewer and increase water recoveries driven by waste heat or renewable solar energy to minimise industry greenhouse gas emissions.

Part2:Quantificationof pathogenremovalinactivatedsludge treatment (Project 2017)

Collaborators: Australian Water Quality Centre, La Trobe University, Water Futures, Ecos Consulting, Smart Water Fund Victoria



Status: Underway

This project is an extension of Project 2001 Quantification of pathogen removal in activated sludge which investigated the reduction of the pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum and indicators E. coli, coliforms, enterococci, somatic phage and particle profiling in a pilot scale activated sludge plant operating at the Eastern Treatment Plant. This project aims to investigate atypical condition and will encompass lower hydraulic retention time (double flow, 2 replicates), and extended and shortened sludge ages. By performing the set experimental program, other parameters such as mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) variation will also be assessed.

Real time integrity monitoring for high pressure membrane systems (Project 2018)

Collaborators: Victoria University, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water, Coliban Water


Approved: January 2010

There is limited information in the literature that provides methods to evaluate reverse osmosis (RO) integrity or the efficacy of RO to remove microbiological contaminants. The literature identifies several integrity testing protocols that can be conducted off line, or that are used for components of the system or that require external analysis such as Veolia’s sulphate test, but none provide real time membrane integrity monitoring. This project explores real time integrity monitoring options.

Treatingwastewaterforpotablereuse:removalof chemicalsof concernusingadvancedoxidationprocesses (Project 2019)

Collaborators: Curtin University, GHD, Water Corporation of WA, Eawag, ARC



The overall aim of the proposed project is to minimise key chemicals of concern, including N-nitrosamines, in the water injected in the groundwater replenishment trial. This project will develop the fundamental science to enable design and implementation of novel advanced oxidation processes for removal of chemical of concern from wastewater for reuse. In addition, models will be developed to predict N-nitrosamine concentrations, which will be of considerable value to water utilities and researchers in this field.


WQRA Research Programs - Recycled Water

6. Recycled Water Research Program The Recycled Water (RW) Research Program was conceived during the formation of WQRA, and has grown significantly during the last financial year. The priority research areas overlap with the Wastewater Program and include membrane and treatment technologies, chemical contaminants, waste stream disposal and reuse, fit for purpose technologies and risk assessment. Project development has subsequently focused on these areas.

6.1 Key achievements for the Recycled Water Program in 2009/10

• The development, initiation and contracting of the first 5 projects in the Recycled Water Program.

• One Recycled Water project was awarded funding from the Smart Water Fund Victoria as part of their Round 7 funding initiative.

o Project 3006: ‘Greywater use in the backyard: what are the health risks?’ received funding of $131,396

• One Recycled Water project was submitted to the Australian Research Council Linkage program for support.

o Project 3003: ‘Fate and Effects of Micropollutants in Water Recycling: Influence of Dissolved Organic Matter’ requested funding of $258,000

• One Recycled Water project was awarded funding from the WateReuse Research Foundation.

o Project 3005: ‘Utilization of HACCP Approach for Evaluating Integrity of Treatment Barriers for Reuse’ received funding of $222,000

6.2 Projects

6.2.1 New WQRA Projects in 2009/10Detectionof crossconnectionsinpotablewaterdistribution systems - Stage 2: Field trials of candidate detection parameters (Project 3001)

Collaborators: CSIRO, Melbourne Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water, City West Water, Sydney Water Corporation


Board Approved: July 2009

Status: Underway

In dual reticulation schemes there is always the possibility of cross-connection of recycled water into the potable system, either by faulty plumbing or backflow preventers, or even deliberately. This project aims to investigate the feasibility of a low maintenance cross-connection detection device based on robust sensors for 2 or more parameters that can reliably detect the presence of recycled water in potable water with a low level of false positives. The final report is due in July 2010.

Exposureassessmentusingtracerchemicals-Stage1(Project 3002)

Collaborators: Monash University, RMIT University


Board approved: July 2009

Status: Underway

This project will determine whether it is feasible to measure actual water ingestion by spiking the water with a non-toxic chemical and measuring the amount of the chemical subsequently excreted in urine. Cyanuric acid is widely used in outdoor swimming pools to ‘stabilise’ chlorine by protecting it from UV degradation. When ingested, this compound is not metabolised but is 100% excreted in the urine within 24 hours. Measurement of cyanuric acid in urine has been successfully used to estimate water ingestion during swimming.

Project 3002 - RMIT University researcher Stephen Grist preparing samples for HPLC analysis


WQRA Research Programs - Recycled Water

Safetyof recycledwaterforendusersdeterminedbyamouseinvivomultigenerationalstudy–PhaseI (Project 3004)

Collaborators: Flinders University, Australian Water Quality Centre, Griffith University, Melbourne Water



Status: Underway

This project will be conducted in two phases. Phase I will establish new cost effective methods for detecting endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water and determine the effects of transportation and storage on the stability of EDCs and disinfection by-products in water samples.

Utilisationof HACCPApproachforEvaluatingIntegrityof Treatment Barriers for Reuse (Project 3005)

Collaborators: Michigan State University, University of New South Wales, Water Futures, DDB Engineering Inc. (US), Melbourne Water, SA Water Corporation, Gold Coast Water, South East Water, City West Water, Singapore PUB, Yarra Valley Water, Orange County Water District (US), West Basin Municipal Water District



Status: Contracting

The focus of this project is to build on the Australian and broader international experience with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) for recycled water management and to help evaluate, pilot test and tailor a HACCP approach to microbial control in US reclaimed water systems.

Greywateruseinthebackyard:whatarethehealthrisks? (Project 3006)

Collaborators: Monash University, Melbourne University, Smart Water Fund Victoria



Status: Underway

This project involves administering a survey to Melbourne householders asking them about their greywater use and monitoring greywater quality at selected households. This information will feed into a mathematical model to predict greywater related infection risk and disease burden.

6.2.2 Projects with WQRA support for NHMRC and ARC funding:FateandEffectsof MicropollutantsinWaterRecycling:Influenceof DissolvedOrganicMatter(Project 3003)

Collaborators: University of Queensland, University of New South Wales, Water Secure



Status: ARC decision pending

The project aims to:

• improve understanding of the fate of micropollutants during advanced treatment processes by measuring disolved organic matter (DOM) at different stages of the treatment train, instead of using surrogates (as all previous studies have done).

• investigate the influence of the changing properties of DOM on the bioavailability of micropollutants and how DOM itself affects bioassays.

Wastewater and Recycled Water Program Manager David Halliwell giving presentation at May 2010 Members Meeting


WQRA Programs - Education

7. WQRA Education Program

7.1 Introduction

The purpose of the Education Program is to build capability and capacity for the water industry by providing support to tertiary students at research member organisations and encouraging students to pursue a career in the water industry. This is achieved by providing opportunities for early career science students and graduates to discover the interesting and complex issues that drive research for water quality and safety. WQRA’s Research members comprise highly-regarded research groups focusing on a range of disciplines, including systems modelling, water chemistry and measurement techniques, biology and toxicology of cyanobacteria and pollutants, membrane filtration and other treatments, epidemiology, hydrology and ecology. WQRA Research members underpin the Education Program, by providing relevant projects for the different Initiatives and supporting students throughout their involvement with the Program.

Of the 79 PhD students who graduated in the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment (CRCWQT) Education Program, 90% found employment in a water industry related field, and many now work in our member and stakeholder organisations. WQRA’s Education Program recognises the significance of this contribution to industry skilling and professional development. The program supports WQRA’s research focus by ensuring student projects are closely aligned with priority issues and selecting high quality students and projects.

A particular highlight is the strong influence of collaborative projects across all three initiatives with both Industry and Research Centres contributing.

Furthermore, the Program provides a mechanism by which WQRA can leverage the in-kind expertise of a wide range of research providers for the relatively small investment of postgraduate scholarships and consumables/minor equipment.

In the past year significant time and effort has been applied to develop new policy and procedure guidelines. These documents are now available on the WQRA website, and it is anticipated that they will help to streamline the processes of calling for projects and students each year.

A ‘Careers’ brochure has been produced that is aimed at encouraging tertiary students to see the diversity within the water industry either for a career as a researcher, or as an employee in one of the many related organisations.

7.2 WQRA Education Committee

The WQRA Education Committee comprises Industry and Research member representatives who have an interest in helping WQRA to manage and develop the Program and Initiatives. The committee meets face-to-face once a year and via teleconference on a regular basis. The committee is Chaired by Professor Felicity Roddick of RMIT University and comprises the WQRA CEO and representatives from Industry and University members (see Table 1, section 1.1).

Professor Felicity Roddick (right), Chair of the WQRA Education Committee, with RMIT Summer Students (L-R) Tam Tran, Stephen Kennedy and Edward Jongebloed

7.3 Student Orientation

In the past year an orientation day was developed to provide a formal introduction to WQRA and the support and opportunities students can expect from their involvement with the Education Program Initiatives. Topics covered include an introduction to the company’s background and aims, presentations on the Australian Water Association (AWA) and the Young Water Professional Network, presentation skills, work-life balance and a perspective on a career in the water industry from a former PhD student. Two orientation days were held – one in conjunction with the AGM in November 2009 and the other with the February 2010 WQRA Members meeting. In addition to placing their Initiative in a wider industry perspective, the students have the opportunity to meet other WQRA students and member representatives from industry and research organisations.


7.4 Student Mentoring

A new Initiative this year has been to develop and begin to implement PhD student mentoring to give WQRA students an advantage through exposure to experienced water industry leaders. Mentoring is the informal transfer of knowledge, social capital, and the psychosocial support relevant to career and professional development, and involves informal communication, usually face-to-face and over a sustained period of time. Suitable mentors, from within the water community, are being sought for all PhD students. This relationship is intended to provide an enhanced appreciation and insight into the water industry that will encourage the student to make sound decisions about their future career path.

Currently WQRA Mentors are:

Mike Holmes (United Water International) mentoring Russell Yap (University of New South Wales),

Michele Akeroyd (WQRA) mentoring Anna Yeung (University of New South Wales) and

Terry Anderson (South East Water) mentoring Jeremy Hartley (Curtin University)

7.5 Future Initiatives

The Education Committee has held discussions about future initiatives that will provide benefits for WQRA members. Member enquiries have identified the need for an Employee Study Initiative. This Initiative is primarily to assist with retention of staff and encourage professional development within organisations. The employee benefits by attaining a higher degree by undertaking a Masters by part-time research. The primary benefits to the employer are the long term commitment from the employee and continual training and upskilling of staff. It is recognised that the project would need to be closely linked to the employee’s day-to-day job to be successful.

7.6 Education Program Initiatives

7.6.1 PhD InitiativeWQRA PhD Scholarships are awarded to students with excellent research potential who are undertaking a higher degree by research. WQRA provides students with the opportunity to enhance their research skills and professional development to a point that makes them a valuable and employable asset to the water industry.

The students attend an orientation day, receive registration for a conference (preferably Ozwater)

and attend and present at Members Meetings. They are provided with mentoring support and an AWA student membership, introduction to the YWP networks as well as professional development opportunities and legal advice.

This past year has been exciting as the Program has gained momentum and grown to include three new students. The successful applicants were Russell Yap (University of New South Wales), Sarit Kaserzon (Univeristy of Queensland) and Anna Yeung (University of New South Wales).

