WQRA Annual Report 2010_11

8/12/2019 WQRA Annual Report 2010_11

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ANNUALREPORT:2010-2

011


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INDUSTRY MEMBERS

Australian Water Associaon Ltd

Barwon Region Water Corporaon

Ben Lomond Water

Central Gippsland Region Water CorporaonCentral Highlands Water

City West Water

Coliban Region Water Corporaon

Cradle Mountain Water

Degrmont

Department of Health (Victoria)

Goulburn Valley Region Water Corporaon

Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water Corporaon

Hunter Water Corporaon

Melbourne Water Corporaon

Power and Water Corporaon

South Australian Water Corporaon

South East Water

Southern Water

Sydney Catchment Authority

Veolia Water

Wannon Region Water Corporaon

Water Corporaon of WA

Yarra Valley Water

GENERAL MEMBERS

Department of Health (NSW)

Department of Water (WA)GHD

Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Corporaon

Water Futures

RESEARCH MEMBERS

Australian Water Quality Centre

Centre for Appropriate Technology

ChemCentre

Curn University of TechnologyFlinders University

Grith University

Monash University

Murdoch University

Naonal Measurement Instute

RMIT University

University of Adelaide

University of Newcastle

University of New South Wales

University of Queensland

University of South Australia

University of the Sunshine Coast

University of Technology, Sydney

University of Western Australia

University of Wollongong

Victoria University

WQRA ASSOCIATES

Department of Health and Human Services

(Tasmania)

Syme and Nancarrow Water

MEMBERS

& ASSOCIATES


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WQRA Annual Report 2010-2011 1

CONTENTS

3 Chairs Report

5 CEOs Report

7 Execuve Summary

9 WQRA Benets

11 WQRA Membership

13 The WQRA Strategic Plan

15 Strategic Aim 1: Building Capability

19 Strategic Aim 2: Scienc Evidence

21 Strategic Aim 3: Collaboraon

27 Strategic Aim 4: Advocacy

28 WQRAs Structure

29 WQRA Board

33 Board Advisory Commiees

34 Management Commiees

35 Acknowledgements

36 WQRA Team

38 WQRA Programs

39 WQRA Projects

52 WQRA Financial Summary (Year Ended 30 June 2011)


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OUR VALUES > COLLABORATION l TRUST l INNOVATION l RESPONSIVENESS


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CHAIRS REPORT

The rapidly changing landscape of water management and research in Australia

demonstrates the increasing importance of water research to the naon. Water

Quality Research Australia (WQRA) has played a central naonal role in harnessing

the breadth of intellectual capability in Australia to provide mely, credible

contribuons to the evolving debate.

It has been a busy year. The water reform agenda this past year started with the

Producvity Commissions dra report on urban water in September 2010 and was followed by

the publicaons by the Naonal Water Commission in May 2011. WQRAs research constuency

has the intellectual capacity, and credibility, to contribute eecvely to this water reform agenda,

and is doing so with WQRAs industry members and general membership.

Water research investment is occurring through the water industry. WQRA coordinates with

other naonal groups including the Water Services Associaon of Australia, Australian Water

Associaon, the Commonwealth Centres of Excellence in Desalinaon and Water Recycling, the

Naonal Centre for Groundwater Research and Training and the Naonal Water Commission.

State governments are also contribung, through the Victorian Smart Water Fund, the Urban

Water Security Research Alliance in Queensland and NSW, and the Goyder Instute in South

Australia. These research brokers are now seeking, through the Australian Water R&D Coalion

(AWRDC), to coordinate their investment and to collaborate in the resoluon of present and

future issues in water supply. WQRA is an integral member of the AWRDC and is providing

support and leadership in the naonal coordinaon of this acvity.

The Naonal Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has recently re-established its Water

Quality Advisory Commiee, on which WQRA is an ocial observer. This complements the newconstuency established by WQRA this year WQRA Associates for public health bodies whose

role is the regulaon of water quality.

My congratulaons and thanks are due to a large number of people for all they have done to

support WQRA. The Scienc Advisory Commiee, under the chairmanship of John Howard,

connues to provide the Board with valuable advice. Research programs depend on the work

carried out by Andrew Humpage and other members of the Project Review Team. Felicity

Roddick connues as a very capable Chair of the Educaon Commiee. The Regulatory Advisory

Commiee was led by Jan Bowman unl her rerement, when she also le the Board. Another of

our Board Directors, Anne Howe, also rered this year, and we give our sincere thanks to Jan and

Anne for their contribuons to WQRA, since its establishment. I thank our new Board members

Melita Stevens (Melbourne Water) and Hamish Reid (South East Water), together with all the

other Board members, for their contribuons to the management of WQRA.

On a more personal note, I would like to thank Michele Akeroyd for acng as the CEO over the

past year, with the support of David Halliwell and the rest of the WQRA team. I also welcome

back Jodieann Dawe, our CEO, who has returned from maternity leave.

To nish, I would like to thank all of our members for their connued support of WQRA, and for

the friendly, construcve and collaborave environment in which we pursue our goal: to produce

the scienc evidence needed to ensure safe water for our communies.

Michael Moore


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OUR VISION . . .

The trusted provider of scienc evidence

needed to ensure safe water for Australians.

OUR MISSION . . .

To lead and facilitate high quality and

collaborave research of naonal signicance

and to promote the implementaon of research

outcomes to address current and emerging

public health issues in water quality.


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CEOS REPORT

Climate change and its impact on water security are challenges that will connue

to be a major focus for the Australian water industry and the wider community for

the foreseeable future. The signicant impact of devastang oods in Queensland,

coupled with crippling drought in the west of Australia, as well the implementaon

of non-tradional sources of water, highlights the variability of the issues

confronng water managers in ensuring the provision of high quality, safe water for

Australians. In addion, the performance of the industry has also been under review during this

year, as the water reform agenda becomes a focus of the Federal Government.

Over the past 12 months, WQRA has connued to support its members to address these

challenges, by providing high calibre and mely research in water quality, as well as advocang

for scienc rigour to be applied in decisions on the water reform agenda. WQRA has connuedto bring together eminent water researchers, regulators and industry parcipants to undertake

meaningful and targeted research and seek conduits for technology transfer.

This year has been a me of consolidaon. Ten months of strategic planning, engagement

and review culminated in the release of our ve-year strategic plan, which arculates how the

organisaon will achieve its vision and mission, and deliver its four strategic aims: building

capability, contribung scienc evidence, fostering collaboraon, and advocacy.

The spotlight is on rigorous and transparent company operaons, with high levels of member

parcipaon, and a proacve and focussed research agenda. Key to the successful delivery of the

WQRA Strategic Plan: 2010-2015is communicaon and engagement with members and other

stakeholders.

A strong and diverse membership base is crucial to the connued success of WQRA. During

this year, WQRA has welcomed two new industry members Southern Water and Veolia Water

and two new research members the University of Western Australia and the University of

the Sunshine Coast. We have also welcomed the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human

Services as a new WQRA associate.

The delivery and translaon of priority research remain the core funcons of WQRA. Our research

porolio is in excess of $50 million, which represents WQRA funds, external funding, and in-kind

support from members and other key stakeholders. In 2010-11 WQRA has achieved a 4:1 leverage

of external cash funding for WQRA-invested funds, and our goal is to achieve a 5:1 leverage rao

for WQRA funding in 2011-12.

To build on its foundaon research porolio, WQRA has implemented a Request for Proposal

process, which is designed to idenfy crical research priories for the industry and support

the selecon of projects for investment. Aer a rigorous review process, inaugural funding hasbeen awarded to three core research projects, which will commence towards the end of 2011.

This transparent and detailed approach supports the ideals of WQRA as a collaborave and

membership-based research organisaon.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge the assistance of our Board advisory commiees and

management commiees. The support and intellectual contribuon of the members of these

commiees ensures that WQRA achieves excellence in its research agenda. I would also like

to thank all the sta at WQRA, and the Board Directors, for their connued enthusiasm and

dedicaon. In parcular, I would like to recognise the signicant personal contribuons of Michael

Moore (Chair) and Michele Akeroyd (Acng CEO) during my absence on maternity leave. Lastly,

I would like to thank all the WQRA members who make WQRA a successful and highly regarded

membership organisaon, of which it is a privilege to be the CEO.

Jodieann Dawe


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KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF 2010-11

>> Launch of the WQRA Strategic Plan: 2010-2015

>> Re-appointment of Prof Michael Moore as

WQRA Chair for a further three years

>> Addion of new industry and research

members

>> Engagement with water quality regulators

through establishing the WQRA

Associate category

>> Implementaon of the WQRA Request for

Proposal process

>> Success with Australian Research Council

funding for the third year in a row

>> Connued support of high quality

postgraduate students

>> Establishment of the Australian Water

Research & Development Coalion

>> Launch of the new WQRA website featuringmember-only content


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

>> Water Quality Research Australia Limited (WQRA) is a not-for-prot company, established

and funded by its members to undertake collaborave research of naonal applicaon on

drinking water quality, recycled water and relevant areas of wastewater management.

The last 12 months have seen the nal transion of WQRA from the Cooperave Research

Centre for Water Quality and Treatment (CRCWQT) into an established and leading research

broker in water quality research in its own right. A key achievement in consolidang WQRAs

place in the Australian water community has been the launch of the WQRA Strategic Plan: 2010-

2015 (October 2010)which provides a well arculated strategic pathway forward for WQRA,

with an agreed set of deliverables to the membership over the next ve years. This has been

complemented by signicant progress towards the development of the ve-year WQRA Research

Blueprint which will be released, aer signicant consultaon with members, in early 2012.

During its rst three years of operaon WQRA has built a signicant porolio of research. A core

operang principle of WQRA is to ensure strong nancial stewardship of its members funds, and

WQRA has successfully sought opportunies both within Australian and overseas which have

yielded strategic research investments with a 4:1 leverage of external cash funding for each dollar

of WQRA funds, at the end of the 2010-11 nancial year. This year has seen WQRAs rst Request

for Proposal process, which targeted investment at high priority research issues idened by

the membership.