WQRA also took over responsibility for three PhD students appointed to the Wastewater Program that ran in parallel to the CRCWQT. These students are now formally transferred to the WQRA Education program. Table 5 shows the current WQRA students and their projects.

7.6.2 Nancy Millis PhD ScholarshipWQRA has established an elite scholarship to honour the remarkable contribution made to science and the water industry by former CRCWQT Chair, Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC MBE. This scholarship will be offered annually and awarded to an outstanding student.

The Nancy Millis PhD Scholarship package consists of:

• $10,000 pa stipend (up to 3.5 years)

• $25,000 operating allowance (duration of project)

In addition to the general PhD student support Nancy Millis PhD Award holders receive additional support for international conference attendance.

From the 2010 intake, the Nancy Millis PhD Scholarship was awarded to Jeremy Hartley (Curtin University) and Jane-Louise Lampard (Griffith University) (commencing September 2010).


Left: Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis, bottom left: Nancy Millis Scholarship recipient Jeremy Hartley with WQRA Chair Prof Michael R Moore, bottom right: Nancy Millis Scholarship recipient Jane-Louise Lampard with her supervisor Prof Heather Chapman



Wastewater students submitted thesis in 2009/10Kate LANGDON (Jun 2006) PhD

Dept of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide

Risk Assessment for Pathogens and Organic Contaminants in Biosolids

Wastewater students commenced year 4 & 5Heather BROWN (Feb 2006) PhD

Dept of Environmental Sciences, University of Technology Sydney

Assessing the impact of endocrine disrupting compounds in sewage contaminated waters using an effects based approach

Karen SCHWARZ (Jun 2006) PhD

Muresk Institute, Curtin University Pathogens in biosolids

WQRA students commenced 2009/10Arron LETHORN (Mar 2009) PhD

Curtin Water Quality Research Centre, Curtin University of Technology

Emerging Disinfection By-Products and Their Precursors in Drinking Water

Clara LOI (Mar 2009) PhD


Benzotriazoles and Benzothiazoles in Australian wastewater and drinking water sources

Jeremy HARTLEY (Jan 2010) PhD


Mechanisms of N-nitrosamine formation in secondary wastewaters and their removal by advanced oxidation processes

Russell YAP (May 2010) PhD

University of New South Wales Water Research Centre

Optimising dissolved air flotation for algae removal by bubble modification in drinking water and advanced wastewater systems

Sarit KASERZON (June 2010) PhD

Entox, University of Queensland Development and calibration of aquatic passive sampler technologies for emerging pharmaceuticals and water pollutants

Anna YEUNG (July 2010) PhD

University of New South Wales Water Research Centre

Physico-chemical controls on growth, toxicity and succession of Microcystis and Anabaena species in water supply reservoirs

Jane-Louise LAMPARD (September 2010) PhD

Smart Water Research Centre, Griffith University

Health risk assessment of stormwater harvested for reuse

Table 5: WQRA PhD Students (Nancy Millis PhDs highlighted)

WQRA postgraduate students (L-R) Arron Lethorn, Clara Loi, Charlotte Andringa-Bate (Hons), Russell Yap, Jeremy Hartley


Student Supervisor Project TitleCharlotte ANDRINGA-BATE Prof Cynthia Joll

Curtin UniversityPreformed Monochloramine for Disinfectant Redosing in Drinking Water Distribution Systems

Katherine SCAFFIDI Dr Fiona Young Flinders University

Establishment of an embryonic stem cell bioassay to assess the effect of cylindrospermopsin on early embryonic development

7.6.3 Honours InitiativeIn this new initiative, Honours scholarships were offered for 2010 commencement to Charlotte Andringa-Bate (Curtin University) and Katherine Scaffidi (Flinders University). Honours scholarships encourage students to remain within the research environment to further develop their skills and enhance their prospects of either securing a position within the water industry or continue on to a higher degree by research. The students attended an orientation day in February 2010, in Sydney and will present their research outcomes to the following year’s Summer Students in November 2010.

7.6.4 Summer Scholarship InitiativeIn 2009/10 WQRA hosted its third round of Summer Students. This initiative gives undergraduate students an opportunity to undertake a ten week research project, over the summer university break, in an area of relevance to the water community.

For the students it provides a taste of R&D in an industry-relevant project and also the opportunity to develop advanced skills in presenting to audiences and report writing. For WQRA industry members the Summer Initiative provides the opportunity to meet a group of high calibre students who have been exposed to the water industry.


In this year’s Summer Initiative nine students from various academic backgrounds undertook investigations in a diverse range of projects – see Table 7

The students gave presentations on the outcomes of their research to WQRA members and others at the Members Meeting in Sydney on 24 -25 February 2010. Judging the presentations were WQRA Chair Prof Michael Moore, Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis (former Chair of the CRCWQT) and new Education Committee member Simon Groves from Hunter Water.

Prizes were awarded to two outstanding students - Glenn McMellon and Paul Ly.

• Glenn’s project, Characterising Groundwater in the Arid Zone for Management of Hard Water in Remote Indigenous Communities, was conducted under the supervision of Ruth Elvin, Centre for Appropriate Technology and Prof David Waite, University of New South Wales.

• Paul Ly’s project focussed on An Evaluation of Algal Floc Structure using Fluorescence Microscopy. He was supervised by Dr Rita Henderson, University of New South Wales.

Table 6: WQRA Honours students

2010 Summer Students



7.7 Student Prizes and Awards

2008/09 WQRA Summer Student Dylan Irvine was awarded the 2009 Hodgson Medal at the South Australian AWA Water Awards night in November 2009 for “investigating the use of surfactant modified zeolite in wastewater treatment”.

CRCWQT PhD student Hanna Driessen was awarded a Commonwealth Training Scheme Scholarship to undertake the Graduate Certificate of Research Commercialisation.

CRCWQT PhD student Shoshana Fogelman was awarded the 2010 Australian Water Association, Australian Young Water Professional of the Year.

Kate Langdon was awarded the Australasian Society for Ecotoxicology (ASE), Student oral presentation award at the ASE conference September 2009, Adelaide, Australia

Dylan Irvine was awarded the 2009 Hodgson Medal

Student Supervisor Project TitleGlenn McMellon Ruth Elvin

Centre for Appropriate Technology

Characterising groundwater in the arid zone for management of hard water in remote indigenous communities

Paul Ly Dr Rita Henderson University of New South Wales

An evaluation of algal floc structure using fluorescence microscopy

Chee Long Tan Dr Chi Phan Curtin University

Removal of linear anionic surfactants from grey water by egg shell

Yasnessya Hardjono Dr Shoabin Wang Curtin University

Application of sulphate radicals for advanced oxidative removal of organic compounds in water

Stephen Kennedy Prof Mikel Duke Victoria University

Robust ceramic membranes for waste water treatment and demonstration of novel ozone cleaning

Lauren Serls Dr Kathryn Linge Curtin University

Optimal conditions for sample collection and sample preservation of a range of nitrogen containing disinfection by-products

Ruyang Li Peter Sanciolo Victoria University

Wastewater recycling at a hydroponic vegetable grower using membrane technology

Tam Tran Prof Felicity Roddick RMIT University

Application of immobilised catalase for recycling water

Edward Jongebloed Dr Kevin Hellier Melbourne Water

The impact of bushfire on water quality in Melbourne’s water supply catchments

Table 7: 2009/10 Summer Students



8. Marketing and CommunicationAs WQRA consolidates its niche in the Australian water industry, the primary communication goal is to ensure that member organisations are engaged with WQRA. The main mechanisms for engagement are through the Members Meetings, State Node meetings, Water Quality Matters and meetings with member organisations. The purpose of WQRA communication activities is to keep the membership informed about WQRA activities and research outcomes, evidence of the value and benefits of, their investment in WQRA, and to provide a forum for members to network and share research ideas and outcomes.

WQRA’s effectiveness and reputation relies on professionalism, responsiveness and the relationships developed among stakeholders. Over the past year WQRA has worked hard to build its profile in the Australian water community to ensure excellent outcomes for its members. WQRA communication and marketing has been geared to build a cooperative spirit and the demonstration of value to members.

8.1 Interactions with WQRA Members

Given the diversity and broad interest base of WQRA member organisations, an important part of WQRA’s role is to build links and encourage collaborations between members and also with external agencies that have complementary and converging interests.

WQRA utilises a range of strategies to develop dialogue and interaction among members and within the water community. They include:

• Members Meetings

• State Node meetings

• Issues-based workshops

• Visits to member organisations and other key stakeholders

• Conference, forum and external workshop attendance

• Newsletters

• Member Surveys

• Presentations

8.1.1 Members MeetingsWQRA Members Meetings provide an opportunity for members and invited guests to learn about industry-wide issues and be updated on progress in WQRA’s research and education programs. Members Meetings are held quarterly and assist in providing transparency of operations to members through high level reporting as well as offering representatives from the Australian water community the opportunity to network and share research ideas in a friendly and collaborative environment.

Members Meetings generally follow a format that begins with a morning session featuring keynote speakers, followed by WQRA updates from the Board Chair, CEO, Research Program Managers and Education Program Coordinator. In addition to updates about research projects and education initiatives, local project leaders and PhD students are invited to give presentations about the progress of their work.

Given that WQRA’s members are situated across Australia, the quarterly Members Meetings are held in different regions throughout the year to ensure that opportunities are provided for staff of local Member organisations to attend at least some meetings. During 2009/10 three general Members Meetings were held in Brisbane (Aug ‘09), Sydney (Feb ‘10), and Perth (May 10), and the WQRA AGM was in Adelaide in Nov ‘09.

Networking at Members Meeting


Marketing and Communication

Members Meeting – Brisbane, 28 August 2009Guest speakers at the August meeting were Dr Frans Schulting (Director of the Global Water Research Coalition), Dr Cedric Robillot (Water Secure), Mr Don Begbie (Urban Water Security Alliance), Prof Beate Escher (EnTox).

Research project updates were given by Dr Gayle Newcombe, Dr Fred Leusch and PhD student Ms Vicki Ross.

Annual General Meeting - Adelaide, 27 November 2009Sixty people, including member representatives and visitors, were welcomed to the WQRA AGM at SA Water House in Adelaide on Friday 27th November 2009. Highlights of the day included presentations by the invited speakers, Prof Chris Davis (National Water Commission) and Mr Andrew Speers (AWA), as well as updates on WQRA’s progress over the previous year and presentations on key project research outcomes from Mr Mike Burch (Australian Water Quality Centre) and Dr Martha Sinclair (Monash University).

WQRA Annual General Meeting, Adelaide 2009, (L-R) Martha Sinclair, Michele Carson, Alex Keegan

Members Meeting and Summer Scholarship Seminar – Sydney, 24-25 February 2010The Summer Scholarship reporting seminar is the main focus of the February Members Meeting, where the audience sees the results of the annual summer student project initiative. This year eight students – four from Victoria, two from WA, one from NSW and one from NT – gave presentations (see Table 7). Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis was invited to assess the presentations together with Board Chair Prof Michael R Moore and Mr Simon Groves from Hunter Water. Abstracts of all the projects can be viewed on the WQRA website.