WQRA membership has representaves of each state within Australia and the Northern Territory,

which ensures that WQRA is a truly naonal enty that can address high priority naonal and

local issues, as well as access crucial informaon on behalf of its member organisaons. Through

its engagement processes, WQRA has connued to establish collaborave project teams, bringingtogether leading experts to undertake water quality research in priority areas of human health,

on behalf of its members and the public.

WQRA has connued to establish a strong reputaon as a leader, both here and abroad,

in brokering water quality research for its members, to ensure the delivery of safe water

for Australians.


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WQRAs achievements in 2010-11 against our Strategic Aims

>> BUILDING CAPABILTY

During the year, WQRA has connued to invest in applied research and development to

support decision-makers to make informed decisions in the management of water supplies

in a changing environment, and the development of policies, guidelines and regulaons by

regulators and government. As the foundaon research projects are near compleon, WQRA

has focused on ensuring that research is being communicated in a way that will enable ndings

to be applied operaonally and that knowledge is transferred to, and provides value to,

member organisaons. WQRA has also connued its investment in the research workforce

of the future through its Educaon Program, which welcomed a new cohort of high quality

students in 2010-11.

>> SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

WQRA has maintained its posion as a provider of research experse to inuence the

development and review of current regulaons. WQRA members connue to provide

signicant value, assisng in idenfying knowledge gaps that would benet from further

research, and have provided feedback, through WQRA, on dra guidelines relang to safe

drinking water and recycled water. During 2010-11, WQRA has parcipated as an observer

on the NHMRCs Water Quality Advisory Commiee, and the Naonal Water Commissions

Naonal Water Recycling Regulators Forum.

>> COLLABORATION

WQRA has been acve in strengthening its relaonships with key stakeholders in the water

sector. WQRA has been a signicant driver, with other key research brokers, in the successful

establishment of the Australian Water Research and Development Coalion (AWRDC). The

Coalion helps to drive the naonal water research agenda and achieve research returns by

brokering engagement between the ulies, private sector, governments and researchers to

ensure sound investment in research and the translaon of research into pracce.

Over the past 12 months, WQRA has focused on strengthening its already rewarding

relaonships with internaonal agencies from Europe, the United States, South Africa and the

Asia Pacic, and has connued to be an acve member of the Global Water Research Coalion

and the internaonal water research community.

>> ADVOCACY

WQRA strongly advocates that water quality can never be taken for granted and should be

a high priority on the naonal water agenda. With this view, WQRA was instrumental in

preparing submissions in response to a number of reviews, including the Urban Water Inquiry

by the Producvity Commission, the Biennial Assessment of the Naonal Water Iniave,

and the workforce capacity review by the Department of Innovaon, Industry, Science and

Research, as well as dra validaon guidelines from the Victorian Department of Health. WQRA

has also connued to make informaon available to members through WQRA publicaons,

including HealthStream, Water Quality Maers,fact sheets and the WQRA Newsleer,and has

launched a new website, featuring resources for members to access.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY


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Reduced risk of water quality incidents A key focus of WQRAs research projects is to contribute

towards an improved understanding and quancaon of the health risks associated with water

supply and water reuse. As a result, risks are both reduced and beer managed, reducing the

likelihood of water quality incidents and supporng a more informed response to threats to

water security.

Improved levels of customer trust The research acvies of WQRA are predominantly for the

public good, to provide independent and sound scienc evidence about water quality concerns.

The increased knowledge base to which WQRA contributes allows water ulies to provide

clearer and more denive communicaon with customers, to enhance and improve the publics

trust of water supply authories.

Appropriate regulaons WQRA research delivers an improved understanding of risks and

system operang characteriscs, which in turn supports and informs the development of

appropriate, evidence-based regulaons. As a consequence, decisions are beer informed,

and opmal capital investment decisions can be made, enabling the water industry to target

investment towards the concerns of the highest risk and avoid unnecessary expenditure on

low-risk areas.

Improved infrastructure design and operaons By increasing knowledge and understanding

of all the processes in the catchment-to-tap sequence and beyond, WQRA supports the

development of a range of system management tools. The applicaon of these tools can lead to a

reducon in direct operang costs, while maintaining a high quality risk management framework.

Building capacity and capability WQRA is helping to maintain the capability of the watersector by supporng the WQRA research community. This enables research groups to establish

and maintain a crical mass for water quality and public health research, to address known or

emerging issues and to be responsive in mes of emergency. WQRA is also helping to address the

industry skills shortage by sponsoring the educaon and training of water professionals in higher

educaon research programs, to help build a pool of appropriately skilled researchers who can

contribute to the Australian water community, now and in the future.

Collaboraon between research, government and industry WQRA membership oers a vehicle

for researcher interacon and collaboraon with ulies, regulators and private industry on

water quality research issues. As well as oering seed funding, WQRA assists research members

to build and deliver industry-relevant projects and to gain addional nancial and in-kind support,

parcularly in naonally compeve grants.