Members Meeting - Perth, 28 May 2010 Invited speakers in Perth were Dr Nigel Mantle (Department of Water WA), Dr Tarren Reitsema (Department of Water WA), Dr Richard Theobald (WA Department of Health), Dr Andrew Bath (Water Corporation WA) and Mr Peter McCafferty (ChemCentre WA). Research project updates were given by Dr Blair Nancarrow (Syme and Nancarrow) Prof Anna Heitz (Curtin University) and the student presentation was by Mr Jeremy Hartley, WQRA’s first Nancy Millis PhD Scholarship recipient.

8.1.2 Node MeetingsWQRA conducts Node meetings that are regionally focused to enable a larger number of local member organisation representatives to engage with WQRA and its members. Node meetings are organised twice a year in each region, and where appropriate, held in tandem with related events. For example, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory hold regular Water Quality Network meetings, so where practical, Node meetings are organised to follow.

WQRA Annual General Meeting, Adelaide 2009



8.1.3 Member VisitsFollowing the targeted 2008/09 schedule of visits to member organisations, in 2009/10 WQRA has taken the opportunity to visit members when feasible, but also to meet with other key stakeholders and other potential members. The object of these visits is to:

• strengthen the relationship with member organisations and other key stakeholders;

• ensure that WQRA activities and future directions are aligned with member needs;

• form productive relationships within the water community;

• showcase what WQRA is aiming to achieve; and

• determine how WQRA can best support members, the water community and industry.

The following is a summary of visits to members and other organisations over the year by one or more of the Program Managers and/or the CEO.

The purpose of Node meetings is to:

• provide an update on local WQRA research projects

• promote the WQRA Education Program Initiatives

• enable WQRA members to share information

• provide advice on future initiatives or research opportunities

• provide the opportunity for staff of member organisations, who might not be able to attend Members Meetings, to be updated on WQRA activities

• discuss issues with a state or regional focus

• provide an opportunity for members to provide feedback and input into future WQRA directions and initiatives

• provide an opportunity for members to find out more about WQRA

The primary audience is member representatives and project leaders, however external stakeholders may also be invited. The format is usually a short presentation from WQRA, followed by a ‘round table’ discussion between participants. If appropriate, guest speakers may be invited to give presentations on new initiatives of relevance to the industry. The format is flexible and reflects the needs of each Node. Table 8 shows the dates and locations of Node meetings held in 2009/10.

Region Date Location/HostNSW 9 October 2009 Sydney Water

10 April 2010 University of New South Wales

Qld 13 May 2010 BrisbaneVic/Tas 14 October 2009 Coliban Water

21 April 2010 Victoria UniversityWA 24 March 2010 ChemCentreNT/SA/WA

6 August 2009 Alice Springs (Power and Water NT)

25 March 2010 Albany, WA (Water Corporation of WA)

Table 8: Node Meetings 2009/10

David Halliwell, Michele Akeroyd and Dharma Dharmabalan at the Coliban Water Treatment Plant, photographer Brendan McCarthy, courtesy of Bendigo Advertiser



Organisation visited/contacted during 2009/10Members Non-MembersAustralian Water Association Australian Water Quality Centre Barwon Water Centre for Appropriate TechnologyChemCentreColiban WaterCurtin UniversityDepartment of Health VicDepartment of Water (WA)Flinders UniversityGriffith UniversityHunter WaterMelbourne WaterMonash UniversityMurdoch University Power and Water Corporation (NT)RMIT UniversitySA Water CorporationSouth East Water LimitedSyme and Nancarrow WaterUnited WaterUniversity of NewcastleUniversity of NSWUniversity of QueenslandUniversity of South AustraliaUniversity of WollongongVictoria UniversityWannon WaterWater Corporation of WAWater FuturesYarra Valley Water

Aqua Guardian Group LtdAusIndustryAustralian Water Recycling Centre of ExcellenceCSIRODepartment of Commerce NSWDept of Environment, Water, Heritage and the ArtsGlobal Water Research Coalition (Netherlands)Infrastructure AustraliaInstitute of Environmental Science & Research Limited (NZ)International Water Association (Netherlands)KWR (Netherlands)La Trobe UniversityMaster Plumbers and Mechanical Services AssociationMurray Darling Basin AuthorityNational Centre for Groundwater Training and ResearchNational Health and Medical Research CouncilNational Water CommissionNEDO - JapanNSW Office of Water SeqwaterSmart Water Victoria STOWA (Netherlands)Sydney Water CorporationUS EPA (US)Vewin (Netherlands)Water Industry AllianceWater Research Foundation (US)Water Services Association of Australia WateReuse Research Foundation (US)WaterSecureWater Environment Research Fund (US)

8.1.4 Conference attendance14th Annual National Water Australia Conference (August 2009)The 14th Annual National Water Australia Conference was convened in Melbourne and the Wastewater and Recycled Water Program Manager participated in a panel discussion on ‘Best practice treatment methodologies to achieve high quality water’. Drs Dennis Steffensen and Martha Sinclair were also on the panel.

Table 9: Visits to members and other key stakeholders during 2009/10

Reuse’09(September2009)The 7th IWA World Congress on Water Reclamation and Reuse was held from 20 – 25 September in Brisbane. WQRA was a Bronze Sponsor of this event and also sponsored a plenary session. Reuse ‘09 was attended by approximately 350 delegates, and provided an opportunity to gain a global perspective and meet and/or hear project leaders working in a diverse range of reuse water research areas.



Ozwater‘10(March2010)Ozwater ’10, held in Brisbane 8-10 March, enabled WQRA attendees to network and meet with water industry people from around the country. Highlights for WQRA were the workshop on day 1, where seven respected representatives of industry, research, regulation and funders gave the audience a snapshot of their organisation’s drivers.

At Ozwater, AWA celebrates the achievements and dedication of leaders in the Australian water industry. It is pleasing to note that WQRA Members are frequently among those recognised. In 2009/10 Allen Gale, (recently of Goulburn Valley Water) was given the award for Exceptional Service, Mary Drikas from the Australian Water Quality Centre was awarded Water Industry Woman of the Year and Darryl Day was awarded Life Membership of the AWA (a nomination for which WQRA provided a testimonial).

Water Industry Woman of the Year - Mary Drikas, photo courtesy of AWQC

WQRA sponsored a Plenary address by A/Prof Greg Leslie (Deputy Director of the UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology at University of New South Wales) entitled “Nutrient recovery from Municipal Water Recycling Plants: The challenges and benefits in a carbon and phosphate constrained world”. This session was chaired by the WQRA CEO.

Following Reuse ’09 the Decentralised Systems Workshop was facilitated by Water Futures on Friday 25th. The Program Manager Wastewater and Recycled Water presented the outcomes of the WQRA Decentralised Systems Workshop held on 27th August 2009.

Water in the Bush (October 2009)This was an AWA conference held during Water Week which focused on water issues in the Northern Territory. The Drinking Water Program Manager attended this conference.

WaterQualityTechnicalConference(November2009)The American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Quality Technical Conference 2009 was held in Seattle, Washington from 16 – 19 November. The WQRA CEO attended various workshops, AWWA committee meetings and conference sessions. The conference provided an excellent opportunity to hold individual meetings with key personnel of some of WQRA’s international collaborators, including the Water Research Foundation, US EPA and WERF.

Membrane Society of Australasia Student Symposium (February 2010)The Membrane Society of Australasia convened its first student symposium at the University of Wollongong. WQRA is a corporate member and supporter of the Membrane Society of Australasia, given the importance of membrane technologies to the WQRA Program areas. The Wastewater and Recycled Water Program Manager attended.

WQRA workshop discussion panel



The winning business card for this year’s prize – a bottle of wine and set of WQRA coasters – was drawn by Dr Stephen Gray WQRA Member Representative for Victoria University. The winner was Karen McPherson of Queensland Urban Utilities.

WQRA CEO with Dr Stephen Gray drawing winning business card at Ozwater

SingaporeInternationalWaterWeekandWaterConvention(27Juneto2July2010)A record number of delegates (more than 1000) attended the 3rd Singapore International Water Week conference, and several thousand more attending the trade show held concurrently. This year International Water Week was convened alongside the World Cities Summit Conference at the Suntec Convention Centre.

Four concurrent streams were run at the water convention, including a Water Quality and Health stream. The Wastewater and Recycled Water Program Manager (Dr David Halliwell) represented WQRA at the conference this year and also attended a GWRC Convened Workshop at PUB’s WaterHub in Singapore, where the main theme was climate change and the energy/water nexus. At this workshop there was a particular focus on aeration and pumping processes, as two of the larger energy consumers in water treatment.

David Halliwell (R) at SIWW with, from L-R, Cora Uijterlinde (STOWA), Frans Schulting (GWRC) and Ross Young (WSAA

InternationalClimateChangeAdaptationConference,GoldCoast(June29toJuly12010)Co-hosted by Australia’s National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility and the CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship, this conference focussed solely on climate impacts and adaptation. The Drinking Water Program Manager attended.

8.1.5 Members Surveys and Requests Targeted surveys can be useful for quickly gathering information, gauging interest or determining attitudes amongst the membership. WQRA currently has a subscriber list of around 350 people who work for member organisations. When there is a need to canvas members a survey is sent by email to this list. In the past year members have been asked to respond on three matters:

• Pre-workshop survey on Distributed Systems

• Pre-workshop survey on Cryptosporidium

• Web browser technologies across the WQRA members

This mailing list is also used when there is a request for information or expertise in a particular area. For example, in the past twelve months we have received such requests on stream condition in Victoria, removal of uranium from water, MIB and geosmin in a water storage. These requests have been from both member organisations and non-members, and elicit responses from those organisations or their staff members with relevant interest or knowledge.

8.1.6 Member Research Forums and WorkshopsWQRA is keen to gain a better understanding of member operating environments, and accepts invitations to attend R&D planning days or present to stakeholder groups.

Centre for Water Management and Reuse: Research Planning Workshop (Aug 2009)The University of SA convened a workshop to identify key future R&D topics for the centre, inviting a wide range of stakeholders to contribute. The WQRA CEO Jodieann Dawe, the Wastewater and Recycled Water Programs Manager David Halliwell and the Drinking Water Program Manager Michele Akeroyd attended.

WSAABushfirePreparednessWorkshop(November2009)WSAA convened a bushfire preparedness workshop in light of the recent Victorian bushfires, which was focussed on a water industry perspective.


research organisations on the outcomes of recent initiatives and will cover experiences and processes relating to ideas capture, R&D planning and technology transfer. The Acting CEO attended and presented on the WQRA research programs.

8.2 WQRA Submissions

In the past year WQRA has prepared a number of submissions on issues of relevance to the membership. WQRA has the ability to provide an independent, representative voice, and we are grateful to members who provided input to the preparation of responses to the following calls for submissions.

• On 15th January 2010 WQRA lodged a submission to the NHMRC on the proposed revisions to the Australia Drinking Water Guidelines.

• On 15th February 2010 WQRA submitted a response to the Australian Research Council’s Consultation Paper on the Linkage Projects scheme.

• The report of the George River Water Quality Panel into water quality in the St Helens (Tasmania) area was released on 29 June 2010. The George River Water Quality Panel of eminent and independent scientists included WQRA’s Prof Michael R Moore and Prof John McNeil, and produced a report following issues raised in ABC’s Australian Story program, and passed the findings to the Premier of Tasmania.

8.3 Media Activity

Rouse Hill report launchCRCWQT/WQRA project 1109 Health Services Utilisation and Urban Dual Reticulation Systems was a collaboration between Monash University and the Hawkesbury-Hills Division of General Practice (HHDGP) in Sydney. Nearly 36,000 patient records were examined – around 60% from homes in suburbs with dual reticulation and 40% with potable water only – to see if any difference could be detected in the reasons for GP visits.

The study, which began in April 2007, focused on three conditions which could conceivably be the result of exposure to recycled water, i.e. gastroenteritis, dermal complaints and acute respiratory complaints of presumed infectious or allergic origin, if the water treatment was not adequate. It was the first study of this type and no difference was detected between the two groups.


National Management strategies were presented and discussed along with water quality implications and management strategies. The Wastewater and Recycled Water Program Manager (Dr David Halliwell) attended.

WSAAProtozoaWorkshop(November2009)The Drinking Water Program Manager attended a workshop in Adelaide regarding Cryptosporidium management across Australia. The workshop involved a number of presentations followed by a discussion session. This meeting provided a very informative national snapshot of Cryptosporidium management by water utilities. The outcomes of this meeting informed the content and direction of the WQRA Cryptosporidium workshop.

WSAAADWGWorkshop(November2009)This workshop was aimed at providing an overview of the proposed changes to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2004, including presentations on the key aspects of the revisions. The Drinking Water Program Manager attended.

Melbourne Water Research Strategy Presentation to Stakeholders Meeting (Dec 2010)Melbourne Water convened its annual Research Strategy Presentation to Stakeholders day and the Wastewater and Recycled Water Programs Manager David Halliwell and Drinking Water Program Manager Michele Akeroyd attended.

AWA‘What’snewinWater’ResearchForum(May2010)The Qld Branch of the AWA, with assistance from WQRA, convened a research forum day titled, “What’s new in water?” A number of WQRA projects were presented, and the day was well represented by a strong National audience. The Wastewater and Recycled Water Programs Manager David Halliwell and the Acting CEO Michele Akeroyd attended. The Acting CEO presented on the WQRA research portfolio.

SAWaterResearch,DevelopmentandInnovationForum(May 2010)SA Water convened its annual RDI Forum and the Wastewater and Recycled Water Programs Manager David Halliwell, Drinking Water Project officer Gareth Roezsler, and Marketing and Communications Manager Angela Gackle attended.

WaterServicesAssociationof AustraliaR&DForum(June2010)The main aim of this workshop was to discuss science and research initiatives by WSAA members. The workshop included presentations by members and



This reassuring outcome was announced at a media event on Thursday August 13th 2009 at Rouse Hill. WQRA Board Chairman Professor Michael R Moore and Monash University’s Dr Karin Leder attended the launch which was hosted by the HHDGP CEO Darren Carr.

Whilst the media coverage was mostly state-based (local TV Sydney Morning Herald and Rouse Hill Times), there was some wider interest, and The Australian and West Australian published news items about the report on the following day.

Dr Karin Leder and Darren Carr at the launch of the Rouse Hill water study

Monash University study on rainwater tank water qualityWQRA project 1011 Health effects of drinking water from rainwater tanks was a PhD project conducted by Shelly Rodrigo (Monash). A research report was also produced and generated considerable interest. The study looked at the health effects of drinking rainwater in about 300 households in Adelaide. The findings were presented in the US in November 2009 at the American Public Health Association 137th Annual meeting in Philadelphia.

On Wednesday 4th November 2009 the Australian Science Media Centre held an online science briefing on this study. Associate Professor Karin Leder gave a short presentation that was followed by a Q & A session. Eight journalists participated in the briefing, and several questions were posed. Channel 10 in Adelaide requested a local person who could comment on the study, and Professor Bursill agreed to be interviewed. This story was extensively picked up by new services around the world, via Reuters, AAP Asia Pulse and the ABC in Australia, as well as other domestic radio and print networks.

Community Water Planner – Field Guide Project WQRA project 1001 Guidelines and Best Practice Documentation – Water Supply in Remote Indigenous Communities was a collaborative project funded by the National Water Commission, led by Robyn Grey-Gardner of the Centre for Appropriate Technology and managed by WQRA. The National Water Commission’s Ken Matthews issued a press release on October 19th to launch the Field Guide to the Community Water Planner. Robyn was interviewed by SBS radio, ABC radio in Darwin, Radio 4KIG in Townsville, National Indigenous Radio in Brisbane, and the Koori Mail.

Permeable PavementsChannel 7 News Adelaide interviewed Simon Beecham on Tuesday 16th February, 2010 about permeable pavement with underlying storage constructed as part of the research project that incorporates Baden Myers’ PhD project.

8.4 Public Presentations

Jodieann Dawe presented at Ozwater ‘10 (Mar 2010) – WQRA workshop

David Halliwell, Wastewater Program Manager presented at the inaugural World Plumbing Day on 11 March 2010. The theme for the day was ‘Plumbing - Vital to Global Health’. Dr Halliwell spoke about water recycling in the context of WQRA’s research.

David Halliwell participated on a panel session at the 14th National Water Conference (Aug 2009) titled, ‘Best practice treatment methodologies to achieve high quality water’ with Drs Dennis Steffensen (Australian Water Quality Centre) and Martha Sinclair (Monash University).

David Halliwell presented at ReUse’09 (Sep 2009) on the outcomes from the WQRA R&D priorities workshop on ‘Distributed (decentralised) Systems.

Michele Akeroyd presented at the AWA ‘What’s new in water Forum’.

David Halliwell with fellow presenter Shane Jacobsen at World Plumbing Day


8.5 Publications

WQRA has information brochures designed to provide some background about the organisation and the benefits of becoming a member. These brochures can be downloaded from the WQRA website.

A new Careers in Water brochure was produced in 2009/10, which contains information about WQRA’s Education Program initiatives. The brochure features testimonials from a number of young water professionals from member organisations giving personal perspectives, and reinforces that the water industry is diverse and interesting and provides opportunities in many fields.

A regularly updated list of current research projects, with brief descriptions, has been a very useful document to distribute at Node meetings, and conferences and to give potential members and visitors who are interested in a snapshot of the WQRA research portfolio.

The AWA Journal ‘Water’ published a four page paper about WQRA in Volume 37, Issue 1 of February 2010 to coincide with Ozwater‘10, outlining the achievements of the first full year of operation.

Table 10 (in Section 11.1) lists the final reports that have been produced in the past year. If it is considered that there will be significant interest in a final report limited quantities may be printed. In 2009/10 four reports (RR 73, RR 74, RR 79, RR 81) were printed and distributed to Member organisations.

8.5.6 NewslettersWQRA produces three newsletters - ‘WQRA News’ ‘Water Quality Matters’ and ‘Health Stream’.

WQRA News is circulated regularly to a list of nearly 700 subscribers, many of whom are employed by member organisations, but also includes people who have an interest in water quality research. This newsletter aims to provide regular brief updates on forthcoming events, short reports on activities and programs and newsworthy items of interest to the readership.

The first issue of WQRA’s quarterly newsletter Water Quality Matters was produced in April 2010. This publication is sent to subscribers from member organisations, and provides more in-depth information about research projects, member news and other relevant topics. This newsletter is distributed following quarterly Members Meetings.

Health Stream is a quarterly newsletter that is produced on behalf of WQRA by Dr Martha Sinclair at Monash University since 1996, and provides topical information about water-related issues in health research. Sources of articles include general news and science literature.

Issues 55-58 featured the Brisbane fluoride dosing incident, water quality issues in Australian alpine resorts, an endemic waterborne disease study from the US, the report on a Salmonella outbreak in Colorado in 2008, the Coomera cross-connection incident, the WHO biennial report on progress towards the Millennium Development Goal targets relating to drinking-water and sanitation and the May 2010 main break in Boston US.

Circulation for the print version of Health Stream is more than 2300 copies, with readers in 67 countries. A further 2000-plus readers are registered for email notification of new issues.

A request was received from the librarian at Goulburn-Murray Water seeking permission to create a direct link to Health Stream on the G-MW intranet. WQRA encourages such access and wider dissemination, as Health Stream is an important vehicle for promoting public health issues related to water on the national (and international) agenda.



Corporate Services

9. Corporate Services

9.1 Key achievements for Corporate Services in 2009/10

• With the initial research portfolio moving through approval processes and into contracting and project commencement, a great deal of effort during 2009/10 went into negotiating the template research project agreements with the legal departments of Research Members, collaborators and external funders. The dividends from having agreed templates are beginning to pay off as WQRA moves into 2010/11 with the ability to execute agreements within days.

• In the first half of the year new systems, processes and controls were implemented across WQRA’s financial area. Outputs have included: improved board financial reporting, processes to accurately monitor project commitments and acquittals, and strengthened budget and forecasting models.

• With the implementation of stronger financial controls a delegated authorities policy was developed to facilitate delegation of appropriate operational approval levels to the CEO and Chief Operating Officer. The policy was approved by the Board on 30 October 2009.

• With WQRA’s previous auditors being the long term auditors of the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment, it was decided that for 2009/10 new auditors should be appointed to bring fresh eyes to the critical governance oversight process of the external audit. A tender process was conducted and national firm BDO Australia was recommended to members who approved the change of auditor at the Annual General Meeting in November.

• The completion of the first draft of WQRA’s first strategic plan was a key focus and achievement for the second half of 2009/10.


National and International Alliances

10. National and International Alliances

10.1 Australian Collaborations

The political and socioeconomic landscape of the water industry has changed dramatically in recent years, with new specialised research centres established in many universities, and some states, and new Centres of Excellence with a water focus. WQRA recognises the importance of understanding the existing matrix of water organisations and the importance of developing strategic linkages with those organisations that may provide synergistic benefit to WQRA and its members.

During the year, the focus has been on developing strong networks and productive relationships with organisations outside the WQRA membership. This includes:

• Water Services Association of Australia (National)

• Urban Water Security Research Alliance (Qld)

• Australian Research Council (National)

• National Health and Medical Research Council (National)

• CSIRO (National)

• National Water Commission (National)

• South East Queensland Water Utilities

• Centre of Excellence for Water Recycling

• Smart Water Fund (Victoria)

10.2 International Collaborations

International alliance and research collaborations are a key component to the success of WQRA and the dissemination of overseas research findings to the Australian Water Industry. There are several significant organisations with which WQRA has formed relationships, and will continue to work diligently to sustain these relationships.

These organisations include:

• Global Water Research Coalition

• Water Research Foundation

• Water Environment Research Fund (WERF)

• KWR (Netherlands)

• PUB (Singapore)

• WateReuse Research Foundation

10.2.1 Global Water Research CoalitionThe Global Water Research Coalition, of which WQRA is a member, held two Board meetings during the past year – in Seattle, November 2009 and in Rotterdam, April 2010. The GWRC Technical and Board meetings provide excellent opportunities for WQRA to form linkages and networks with key international agencies, to help provide a global context for the development of WQRA research priorities and projects. The GWRC forum also provides the opportunity for collaborative project development.

Global Water Research Coalition Members, Rotterdam, April 2010


National and International Alliances

The WQRA CEO attended the Water Quality Technical Conference and GWRC Technical and Board meetings in Seattle and met with Water Research Foundation, WERF and the USEPA. Many high level decisions are made around committee tables and the AWWA is a significant participant and driver at international forums. The GWRC technical presentation from Seattle Public Utilities Board emphasised environmental sustainability, use of stormwater and recycled water. The USEPA and WERF also discussed the way in which they define their research priorities.