Naonal and internaonal alliances WQRA has well established and producve relaonships

with key Australian water research organisaons and the internaonal water research community.

These relaonships deliver opportunies for expanding the experse and knowledge base for

WQRA and its members and provide crical and mely informaon on emerging issues of concern

and ensure that the best possible knowledge and skills available naonally and internaonally

can be accessed when needed by the Australian water sector.

WQRA BENEFITS TO MEMBERS

AND THE COMMUNITY


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WQRA MEMBERS MEETINGS

NODE MEETINGS >> Adelaide, SA, 21 July 2010 Ballarat, Vic/Tas, 6 October 2010

Newcastle, NSW, 7 October 2010 Brisbane, Qld, 4 Nov 2010 Perth, WA, 6 December 2010

Adelaide, SA, 7 April 2011 Sydney, NSW, 12 April 2011 Launceston, Vic/Tas, 13-14 April 2011

Sunshine Coast, Qld, 8 June 2011 Perth, WA, 22 June 2011

PerthAdelaide

Sydney

Newcastle

Launceston

Sunshine

Coast

Brisbane

Gold Coast

Melbourne

Ballarat

ADELAIDE (AGM)

26 October 2010

Keynote Speakers:

Robyn McLeod,

Commissioner for

Water Security in South

Australia; David Cunlie,

SA Health; Jerey

Charrois, Curn Water

Quality Research Centre;

Alan Gregory, CSIROSYDNEY

27 May 2011

Keynote Speakers:

James Cameron, Naonal

Water Commission;

Alison White, NSW

Oce of Water; Belinda

Chapman, Sydney

Catchment Authority;

Cheryl Lim, Naonal

Measurement Instute

GOLD COAST

24 February 2011

Keynote Speakers:

Larry Lile, Smart Water

Research Centre; Kelly

OHalloran, Allconnex

Water; Mike Chapman,

GHD Pty Ltd

MELBOURNE

27 August 2010

Keynote Speakers: Chrisne Cussen, Smart Water Fund;

Peter Sco, Melbourne Water; Paul Atherton, Grampians

Wimmera Mallee Water; Stephen Gray, Instute of

Sustainability & Innovaon, Victoria University


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WQRA MEMBERSHIP

The engagement and acve parcipaon of WQRA member organisaons and their sta is core

to the operang model of WQRA and is directly responsible for the success of WQRA. WQRA is

in a unique posion of being able to bring together representaves of the water ulies, leading

researchers and government regulators, to collaboravely design and undertake relevant research

that addresses knowledge gaps in public health issues, enabling key decision makers to respond

proacvely to current and emerging issues.

The last 12 months has seen WQRA successfully broaden its membership to include

representaon from each state within Australia, which ensures that WQRA is a truly naonal

enty that can address high priority naonal issues, as well as access crucial informaon to tackle

local challenges on behalf of its member organisaons. A naonal membership base also provides

WQRA with the capacity to broker mul-disciplinary research projects, which bring together thenaons leading experts in water quality research.

WQRA provides highly valued services to its member organisaons and their sta (see page 9).

In addion to ensuring the provision of solid scienc evidence that supports the water industry

to provide safe water to their customers and assists in developing informed regulaon, WQRA

has connued to expand its communicaon networks and opportunies for collaboraon, both

naonally and globally. This provides enhanced opportunies for WQRA member organisaons

to stay connected and exchange knowledge and ideas, and ulmately recognise informed capital

investments within their businesses.

Through WQRA, member organisaons, and their sta, have connued to benet from a

knowledge network that extends around Australia and across the world. The WQRA network

helps WQRA to assist the Australian water and research communies to respond quickly topotenal or known water quality issues, gain greater benet from exisng research, and avoid

duplicaon of research eort and investment. Through collaborave arrangements, member

organisaons connue to share knowledge, and water ulies are able to access cung-edge

research informaon and resources that may not be available within their own organisaons

funding or human capability. This improved scienc understanding of water quality risks and

their treatment adds signicant capacity to members ability to make informed decisions within

risk-based management frameworks.

Underpinning the transfer of knowledge to and within the membership are the various

communicaon channels of WQRA members meengs, state-based node meengs, workshops,

conferences, WQRA publicaons, and the new WQRA website.

Over the past year, WQRA has convened four members meengs, in Melbourne, Adelaide, the

Gold Coast and Sydney (see le). These meengs have, as in previous years, been well aended

by members and invited guests. WQRA has been able to facilitate, on behalf of its members,

consistently high-calibre and relevant keynote speakers, who have provided topical and mely

informaon to WQRA members. WQRA node meengs also provide a key opportunity for

informaon sharing and discussion between members, with more of a focus on individual,

state-based issues. During 2010-11, WQRA convened 10 node meengs around Australia.

As a membership organisaon comprised of industry, regulatory and research members,

WQRA has connued to acvely support collaboraon between these three groups. Through

this collaborave approach, WQRA has encouraged open dialogue and engagement between

regulators and the water industry as well as researchers to promote decisions about water

quality, and regulatory approaches, that are underpinned by scienc evidence.