The Acting CEO attended the GWRC Board meeting in Amsterdam in mid April 2010. While in the Netherlands she met with: the Executive Director and Manager Water Source and Quality of Vewin to discuss organisation of the Dutch water sector and water quality issues; key staff of IWA for discussions on their activities, including opportunities to be an active participant in some of the workshops for the World Water Congress in Montreal; a representative of STOWA, which coordinates and commissions research on behalf of the local water administrations; a number of staff of KWR for discussions on their activities, including water quality and health, and distribution systems and water treatment.

10.3 Memberships and Committees

WQRA supports other research and industry organisations through membership or participation on committees.

10.3.1 Membership• WQRA is a Platinum member of the Australian

Water Association under a reciprocal membership agreement.

• WQRA is a Silver Corporate member of WaterAid.

• WQRA is a corporate member of the Membrane Society of Australasia (MSA), with membrane technologies ranking as the highest priority issue in the wastewater and recycled water research programs.

10.3.2 Committees• The WQRA CEO is a member of the Curtin

Water Quality Research Centre Board.

• The WQRA CEO sits on the advisory committee of the SA Water Centre for Water Management and Reuse. The University of South Australia and South Australian Water Corporation are partners in this Centre, established in 2004 as a joint venture to build capability in water and waste water treatment, water reuse, total water cycle management, water sensitive urban design, environmental biotechnology, water utilisation from the River Murray and the provision of water services for rural and desert communities.

• The Program Manager Wastewater/Recycled Water sits on the Industry Advisory Committee for the Institute for Sustainability and Innovation (Victoria University).

• The Program Manager Wastewater/Recycled Water sits on the RMIT University Environmental Science Degree Program Advisory Committee. This group meets every 6 months to discuss the curriculum for this degree, industry placement and input.

• The Program Manager Wastewater/Recycled Water sits on the Monash University Environmental Science Degree Program Advisory Committee. This group meets every 6 months to discuss the curriculum for this degree, industry placement and input

• The Program Manager Wastewater/Recycled Water is also the Victorian representative on the National Committee for the Environmental Nutrients Collaborative Trial, which runs an annual laboratory proficiency trial program.

• The Program Manager Drinking Water is a member of the Water Research Foundation Project Advisory Committee for the project ‘Optimising conventional treatment methods for the removal of algal toxins’


Transition - CRCWQT to WQRA

11. Transition from CRCWQT After 13 years the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment (CRCWQT)- formed under the Commonwealth’s Cooperative Research Centres Program - ended on 30 June 2008, after two rounds of Federal funding. The governing boards of the CRCWQT and the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) worked together to establish an independent scientific research centre to build on the achievements of the CRC beyond 2008 – Water Quality Research Australia Limited (WQRA). WQRA is an independent, industry-funded company that continues to address the Australian water industry needs in water quality research by facilitating excellence and collaboration in national R&D projects.

The formation of WQRA marks the successful transition from a CRC model to an industry-funded company. WQRA focuses on the Australian water industry’s needs in water quality research through facilitating excellence and collaboration in national R&D projects

From the translation of the research outcomes into real world industry situations, significant economic benefit has flowed to the Australian water industry members through efficiency gains in water treatment and distribution system management. As an example, an economic evaluation (2005) of CRCWQT outputs estimated that benefits from implementing research findings in chemical management created direct industry savings of up to $26 million per annum from the reduction in chemical use.

In the transition from CRCWQT to WQRA a small number of projects and post-graduate students that were either in progress or just commencing at the time when the CRCWQT ceased. These projects migrated into the WQRA Drinking Water Program and Wastewater/Recycled Water Programs and are reported on under the relevant programs. In addition, WQRA has overseen the publication of the final reports of more than thirty CRCWQT projects. The production of final reports and progress of post-graduate students is reported in this section below.

11.1 Final report production

Although the CRCWQT ended officially in 2008, a significant number of final research reports were still to be published. In the past year WQRA has managed the completion of 15 final CRCWQT reports one Global Water Research Foundation report and one Water Environment Research Foundation report. The final tally of CRCWQT publications is 83 in the Research Report series, 9 Occasional Papers, 8 Technical Fact Sheets and various publications in collaboration with other agencies.

WQRA is most grateful to many industry and research colleagues who provided peer review of reports. Sincere thanks to all those who have generously given their time and expertise to help ensure high quality publications.

The CRCWQT publications will continue to be freely available as PDFs from the WQRA website.

The CRC Reports in Table 10 were completed in 2009/10 and all can now be downloaded from the WQRA website: www.wqra.com.au



Report # Title DateRR 55 Development of a Dissolved Organic Carbon Detection System for Size Exclusion

Chromatography(Jun 10)

RR 65 BMAA in Potable Waters: an International Assessment of Exposure Levels (Apr 10)RR 70 Decision Support Systems for Water Quality Optimisation (Jun 10)RR 71 Development of Tools for Improved Disinfection Control (May 10)RR 73 Taste and Odours in Reservoirs (Mar 10)RR 74 Management Strategies for Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae): A Guide for Water

Utilities (Jun 10)

RR 75 Case Studies Using S::CAN On-line Monitoring System (Jul 09)RR 76 Dissolved Organic Carbon Removal by Biological Treatment (Apr 10)RR 77 Benchmarking Water Sensitive Urban Design – Payne Road (Nov 09)RR 79 Understanding the Growth of Opportunistic Pathogens in Distribution Systems (Oct 09)RR 80 Advanced Characterisation of Natural Organic Matter (Jun 10)RR 81 Health Services Utilisation and Urban Dual Reticulation Systems (Aug 09)RR 82 Characterisation of Natural Organic Matter in Highly Coloured Surface Waters (Jun 10)RR 84 Quality of stored rainwater used for drinking in metropolitan South Australia (Mar 10)RR 85 Development of Biological Treatment Systems for Concentrated Natural Organics

Streams(Apr 10)

Table 10: CRCWQT Research Reports completed in 2009/10



11.2 PhD students

Seventeen of the remaining CRCWQT PhD students have graduated or submitted theses in the past year (see Table 11 below).

The WQRA Education Program has continued to monitor the students’ progress as they near completion. WQRA receives a copy of the PhD thesis, which is available to our members. It is anticipated that the majority of the remaining CRCWQT students will submit and graduate within the next twelve months.

Students have been encouraged to attend relevant conferences and submit papers for the IWA/YWP Conference to communicate their research outputs to industry.

An important purpose of this networking is to enable WQRA to continue to gauge the success of the program in steering young scientists into the water industry.

Table 11: CRCWQT PhD students and current status

PhD Students and University PhD Project CRC Students graduated in 2009/10 Lyndon Berwick (Feb 2005) PhD Curtin University

Thermal maturation studies of natural organic matter to release macro-molecularly bound biomarkers and investigate the diagenetic pathway of major organic precursors

Rebecca Campbell (Mar 2003) PhD Australian Water Quality Centre and University of South Australia

Molecular and evolutionary investigations into the cyanotoxin, cylindrospermopsin

Jodi Dong (Mar 2004) PhD Griffith University

Urban planning and integrated water management : towards an alternative institutional model

Robert Huston (Mar 2005) PhD Griffith University

Chemical contaminants in urban rainwater tanks

Robert May (Mar 2003) PhD University of Adelaide, United Water

Tools for the improved control of disinfection residuals within water distribution systems

Shelly Rodrigo (Apr 2006) PhD Monash University, IPRS

Health risk associated with consumption of untreated rainwater in metropolitan South Australia

Victoria Ross (Mar 2004) PhD University of Queensland

The role of trust in community acceptance of urban water management schemes: A social -psychological model of the characteristics and determinants of trust and acceptance

Sylwia Solarska (Mar 2004) PhD RMIT University

Application of white-rot fungi for the biodegradation of natural organic matter from potable water

David Stork (Mar 2007) Masters RMIT University

An investigation into membrane fouling from algae-containing waters.

Ian White (Mar 2005) PhD Griffith University

Social interactions with rainwater tank technologies

Somprasong Laingam (Jul 2005) PhD, University of Adelaide

Investigation into the genotoxicity of certain disinfection by-products isolated from Australian drinking waters



PhD Students and University PhD Project CRC students submitted thesis in 2009/10David Beale (Mar 2004) PhD RMIT University

Development of a portable instrument for the determination of pesticide residue in natural waters

Kathy Cinque (Sept 2005) PhD RMIT University, Melbourne Water

A quantitative approach to assessing the effectiveness of catchment management for the improvement of drinking water quality

Daniel Couton (Feb 2002) PhD Curtin University

The structure and chemistry of natural organic matter in groundwaters from the Gnangara Mound

Shengfu Fang (Feb 2004) PhD University of South Australia

Decomposition of triclosan from wastewater that may used as drinking source

Baden Myers (Mar 2006) PhD University of South Australia

The physical, chemical and biological treatment of water by permeable pavements with underlying storage

Dina Zebian ( Mar 2006) PhD Flinders University

Effects of cylindrospermopsin on aspects of human reproduction

CRC students commenced years 3 & 4 Darren Broad (Mar 2003) PhD University of Adelaide

Decision support system to maintain water quality

Shoshana Fogelman (Mar 2003) PhD Griffith University

Development of a universal calibration system for the on-line analysis of drinking water

Stacey Hamilton (Mar 2004) PhD Curtin University

Characterisation and treatability of natural organic matter in groundwaters used for drinking water

Xiaoxia Qiu (Mar 2005) PhD University of South Australia, IPRS

Biodegradation of triclosan as a representative of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the wastewater environment

Heather Uwins (Feb 2003) PhD Griffith University

Triggers for taste and odour- microbial production of geosmin and MIB in drinking water distribution systems

CRC students commenced in year 5 Grace Chan (Sept 2006) PhD University of Adelaide

Spatial and temporal features of hydrodynamics and biogeochemistry in Myponga Reservoir, South Australia

Hanna Driessen (Mar 2006) PhD Curtin University

Chlorinous off-flavours in drinking water

Jason Dunlop (Mar 2006) PhD University of Queensland, DNRM Qld

Development of water quality guidelines for salinity in freshwaters

Ross Kleinschmidt (Mar 2006) PhD Queensland University of Technology, Queensland Health

Radioactive residues associated with water treatment, use and disposal In Australia

Nicole Thornton (Feb 2006) PhD University of Technology Sydney, Gosford Council

Water use in urban households: perceptions, attitudes and values in Gosford City households

Dawn White (Oct 2006) PhD Curtin University

The use of stable isotopes for the characterisation of natural organic matter and investigation of the different organic precursors of aquatic systems


Financial Report

12. Financial Report

Directors’ Report The Board of Directors of Water Quality Research Australia Limited (“WQRA”) has pleasure in presenting this report for the financial year ended 30 June 2010 to members.

The Board

The Board of Water Quality Research Australia is composed of 9 director positions:• An independent non-executive Chair• Four non-executive directors nominated by Industry Members and elected by Members• Three non-executive directors nominated by Research Members and elected by Members• The CEO

The Chair is elected for a term of three years, while other non-executive directors serve terms of two years.

Board Committees

The Board is supported by two advisory committees.