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12 WQRA Annual Report 2010-2011

WQRA MEMBERSHIP

A focus for WQRA over the past 12 months has been to encourage acve parcipaon from

health regulators, to provide input into research strategies and programs, and to inform research

proposals at the design phase. To this end, a new WQRA category has been developed: WQRA

Associates. While this category does not provide the privileges of membership (such as vong

rights on projects or governance issues), it does provide an avenue for knowledge disseminaon,

and inuence through informaon provision, so that WQRA projects remain well informed

through the life of the project, and during the knowledge uptake and implementaon phase.

For research members, our ability to coordinate and facilitate the crical links to industry

parcipaon and endorsement that are required to submit applicaons for naonally compeve

grants, such as Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage grants, has been parcularly valuable.

WQRA carried forward eight acve ARC Linkage projects into the 2010-11 year, had an addionaltwo ARC Linkage projects funded by the ARC (out of four submied in 2010-11) and submied

three new ARC Linkage projects in the May 2011 round, for which a funding decision is pending.

In 2010-11 the WQRA success rate for ARC Linkage applicaons was 50%, compared with a

naonal average over the two rounds for that year of 46% (as published by the ARC). Since the

incepon of WQRA, eight out of 14 projects submied to the ARC Linkage program have been

funded, providing WQRA with an overall success rate of 57%.

In addion to ARC Linkage funding, WQRA has been successful in developing the project plan,

and co-ordinang the project parcipants, to secure funding from the Australian Water Recycling

Centre of Excellence for Phase I of the NatVal project: The map to an accepted workable

naonal validaon framework for water recycling schemes. This project will deliver a praccal

roadmap that can be used to develop a much-needed naonal framework for validang recycledwater schemes.

WQRA has also supported members, both nancially and by facilitang project proposal

development, in their submission of projects to Round 8 of the Victorian Smart Water Fund

iniave. If successful, these projects will be a welcome addion to the already substanal

porolio of applied research that is being jointly supported by WQRA and the Smart Water Fund,

on behalf of the Melbourne water ulies and Victorian Government.

WQRA has provided strong nancial stewardship of members funds during the year. By

ulising its wide network of support, through partnerships, government funding iniaves and

internaonal investment, and by harnessing in-kind and collaborave contribuons, WQRA has

made research dollars go further for its members. WQRA leverages both funds, and knowledge,

naonally and internaonally.

WQRA constantly strives to ensure the industry relevance of the research that it supports. As

WQRA enters its fourth year of operaons, many of our foundaon research projects will be

completed. The challenge for the future is to ensure that the research outputs that are being

delivered are translated into real impact and savings for the water sector. Research into pracce

is a core focus of WQRA in the coming 12 months, as this is the real test of the value that WQRA

delivers to its members to ensure that WQRA research is relevant, useful, and ulised.

The 2010-11 WQRA Programs Updateprovides further informaon on the key research ndings

and outcomes of research projects that WQRA has managed over the past 12 months.


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DELIVERY OF THE

WQRA STRATEGIC PLAN: 2010-2015Following the launch of the WQRA Strategic Plan: 2010-2015at the WQRA annual general

meeng in October 2010, WQRA has successfully aligned its business processes with its four

strategic aims in order to realise the WQRA vision and full delivery of the WQRA mission

statement. With leadership and oversight from the Board, WQRA has made signicant progress

towards accomplishing these aims.

WQRA invests in research and facilitates addional funding by industry and other external

funding organisaons through its extensive networks and business relaonships. This experse

enables WQRA to invest intelligently in R&D that contributes to delivering the WQRA Strategic

Planand to ensure that high priority knowledge gaps are lled, and knowledge transferred to the

operaons and decision-making processes of the relevant water sector organisaons.

WQRAs annual business plan for 2011-12 arculates the key objecves that WQRA aims to

deliver to its members during the coming 12 months. The key focus for WQRA is to expand its

sphere of inuence and input as a leading research broker and to focus on the translaon of

research into pracce.

Each WQRA investment in a research project is carefully selected on the basis of its ability

to meaningfully add to exisng knowledge, building the capability of the water industry and

research community. To provide clear direcon, WQRA, with the input of its members and key

decision makers in the water industry, will complete and release in 2011-12 the WQRA Research

Blueprintfor the next ve years.

BUILDING CAPABLITY

COLLABORATION

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

ADVOCACY

VISIONThe trusted provider of scienc evidence needed to

ensure safe water for Australians.

. . .

MISSIONTo lead and facilitate high quality and

collaborave research of naonal signicance

and to promote the implementaon of research

outcomes to address current and emergingpublic health issues in water quality.


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BUILDING CAPABILTY:

WQRA SCHOLARSHIP HOLDERS

2011 PHD STUDENTS

Kalinda Watson, Grith University,

Smart Water Research Centre

Thi Thanh Trang Trinh, UNSW

Yulia Shutova, UNSWEmma Plant, University of Adelaide

Paul Whan, University of Adelaide

2011 HONOURS STUDENTS

Michael Webber, AWQC, SA Water

Kimberly Sieburn, AWQC, SA Water

Ana Marns, RMIT

Heather Browe,

Power and Water Corporaon

2011 SUMMER STUDENTS

Joshua Putnam, UNSW

Mihiri Wewala Panditha , Curn University

Marnie Foreman, ChemCentre

Nurshadrina Akabar,Naonal Measurement Instute

Thomas Wragg, RMIT

Michael Webber, AWQC, SA Water

Kimberly Sieburn, AWQC, SA Water

Stefania Sotora, GWM Water

Rhe Richardson, Victoria University

Emily Hyde, University of Newcastle


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>> To build capacity and capability to enable high quality research to support the Australian

water community, and facilitate knowledge transfer and the uptake of research outcomes, to

migate risk and deliver value and benets for members.

One of the most obvious and direct mechanisms by which WQRA builds research capability is by

facilitang research teams. By supporng researchers to work in the eld of water quality, WQRA

supports the knowledge and skills base in this area. This base is crucial to the ongoing health of

the water sector both for proacve measures to improve water quality, and to ensure that the

sector can respond quickly and expertly in an emergency that may threaten water safety.

WQRA has invested in a number of research areas to support the development andimplementaon of water quality management tools that enable improved analycal techniques,

operaonal decision-making and management of water sources.

Key WQRA research investments have been targeted towards the following outcomes:

Development of methods to enable real-me, online methods for measuring membrane

ecacy in water treatment systems, and predicve tools for membrane ageing

(Projects 2018-10 and 2008-09).

Development of new approaches for ecient chemical pre-treatment for high pressure

membrane systems to minimise scale formaon and prolong membrane life

(Project 2009-09).

Field trial evaluaon of on-line tools to manage and opmise disinfecon in distribuon

systems and reduce the producon of disinfecon by-products. Successful tesng throughWQRA research has resulted in the addion of on-line methodology as a tool for Water

Corporaon (WA) to manage the disinfecon of water in one of its long-distance distribuon

systems (Project 1020-09).

Evaluaon of convenonal and biological treatment to enable water ulies to opmise

treatment processes to eecvely and eciently manage cyanobacteria, their toxins, and

taste and odour compounds when they occur (Projects 1021-09 and 1033-10).

Assessment of the rapid molecular techniques available for the detecon and idencaon

of microorganisms in water, and the provision of advice and, ulmately, protocols to ensure

consistent and reliable laboratory results (Project 1035-10).

WQRA has connued to invest in applied research and development to support business

operaons, both in relaon to the management of water supplies by ulies, and thedevelopment of policies, guidelines and regulaons by regulators and government. WQRA has

invested in key research that supports decision-making in relaon to both current and emerging

issues regarding the provision of safe water to the community.

Areas of signicant progress made through WQRA investment and coordinaon include

the following:

Invesgaon of the praccal applicaon of the implementaon of alternave technologies,

such as capacive deionisaon, for high recovery and low energy desalinaon of brackish

water supplies, with a parcular focus on inland communies reliant on brackish

groundwater (Projects 1025-09 and 1047-10).

STRATEGIC AIM 1:

BUILDING CAPABILITY


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Opmisaon of submerged membrane bioreactors through improved nutrient removal,

less membrane fouling and improved sludge dewatering by understanding the behaviour of

coagulants in the treatment process (Project 2011-09).

Demonstraon of the applicaon of advanced oxidaon treatment, post reverse osmosis, to

remove disinfecon by-products in high quality recycled water (Project 2019-10).

Evaluaon of exisng membrane technologies, applied in innovave new ways to provide a

viable and cost-eecve means of purifying water (Project 2016-09).

Assessment of pathogen reducon, and invesgaon of potenal pathogen surrogates,

through acvated sludge systems this research will inform recycled water validaon

guidelines (Project 2017-09).

Collecon of valuable data to assess water quality in distribuon systems, and the eect of

dierent disinfecon processes, from a complex trial site with four underground distribuon

systems. The ndings from this research are already informing business operaons

(Project 1008-08).

Invesgaon of the issue of scale in small water supplies and the variety of opons available

to managers of these systems to assist with its management (Project 1019-09).

In addion to WQRAs signicant contribuon to the body of research on water quality, WQRA

has ensured that research ndings have been applied operaonally, and that knowledge is

transferred to, and provides value to, member organisaons. Examples include:

Implementaon of the Community Water Planner Field Guide, through state and territory

health departments, to improve water management in remote, Indigenous communies

(Project 1001-08).

Provision of experse to US ulies to support implementaon of the hazard analysis

crical control point (HACCP) approach to recycled water treatment systems for pathogen

management in California. This project capitalises on the experse from Australia in

eecvely implemenng the HACCP approach. WQRA was awarded funding from the US

WateReuse Research Foundaon to undertake and lead this technology transfer project

(Project 3005-09).

Development and validaon of bioassay and chemical tesng methodologies for assessing

the toxicity and concentraons of a wide range of chemicals in water. WQRA has recentlycompleted a project delivering this outcome to the Naonal Water Commission (NWC) and

has received further funding from the NWC to extend the outcomes of this project through a

series of naonal workshops and praccal laboratory demonstraons (Projects 2002-08 and

2027-11).