Scientific Advisory CommitteeThe role of the Scientific Advisory Committee (“SAC”) is to provide the Board with strategic scientific advice in structuring the research programs for drinking water quality, wastewater and recycling. The members of the SAC are nationally and internationally recognised and bring a high level of expertise to WQRA and its Members. The committee was chaired by Professor John McNeil until his retirement from the Board on 27th November 2009. In February 2010 Dr John Howard accepted the nomination by the Board to take on the role of Chair of the SAC.

Regulatory Advisory CommitteeThe role of the Regulatory Advisory Committee (“RAC”) is to provide the Board with advice on regulatory and health issues relating to drinking water, recycled water and wastewater. The committee aims to encourage collaborative activities between industry and health regulators, determine the emerging issues in relation to water quality in Australia and to enable the incorporation of evidence-based guidelines into the Australian regulatory system. The committee has continued to be chaired by Ms. Jan Bowman for financial year 2010.

Directors

The names and details of the company’s directors in office during the financial year are as follows.

Chair – Professor Michael R Moore Qualifications: B.Sc (Hons), Ph.D (Medicine), D.Sc, JP, MACMProfessional Memberships AWA, BTS, ACTRA, IWA

Appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 11th July 2008. Professor Moore was identified in a search for an Independent Chair and was then confirmed by Member election.

Prior to becoming Chair of WQRA, Professor Moore was the Director for Entox, the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology. He has a rich academic background including as a Professor in Medicine, Honorary and Adjunct Professorships, Reader in Medicine and Therapeutics, and Clinical Pharmacologist with research interests in water quality and in genetic disease since 1967.


Financial Report

CEO - Ms Jodieann Dawe Qualifications: BSc (Hons), MAppSc, MBA, Grad Dip Corp LawProfessional Memberships: GAICD, AFAIM, MRACI, CChem, CPMgr, CSA(Cert)

Appointed as CEO and Managing Director on 7th June 2008. Ms Dawe was also the Company Secretary from 7th August 2008 to 27th November 2009. Ms Dawe went on maternity leave on the 8th April 2010 and will be on leave until January 2011. Ms Dawe plans to attend as many Board Meetings while on maternity leave as circumstances allow, but took leave from Board meetings from April through to June 2010.

Ms Dawe has a broad base of experience across research, commercialisation, marketing, program management and governance. Before joining WQRA as CEO Ms Dawe was Managing Director for Arc@UNSW, Manager Research Operations for Meat & Livestock Australia, and Business Development Manager at UNSW’s Unisearch Limited

Acting CEO - Dr Michele Akeroyd Qualifications: PhD, BSC (Hons)Professional Memberships: MAICD

Appointed as an Alternate Director and Acting CEO on 8th April 2010 to cover the CEO Jodieann Dawe’s position while she is on maternity leave. Dr Akeroyd’s regular position is Program Manager – Drinking Water. She has acted as an Alternate Director as needed in fulfilling the executive function of Acting CEO, and is fulfilling the role of Alternate Director at any meetings the CEO cannot attend while on maternity leave.

Prior to joining WQRA Dr Akeroyd had several roles at the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, including Director Environmental Delivery Program, Director Planning and Reporting, and Acting Director Basin Salinity Management Strategy. Prior to joining the MDBC Dr Akeroyd held various policy roles at the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

NED - Professor Simon BeechamQualifications: PhD (Civil Eng); BSc (Hons)(Civil Eng); GCHE Professional Memberships: MAICD; FIEAust; CPEng; SIA; AWA

Appointed as a Non-Executive Director for WQRA on 27th November 2009. He was a member of the original Implementation Committee for WQRA in the lead up to its incorporation.

Professor Beecham is Professor of Sustainable Water Resources Engineering and Head of Civil Engineering at the University of South Australia, and Director of the Centre for Water Management and Reuse. His Centre is highly successful at attracting research funding and projects currently include water sensitive urban design (WSUD), the effect of climate change on total water cycle management (TWCM), and siphonic roof water harvesting and reuse.

NED - Ms Jan BowmanQualifications: MAppSc (Applied Toxicology)Professional Memberships: MAICD

Appointed as a Non-Executive Director for WQRA on 3rd December 2007. Has chaired the Board’s Regulatory Advisory Committee since its formation in 2008.

Ms Bowman is the Assistant Director Environmental Health for Victoria’s Department of Health. She is a member of the Australian Government’s Environmental Health Committee (enHealth) and the Water Quality Advisory Committee of the National Health & Medical Research Council. She has overseen the development of a number of key pieces of legislation, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, and has made substantial contributions to the fields of health risk management in areas such as Legionnaire’s disease control, recycled water, air quality, soil contamination and radiation safety.


Financial Report

NED - Mr Keith Cadee Qualifications: BE (Hons); ME, MIEAust, CP Eng Professional Memberships: MIEAust; CP Eng; GAICD

Appointed as a Non-Executive Director for WQRA on 6th November 2007. Mr Cadee was Chair of the original Implementation Committee formed to establish WQRA and Interim Chair until the selection of and appointment of Professor Michael Moore in July 2008.

Mr Cadee is the General Manager – Acquisition Group for Water Corporation of Western Australia. Mr Cadee has over 30 years experience in the Water Industry, particularly in respect of water quality, water treatment, and research. He is also a Director of the National Centre of Excellence for Desalination.

NED – Mr Chris Davis Qualifications: MBA M Eng (Civil); BSc Eng (Civil)Professional Memberships: Hon Life Member of AWA

Appointed as a Non-Executive Director for WQRA on 3rd December 2007, Mr Davis stood down on 27th November 2009 at the end of his two year term of office choosing not to renominate due to other commitments.

Mr Davis is the Sustainability Business Development Manager for the University of Technology Sydney and an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at the same university. He is a Commissioner on the National Water Commission, Chair of the South East Queensland Urban Water Security Alliance, and Chair of the Independent Review Panel for the Sydney Metro Water Plan. He was CEO for the Australian Water Association from 1992 to 2007.

NED – Dr Dharma Dharmabalan Qualifications: MEng, DipH(Delft), GD (Comp.), BScEng (Hons)(Civil)Professional Memberships: FIE (Aust), CPEng, FICE, FASCE, MAICD, MAWA

Appointed as a Non-Executive Director for WQRA on 26th March 2008.

Dr Dharmabalan is the General Manager Planning & Infrastructure for Coliban Regional Water Corporation. He is also an Adjunct Professor with the Institute for Sustainability and Innovation at Victoria University, and a Director of the National Centre of Excellence for Desalination. Dr Dharmabalan is also a certified Auditor for Drinking Water Quality Management Systems, with RABQSA International.

NED – Dr John Howard Qualifications: BSc (Hons), PhD (Freshwater Chemistry)Professional Memberships: FAICD

Appointed as a Non-Executive Director for WQRA on 6th November 2007. Dr Howard accepted a nomination by the Board to be Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee in February 2010, following the retirement from the Board of the previous SAC Chair Professor John McNeil.

Dr Howard is the Head of the Australian Water Quality Centre (a business unit of SA Water Corporation) and for SA Water Corporation is Head of Water, Quality & Environment. Dr Howard is also a Board Representative for the Australian Water Association.

NED – Mrs Anne Howe Professional Memberships: MAICD

Appointed as a Non-Executive Director for WQRA on 3rd December 2007.

Mrs. Howe is Chief Executive Officer and Board Member for the South Australian Water Corporation. She has announced her retirement from that position from December 2010, and thus has indicated that she will not renominate for the WQRA Board at the end of her term in October 2010. Mrs. Howe is also a Director of Water Services Association of Australia, the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia ,a Board Member of the Stormwater Management Authority for South Australia, and State President (South Australia) for the Committee for Economic Development of Australia.


Financial Report

NED – Professor John McNeil Qualifications: MBBS, MSc, PhD Professional Memberships: FRACP; FAFPHM

Appointed as a Non-Executive Director for WQRA on 3rd December 2007, Professor McNeil stood down on 27th November 2009 at the end of his two year term of office choosing not to renominate due to other commitments.

Professor McNeil is the Head of Department Monash University School of Public Health and Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine and Head of the Preventive Medicine Unit. Professor McNeil is also a member of the Boards of the Colonial Foundation, the International Society of Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy, and the Austin Hospital, Melbourne.

NED – Professor T. David Waite Qualifications: PhD, M.App.Sc, B.Sc, G.DipProfessional Memberships: FRACI

Appointed as a Non-Executive Director for WQRA on 27th November 2009. Professor Waite has accepted the role of Deputy Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee.

Professor Waite is the Head of School for the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of New South Wales. He is a biogeochemist and maintains active research activities in engineered and natural aquatic systems through an active team of doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows.

MeetingsThe Board holds routine meetings in person four times per year immediately preceding the quarterly Members Meetings, while teleconference meetings are held in between as required to satisfy review and approval cycles.

Director Name Board Teleconferences

Board MeetingsIn Person

Held in Directors Term

Attended Held in Directors Term

Attended

Michael Moore Chair 4 4 4 4Jodieann Dawe CEO 3 3 3 3Michele Akeroyd Acting CEO 1 1 1 1Simon Beecham NED 2 1 2 1Jan Bowman NED 4 3 4 3Keith Cadee NED 4 4 4 4Chris Davis NED 2 1 2 2Dharma Dharmabalan NED 4 4 4 4John Howard NED 4 4 4 4Anne Howe NED 4 3 4 3John McNeill NED 2 1 2 1David Waite NED 2 1 2 2


Financial Report

Principal ActivitiesWQRA’s vision is to be “the trusted provider of scientific evidence needed to ensure safe water for Australians”. Its mission is “to lead and facilitate high quality and collaborative research of national significance and to promote implementation of research outcomes to address current and emerging public health issues in water quality”.

The company is working to fulfil its vision and mission through focusing on four strategic aims outlined in detail in its strategic plan:

• Building Capability • Scientific Evidence • Collaboration • AdvocacyThe company’s principal activities during the year were:

• Co-ordinating and managing high quality research on priority issues in water quality on behalf of the members of WQRA and the Australian Water Community

• Facilitating knowledge transfer and uptake of outcomes of R&D into industry through workshops and members meetings

• Advocating in respect of national and regional guidelines on behalf of members and other stakeholders.

A key measure of WQRA’s success is the delivery of outcomes from research and education projects on budget and providing knowledge and capability that is delivered for application in the industry. To date the directors are satisfied that the projects in general are being well managed and are appropriately supervised.

Operating Results for the PeriodThe company’s trading result for the year ended 30 June 2010 was a surplus of $282,015 (2009 $3,286,453).

Analysing the surplus for 2009-10, it can be broken down as follows• The Research Programs ($721,340)

o Research project revenue was $1,996,222o Research project expenditure was $2,717,562

• The Education Program ($108,526)o The Education program generated no direct revenueo Education program expenditure was $108,526

• A Surplus was generated from General Revenue less non-program costs of $1,111,881o General revenue (Primarily Membership Fees and Interest) was $2,689,383o General expenditure on Member, Board, Travel, Marketing, Salaries and other corporate costs was

$1,577,502

Factors contributing to the smaller surplus in the year ended 30th June 2010 of $282,015 versus the year ended 30th June 2009 of $3,286,453 included :

• Lower membership subscriptions in 2010 by $1,291,061 (2010 $2,439,167, 2009 $3,730,228) due in the main to a one-off effect in 2009 where subscriptions related to a period greater than one year.

• A one off transfer in 2009 of Surplus Funds from the CRC taken to revenue $710,762.• 2010 was WQRA’s first full operating year where it had its full infrastructure and was in operating mode

all year. 2009 had been WQRA’s year of commencing and building up operations and was therefore very light on expenditure.