Producon of an interacve version of the Global Water Research Coalion Internaonal

Guidance Manual for the Management of Toxic Cyanobacteria(published on the WQRA

website). This resource is a praccal, user-friendly manual that can be used by Australian and

internaonal water quality managers and operators to help manage cyanobacteria in source

waters. It captures the best available knowledge on cyanobacteria management, providing a

one-stop-shop resource.

Development and delivery of an ecotoxicity toolbox approach to evaluate water quality

for recycling, published by the Naonal Water Commission and led by Western Australias

Department of Water (Project 2005-08).

STRATEGIC AIM 1:

BUILDING CAPABILITY


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STRATEGIC AIM 1:

BUILDING CAPABILITYThere have been several approaches taken in 2010-11 to facilitate knowledge transfer and the

uptake of research outcomes, including:

Presenng on research outcomes at key conferences, topic-specic workshops, and WQRA

members meengs and other public forums.

Publishing research in relevant publicaons, including internaonal and peer-reviewed

journals.

Publishing project informaon, research reports, presentaons and meeng minutes on the

WQRA website, for member access only.

Redesigning the WQRA website to support improved informaon disseminaon, and an

increase in the websites funconality, including collaboraon spaces for project teams.

Holding face-to-face project meengs with next users of research (usually ulies and/or

government departments) to communicate project outputs.

As well as supporng, coordinang and managing research, WQRA supports the professional

development of early-career researchers through its Educaon Program. This is a key area in

which WQRA builds research capacity and capability for the water sector. The Educaon Program

covers a broad area of research, building capability in and across muldisciplinary areas, including

engineering, microbiology, chemistry and social sciences, across ve states and one territory.

In 2010-11, ve new PhD scholarships were awarded (including the presgious Nancy Millis

Scholarship), four Honours scholarships (one industry-funded), and 10 Summer scholarships.

Another achievement of the Educaon Program during 2010-11 was the establishment of the

mentoring program for WQRA-sponsored PhD students. This addional support to new members

of the water community provides an avenue for students to become more highly engaged with

experienced water professionals and to have a greater appreciaon of the role that their research

can play within the broader context. A mentor has been successfully secured for the majority

of students, from either industry or academia. The mentors provide personal and professional

advice, to support students personal growth and development, helping students to make sound

decisions that will help them to determine their career path.


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PROJECTS COMPLETED IN 201011

>> Scale formaon and prevenon in small water supplies reliant on groundwater

(Prof David Waite, UNSW)

>> Public percepon of source protecon and its relaonship to recreaon and water

treatment (Ms Blair Nancarrow, Syme & Nancarrow Water)

>> Internaonal Guidance Manual for the Management of Toxic Cyanobacteria online

(Dr Gayle Newcombe, AWQC, SA Water)

>> Detecon of cross connecons in potable water distribuon systems

Stage II: Field trials of candidate detecon parameters (Dr Roger OHalloran, CSIRO)

>> A naonal approach to risk assessment, risk communicaon and management of chemical

hazards from recycled water (A/Prof Heather Chapman, Grith University)

>> Development of ecotoxicity toolbox to evaluate water quality for recycling

(A/Prof Heather Chapman, Grith University)

>> Development of predicve tools for membrane ageing

(Dr Pierre LeClech, UNSW)

>> Exposure assessment using tracer chemicals

Stage I (Dr Martha Sinclair, Monash University)


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STRATEGIC AIM 2:

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE>> To provide scienc evidence to underpin the rolling review of guidelines relang to safe

drinking water and recycled water.

Much of WQRAs focus is towards ensuring that there is knowledge and credible scienc

evidence available to underpin decision-making in the water sector, encompassing both current

and emerging water quality issues for drinking water, recycled water and wastewater.

Through its evidence-based research, and the experse of its membership, during 2010-11 WQRA

has connued to both inuence and inform the development and review of guidelines. WQRA

members have played an acve role in highlighng areas in which there are knowledge gaps

that would benet from further research, and have provided feedback, through WQRA, on draguidelines relang to safe drinking water and recycled water.

WQRA has connued to liaise with state and federal regulators on a range of issues, and has

had regular contact with state health department representaves. Key state health department

representaves are on several of WQRAs project advisory commiees, as well as the WQRA

Board advisory commiees.

WQRA also has made valued submissions to relevant water sector reviews on behalf of its

members, including highlighng the importance of connued naonal investment in water quality

in both the Naonal Water Commissions biennial assessment of the Naonal Water Iniave and

the Urban Water Review of the Producvity Commission (see page 27).

WQRA has facilitated crucial engagement with the Naonal Health and Medical Research

Councils recently re-established Water Quality Advisory Commiee. WQRA is an ocialobserver of this commiee, and will parcipate in the connuing rolling reviews of the Australian

Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) as well as other naonal guidelines of interest to the water

industry. WQRA parcipaon will help to inform future project development, as well as provide

opportunies for WQRA to ensure that research contributes to decision-making, and that

guidelines are underpinned by the best available scienc evidence.