The company is a not-for-profit entity and is exempt from income tax.

A detailed review of operations can be found in the 2010 WQRA Annual Report which accompanies this report.

Cash & Project CommitmentsAt 30th June 2010 the company had cash of $5,801,807 (2009 $5,997,572). At the same date WQRA commitments to projects plus external project funding held or receivable by WQRA was $5,351,648 (2009 $3,748,587). The cash commitments will be acquitted over the lives of the projects which average two to three years.


Financial Report

The WQRA board closely monitors its commitments to Research Projects relative to cash to assure that WQRA’s cash commitments to projects can be covered in full from the point of approval.

Significant Changes in State of AffairsIn the opinion of the directors there were no significant changes in the state of affairs of the company that occurred during the financial year under review not otherwise disclosed in this report.

Members liability on Winding UpEach Member of the Company undertakes to contribute to the Company’s property an amount as may be required not exceeding one hundred dollars if the Company is wound up while it is a Member or within one (1) year after ceasing to be a Member, for payment of the Company’s debts and liabilities contracted before it ceased to be a Member and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up and for an adjustment of the rights of contributories amongst themselves.

After Balance Date EventsThere has not arisen in the interval between the end of the financial year and the date of this report any item, transaction or event of a material and unusual nature that in the opinion of the directors is likely to substantially affect the operations of the company, the results of those operation, or the company’s state of affairs in future financial years.

Environmental RegulationsThe company is not particularly exposed to any environmental regulation. The directors have not received notification nor are they aware of any breaches of environmental laws by the company.

Future Developments and ResultsThere are no significant changes in the state of affairs that are expected in the future which will affect the results and therefore require disclosure.

Indemnification and Insurance of Directors and OfficersSince the end of the previous financial year, the company has paid an insurance premium of $10,062.22 in respect of an Association liability insurance contract which includes cover for directors’ and officers’ liability for current and former directors and officers against all liabilities and expenses arising as a result of work performed in their respective capacities, to the extent permitted by law.

Auditors IndependenceThe auditors independence declaration which forms part of the Directors reports for the financial year ended 30 June 2010 has been received and can be found following this report.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Directors.

Michael Moore Chair and Non-Executive Director

Anne HoweNon-Executive Director

Date: 6 September 2010


Financial Report

AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATIONUNDER SECTION 307C OF THE CORPORATIONS ACT 2001

TO THE DIRECTORS OF WATER QUALITY RESEARCH AUSTRALIA LIMITED

As lead auditor for the audit of Water Quality Research Australia Limited for the year ended 30 June 2010, I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been no contraventions of:

a) the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and

b) any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

Shirley SchaeferPartnerBDO (SA)

Dated this 26th day of August 2010

BDO (SA) ABN 68 506 530 045 is a member of a national association of independent entities which are all members of BDO (Australia) Ltd ABN 77 050 110 275, an Australian company limited by guarantee. BDO (SA) and BDO (Australia) Ltd are members of BDO International Ltd, a UK company limited by guarantee, and form part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation (other than for the acts or omissions of financial services licensees) in each State or Territory other than Tasmania.

Tel: +61 8 8223 1066 Fax: +61 8 8232 0902 www.bdo.com.au

248 Flinders St Adelaide SA 5000 GPO Box 2018 Adelaide SA 5001 AUSTRALIA





Financial Report

WATER QUALITY RESEARCH AUSTRALIA LIMITEDA.B.N 32 127 974 261

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOMEFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

2010 2009 Note $ $

Revenue from continuing operations 3 4,435,723 6,060,300 Other income 4 249,881 194,217

Research programs (2,693,702) (1,708,510)Education programs (108,526) (101,849)Marketing and communications (110,978) (61,254)Operating expenses (427,024) (364,457)Depreciation expense (422) (108)Employee benefits (1,030,238) (705,040)Chair remuneration (32,700) (26,846)Finance costs - - Surplus before income tax 282,014 3,286,453 Income tax expense - - Surplus for the year 282,014 3,286,453 Other comprehensive income for the year - - Total comprehensive income for the year 282,014 3,286,453

The above statement of comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes:



Financial Report


STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITIONAS AT 30 JUNE 2010

2010 2009 Note $ $ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 7 5,802,435 5,997,572 Trade and other receivables 8 728,795 368,100 Other assets 9 35,724 23,120 Total current assets 6,566,954 6,388,792

Non-current assets Financial assets 10 - 100 Property, plant and equipment 11 3,484 2,304 Total non-current assets 3,484 2,404 Total assets 6,570,438 6,391,196

LIABILITIES Current liabilities Trade and other payables 12 1,131,848 826,360 Revenue received in advance 13 1,742,041 2,150,301 Total current liabilities 2,873,889 2,976,661 Total liabilities 2,873,889 2,976,661 Net assets 3,696,549 3,414,535

EQUITY Retained earnings 3,696,549 3,414,535 Total equity 3,696,549 3,414,535

The above statement of financial position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.


Financial Report


STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWSFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

2010 2009 Note $ $

Cash flows from operating activities Cash receipts from participants and other contributors 3,970,045 5,319,222 Cash paid to researchers, suppliers and employees (4,402,245) (2,200,951)Interest received 238,665 194,217 Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities 14 (193,535) 3,312,488

Cash flows from investing activitiesPurchase of property, plant and equipment (1,602) (2,412) Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities (1,602) (2,412)

Cash flows from financing activities - - Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities - -

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents (195,137) 3,310,076 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 5,997,572 2,687,496 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 7 5,802,435 5,997,572

The above statement of cash flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITYFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

Retained earnings Total $ $

At 1 July 2008 128,082 128,082

surplus/(deficiency) for the year 3,286,453 3,286,453 Total other comprehensive income for the year - - At 30 June 2009 3,414,535 3,414,535

surplus/(deficiency) for the year 282,014 282,014 Total other comprehensive income for the year - - At 30 June 2010 3,696,549 3,696,549

The above statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.


Financial Report


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010

NOTE 1 CORPORATE INFORMATION

The financial statements of Water Quality Research Australia Limited for the year ended 30 June 2010 were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the directors on 26th August 2010 and covers Water Quality Research Australia Limited as an individual entity as required by the Corporations Act 2001.

The financial statements are presented in the Australian currency.

Water Quality Research Australia Limited is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in Australia.

The registered office and principal place of business of the company is:250 Victoria SquareAdelaide, South Australia, 5000

NOTE 2 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of PreparationThe financial statements are general purpose financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board and the Corporations Act 2001.

The financial statements have also been prepared on a historical cost basis. Non-current assets are measured at the lower of carrying amounts and fair value less costs to sell.

The concept of accruals accounting has been adopted in preparation of the financial statements. The accounting policies have been consistently applied, unless otherwise stated.

The following significant accounting policies have been adopted in the preparation and presentation of the financial statements.

(a) Revenue RecognitionRevenue is recognised at the fair value of consideration received or receivable. Amounts disclosed as revenue are net of returns, trade allowances and duties and taxes paid. The following specific recognition criteria must also be met before revenue is recognised:

ResearchProjectExternalRevenueExternal revenue relating to specific research projects is recognised as revenue to the extent that the expenditure the revenue relates to has been incurred.

Membership SubscriptionsMembers subscriptions received by the company are recognised in the period to which they relate.

InterestRevenue is recognised as interest accrues using the effective interest method. The effective interest method uses the effective interest rate which is the rate that exactly discounts the estimated future cash receipts over the expected life of the financial asset.

(b) Income TaxNo income tax is payable by the company as it is a tax exempt body under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, as amended.

(c) Impairment of AssetsAt the end of each reporting period, the company assesses whether there is any indication that individual assets are impaired. Where impairment indicators exist, recoverable amount is determined and impairment deficiencies are recognised in surplus or deficiency where the asset’s carrying value exceeds its recoverable amount. Recoverable amount of the asset is assessed as being the higher of the asset’s fair value less costs to sell


Financial Report

and depreciated replacement cost. This is compared to the asset’s carrying value and any excess of the asset’s carrying value over its recoverable amount is expensed to the income statement.

Where it is not possible to estimate recoverable amount for an individual asset, recoverable amount is determined for the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

(d) Cash and Cash EquivalentsFor the purposes of the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand and at bank, deposits held at call with financial institutions, other short term, highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less, that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

(e) Trade ReceivablesTrade receivables are recognised at original invoice amounts less an allowance for uncollectible amounts and have repayment terms of 30 days. Collectibility of trade receivables is assessed on an ongoing basis. Debts which are known to be uncollectible are written off. An allowance is made for doubtful debts where there is objective evidence that the company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms. Objective evidence of impairment include financial difficulties of the debtor, default payments or debts more than 60 days overdue. On confirmation that the trade receivable will not be collectible the gross carrying value of the asset is written off against the associated provision.

From time to time, the entity may elect to renegotiate the terms of trade receivables due from customers with which it has previously had a good trading history. Such renegotiations will lead to changes in the timing of payments rather than changes to the amounts owed and are not, in the view of the directors, sufficient to require the derecognition of the original instrument.

(f) Employee BenefitsProvision is made for the company’s liability for employee benefits arising from services rendered by employees to the end of the reporting period. Employee benefits expected to be settled within one year or which the company does not have a right to defer beyond one year have been measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the liability is settled.

Contributions are made by the company to employee superannuation funds and are charged as expenses when incurred.

(g) Fair ValuesFair values may be used for financial asset and liability measurement and as well as for sundry disclosures.The carrying value less impairment provision of trade receivables and payables are assumed to approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.

(h) Property, Plant and EquipmentAll other plant and equipment is stated at historical cost, including costs directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management, less depreciation and any impairments.

Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life as follows:

- Plant and equipment 1 - 10 years

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed and adjusted, if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period.

Gains and deficiencies on disposals are calculated as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the asset’s carrying amount and are included in surplus or deficiency in the year that the item is derecognised.



NOTE 2 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)


Financial Report

(i) LeasesLeases of property, plant and equipment where the entity has substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership will be classified as finance leases and capitalised at inception of the lease at the fair value of the leased property, or if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments. Lease payments are apportioned between the finance charges and reduction of the lease liability so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance charges are charged to surplus or deficiency over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period.

Capitalised leased assets are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term.

Leases where the lessor retains substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the net asset are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases (net of incentives received from the lessor) are charged to surplus or deficiency on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

(j) Trade and Other PayablesTrade and other payables represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the entity prior to the year end and which are unpaid. These amounts are unsecured and have 30 day payment terms.

(k) GST Revenues, expenses are recognised net of GST except where GST incurred on a purchase of goods and services is not recoverable from the taxation authority, in which case the GST is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as part of the expense item.

Receivables and payables are stated with the amount of GST included. The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is included as part of receivables or payables in the statement of financial position.

Cash flows are included in the statement of cash flows on a gross basis and the GST component of cash flows arising from investing and financing activities, which is recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority are classified as operating cash flows.

Commitments and contingencies are disclosed net of the amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority.

(l) Revenue received in advanceRevenue received in advance consists of funds which have been received or invoiced but revenue recognition has been deferred to future years. It includes future year membership subscriptions and funding received by the company for research projects that have project milestones that have not yet been met or the expenditure to which they related has not yet been incurred.

(m) Transferred Monies from CRCWQTMonies transferred from the Co-operative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment and the adjunct Wastewater Program, consisted of unallocated funds that were not related to any previously contracted research projects or activities. These unallocated funds were recognised as revenue for the reporting period ended 30 June 2009 when the funds were transferred.

(n) Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet EffectiveCertain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for 30 June 2010 reporting periods. The company’s assessment is that these new standards and interpretations will have no material impact on the financial reporting obligations of the company when they are adopted.





Financial Report

(o) Comparative FiguresWhere required by Accounting Standards, comparative figures have been adjusted to conform to changes in presentation for the current financial year.

(p) Critical Accounting Estimates and JudgmentsThe directors evaluate estimates and judgments incorporated into the financial statements are based on historical knowledge and best available current information. Estimates assume a reasonable expectation of future events and are based on current trends and economic data, obtained both externally and within the company.

NOTE 3 REVENUE

2010 2009 $ $From continuing operations Membership subscriptions 2,439,167 3,730,228Research project funding from members 1,058,072 430,086Research project external revenue 938,149 1,184,056 Income from research publications 335 5,168Transferred monies from CRCWQT - 710,762 4,435,723 6,060,300

NOTE 4 OTHER INCOME

Interest received - other persons/corporations 247,710 194,217Other income 2,171 - 249,881 194,217

NOTE 5 EXPENSES

Surplus/(deficiency) before income tax includes the following specific expenses:

Depreciation expense

Plant and equipment 422 108 422 108

Rental expenses relating to operating leases Minimum lease payments1 11,748 11,748 -

1. Cash component of office rental. Representing 10% of market rent. Balance is AWQC in-kind

Bad and doubtful debts - current receivables - -





NOTE 6 AUDITORS’ REMUNERATION

2010 2009 $ $Amounts paid/payable to the auditor for - audit of the financial statements of the entity (PKF) 11,435 9,740 - non-audit services (compilation and taxation) (PKF) 1,400 8,398 - audit of the financial statements of the entity (BDO) 1 1,500 - - non-audit services (BDO) - - 14,335 18,138

1. The expense with BDO is the first invoice as part of a total audit fee quoted for 2009-10 of $8,000

NOTE 7 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash at bank 3,025,851 5,997,372 Short-term bank deposits 2,776,384 - Cash on hand 200 200 5,802,435 5,997,572

The effective interest rate on short-term bank deposits was 4.86%; these deposits have an average maturity of 75 days.

Reconciliation of CashThe above figures are reconciled to the cash at the end of the financial year as shown in the statement of cash flows as follows:

Balances as above 5,802,435 5,997,572 Balances per statement of cash flows 5,802,435 5,997,572

NOTE 8 TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade receivables 519,750 269,695 Provision for doubtful debts - - 519,750 269,695 GST receivable - 98,405 Interest receivable 9,045 - Accrued revenue 200,000 - 728,795 368,100

Financial Report




NOTE 9 OTHER ASSETS

2010 2009 $ $

Prepayments 35,724 23,120 35,724 23,120

NOTE 10 FINANCIAL ASSETS

Investment in Carbon-Regen Pty Ltd - 100 - 100

The company Carbon-Regen Pty Ltd was de-registered during the year ended 30 June 2010 due to all shareholders agreeing there were a lack of prospects for its intellectual property.WQRA’s shareholding was transferred from the CRC WQT.

NOTE 11 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Plant and equipmentAt cost 4,014 2,412 Accumulated depreciation (530) (108) Total non-current property, plant and equipment 3,484 2,304

Movements in Carrying AmountsBalance at the beginning of year 2,304 - Additions 1,602 2,412 Depreciation expense (422) (108) Carrying amount at the end of year 3,484 2,304

NOTE 12 TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

2010 2009 $ $

Trade payables 396,464 802,967 Other payables - accrued liabilities 685,017 - GST payable 12,635 - Employee benefits 37,732 23,393 1,131,848 826,360

Financial Report




NOTE 13 REVENUE IN ADVANCE

CURRENTMembership or research funding received or invoiced in advance 1,742,041 2,150,301 1,742,041 2,150,301

NOTE 14 CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Reconciliation of surplus after income tax to net cash flow from operating activities

Surplus for the year 282,014 3,286,453 Non cash flows in surplus Depreciation and amortisation 422 108 Loss on de-registration of investment 100 -

Change in operating assets (net of impact from purchase of controlled entity)- (increase)/decrease in trade receivables (250,055) (73,895) - (increase)/decrease in interest receivables (9,045) - - (increase)/decrease in accrued revenue (200,000) - - (increase)/decrease in prepayments (12,604) (23,120) - increase/(decrease) in trade payables (406,503) 766,832 - increase/(decrease) in other payables 685,017 - - increase/(decrease) in employee entitlements 14,339 23,393 - increase/(decrease) in revenue in advance (408,260) (471,153)- increase/(decrease) in GST liability 111,040 (196,130) Net cash flow from operating activities (193,535) 3,312,488

NOTE 15 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

(a) Categories of Financial Instruments 2010 2009 $ $

Financial Assets

Loans and receivables (including cash & cash equivalents) 6,531,230 6,365,672

Financial liabilities

Amortised cost 1,131,848 826,360

(b) Financial Risk ManagementThe company’s activities expose it to a number of financial risks. The board of directors are responsible for monitoring and managing the financial risks of the company. They monitor these risks through board meetings where management accounts are presented and analysed. The company does not enter into derivative financial instruments and does not speculate in any type of financial instrument.

Financial Report




(c) Credit RiskCredit risk is the risk that the other party to a financial instrument will fail to discharge their obligation resulting in the company incurring a financial loss. This usually occurs when trade receivables fail to settle their obligations owing to the company.

The company does not have any material credit risk exposure to any single receivable or group of receivables under financial instruments entered into by the company. Receivables that are past due but not impaired total $33,000.

Maximum amount of exposure to credit risk 728,795 368,100

Amounts exposed to credit risk are considered to be receivable from entities with a high credit quality and no impairment of these amounts has been recognised.

(d) Liquidity riskLiquidity risk is the risk that the company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due.

The company has significant funds available in unrestricted bank accounts which can be drawn upon to pay creditors as they fall due. Management monitors the company’s available cash balances to ensure sufficient funds are available to pay creditors within the standard 30 day terms. Given the entity’s liquidity position, this risk is minimal.

(e) Market RiskMarket risk arises from the use of interest bearing financial instruments. It is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in interest rates (interest rate risk).

(f) Interest rate riskThe company’s only financial asset subject to floating interest rate risk is cash at bank & deposits at call. The company does not have any other floating rate assets. All other receivables and liabilities are non-interest bearing. It is unlikely that a fluctuation or movement in interest rate will have a material impact on the entity. Interest rate risk is minimal.

Financial Report



NOTE 15 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)


The company’s exposure to interest rate risk and the effective weighted average interest rate by maturity periods is set out in the tables following:

Floating rates < 1 year 1 - 5 years > 5 years Total2010 $ $ $ $ $Financial AssetsCash and Cash equivalents 3,025,851 2,776,384 - - 5,802,235 Weighted average interest rate 2.28% 4.86% 3.51%

2009Financial Assets Cash and Cash equivalents 5,997,372 - - - 5,997,372 Weighted average interest rate 0.90% 0.90%

Sensitivity Analysis Carrying Amount +1% movement in -1% movement AUD interest rates in interest rates

surplus Other surplus Other comprehen- comprehen- sive income sive income2010 $ $ $ $ $ Cash and cash equivalents 5,802,235 58,022 - (58,022) -

2009 $ $ $ $ $ Cash and cash equivalents 5,997,372 59,974 - (59,974) -

NOTE 16 COMMITMENTS

Research Funding Commitments 2010 2009 $ $Commitments made to provide funding for research projectsPayable:Within one year 2,703,566 1,295,358 Later than one year but not later than 5 years 2,648,082 2,453,229 Later than 5 years - 5,351,648 3,748,587

Financial Report



NOTE 15 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)


NOTE 17 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

(a) Remuneration of Specified DirectorsThe Chairman is paid an annual fee and reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in executing the duties of the role. Other Directors are not paid but are reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in attending Board meetings and executing their directors’ duties.

Income paid or payable, or otherwise made available to: 32,700 26,846 Chairman of the company in connection with the management of affairs of the company. 32,700 26,846

(b) Other transactions with Directors and Director-related entities Accommodation and services are provided by the South Australian Water Corporation (SA Water) under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which is cancellable by either party with 120 days notice. The terms of the MOU allow WQRA to operate in the offices of SA Water with rent and services provided in-kind, with the exception of some minor operating costs which are invoiced by SA Water.

(c) Key Management Personnel CompensationKey management personnel are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the company, directly or indirectly, including any director.

Short-term employee benefits 374,439 205,000Post-employment benefits 31,000 15,750Other long-term benefits - -Termination benefits - - 405,439 220,750

Financial Report




WATER QUALITY RESEARCH AUSTRALIA LIMITEDA.B.N. 32 127 974 261

DIRECTORS’ DECLARATION

The directors of the company declare that:

1. The financial statements and notes, as set out on pages 63 to 75, are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 and:

(a) comply with Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 2001; and

(b) give a true and fair view of the company’s financial position as at 30 June 2010 and of its performance for the year ended on that date.

2. In the directors’ opinion there are reasonable grounds to believe that the company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.

This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.

Michael Moore – Chair & Non-Executive Director

Anne Howe – Non-Executive Director

6th September 2010

Financial Report





INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

To the members of Water Quality Research Australia Limited

We have audited the accompanying financial report of Water Quality Research Australia Limited, which comprises the statement of financial position as at 30 June 2010, and the statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for the year ended on that date, a summary of significant accounting policies, other explanatory notes and the directors’ declaration.

Directors’ Responsibility for the Financial Report The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Corporations Act 2001. This responsibility includes establishing and maintaining internal controls relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Auditor’s Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. These Auditing Standards require that we comply with relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial report is free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial report. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

IndependenceIn conducting our audit, we have complied with the independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001. We confirm that the independence declaration required by the Corporations Act 2001 would be in the same terms if it had been given to the directors at the time that this auditor’s report was made.

Independent Auditor’s Report





Auditor’s Opinion In our opinion the financial report of Water Quality Research Australia Limited is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:

(a) giving a true and fair view of the company’s financial position as at 30 June 2010 and of its performance for the year ended on that date; and

(b) complying with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Corporations Regulations 2001.

BDO (SA)

Shirley SchaeferPartner

Dated this 7th day of September 2010




Independent Auditor’s Report

WQRA Cash

Other Member

Cash

External Cash

In-Kind Total

Drinking Water 3,625,769 2,148,412 3,867,873 9,789,840 19,431,894

Wastewater 1,750,556 2,745,000 10,899,743 15,940,532 31,335,831

Recycled Water 265,158 46,853 689,635 1,077,158 2,078,804

Total 5,641,483 4,940,265 15,457,251 26,807,530 52,846,529

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Drinking Water Wastewater Recycled Water

Leveraging Research

In-Kind

ExternalCash

OtherMemberCash

WQRACash

Water Quality Research Australia Limited GPO BOX 1751, Adelaide SA 5001

For more information about WQRA visit the website www.wqra.com.au

wqra annual report 2009 - 2010

Documents

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wastewater research

water recycling

water quality arena

financial report

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