A key example of WQRAs engagement in the development and review of guidelines is its role

as project manager for Project 3009-10 The map to an accepted workable naonal validaon

framework for water recycling schemes (NatVal). The NatVal project was the inaugural project

funded by the recently formed Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence, and the awarding

of this project to WQRA is testament to the strength of our membership. The NatVal project will

greatly assist with the delivery of the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling (AGWR) and provide

the necessary framework for industry and government to validate recycled water schemes.


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STRATEGIC AIM 2:

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCESeveral other WQRA projects of note have developed knowledge that provide solid scienc

evidence to support decision-making, and are either being used by subsequent researchers in

new projects or ulised by industry or government. WQRA projects are providing:

Key understandings from stakeholder perspecves on source protecon. Outcomes from

WQRA research have been used by Water Corporaon (WA) in its submission to the WA

Parliamentary Inquiry in the review of government policy liming recreaonal access to

drinking water catchments. The approach taken in this WA study was designed in such a way

that it could be adopted for use in other states (Project 1023-09).

Addional knowledge in the way consumers use greywater for domesc substuon ofpotable water use for outside the household, and in developing potenal parameters to help

predict greywater-related infecon risk and disease burden (Project 3006-09).

Increased understanding of how dissolved organic maer (DOM) in wastewaters impacts the

fate and bioavailability of micropollutants during the treatment process. This informaon can

be implemented to underpin future revisions of the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling

(Project 3003-09).

Key points and a pathway to inform relevant health-based targets, for Australian condions,

in the rolling review of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. The rst workshop for one

of WQRAs key projects, Establishing Australian health-based targets for microbial water

quality, was held in November 2010 and involved a wide range of stakeholders, including

representaves from government, the water industry and relevant experts (Project 1004-08).

Scienc evidence about the relaonship between catchment condions and treatment

requirements, which can have direct impact in supporng future implementaon of health-

based targets. The use of Australian datasets in these studies is proving to be extremely

useful in ensuring any recommendaons are of use in uniquely Australian condions. The

outcomes of WQRAs project Treatment requirements for Australian source waters to meet

health-based targets will inform discussions on the implementaon of health-based targets

in the Australian context and support organisaons that have limited data make sensible

decisions regarding treatment opons (Project 1036-10).

Informaon on novel approaches for the detecon of cross connecons between potable

water and recycled water schemes in dual pipe systems. The research outcomes of these

studies are being applied to several technologies at eld scale in NSW and Victoria to assess

a number of eld portable devices. All of the devices tested demonstrated that they coulddetect at least 10% contaminaon of recycled water in potable water pipes (Project 3001-09).

A method to measure indirect ingeson using a chemical tracer method. This method has

been created as part one of a two-stage WQRA project to address key gaps in this area in the

Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling (Project 3002-09).


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>> To develop and implement a research blueprint for the future, to address water quality

issues of naonal signicance, in collaboraon with members and other key stakeholders.

In order for WQRA to implement its business eecvely, it has developed strong partnerships

naonally and internaonally. These have connued to be strengthened over the past year.

WQRA ulises its signicant experse in collaboraon and networking in a number of key areas,

including:

Engagement at a strategic level with other funding agencies, research organisaons and key

government agencies to assist and coordinate with the naonal and internaonal research

agenda, with parcular focus on WQRAs strategic intent. Ulisaon of WQRAs signicant networks to develop collaborave projects which deliver

synergisc outcomes, not only for WQRA members, but which benet the broader water

community.

Commitment between WQRA members and other agencies, individually and through

their various forums, to deliver project outcomes for the mutual benet of WQRA and its

members.

As a signicant highlight for 2010-11, WQRA successfully launched its rst Request for Proposal

process, which is designed to drive research in the priority areas idened by WQRA member

organisaons. Through a consultaon process, key research areas were determined, and three

WQRA core research projects were awarded as a result. The successful projects will:

Examine the water quality characteriscs of stormwater.

Develop a tool box for microbial source tracking in water sources and catchments.

Provide a literature review on the fate of engineered nanoparcles in wastewater.

WQRA has connued to engage at the strategic level both naonally and internaonally.

The Australian Water R&D Coalion (AWRDC) was formed in recognion of the benets of

coordinaon across those organisaons responsible for brokering R&D knowledge in the urban

water sector. During 2010-11, WQRA was instrumental in forming this group, which fosters a

culture of collaborave, applied research to support a wide range of needs for the Australian

water community, with parcular emphasis on coordinaon and collaboraon of research eort.

The philosophy of the AWRDC is to deliver the best value for money R&D for the Australian urban

water sector, in relaon to eciency of undertaking priority R&D, liming duplicaon of research

and improving the eecveness in translang R&D outcomes in pracce for stakeholders.

The Global Water Research Coalion (GWRC) is an internaonal water research alliance of 12

world leading research organisaons, of which WQRA is one, that serves as the collaborave

mechanism for water research at a global level. The GWRC meets biannually to discuss and act

on emerging priority research issues of signicance. The WQRA CEO is a member of the GWRC

Board, and WQRA aended the GWRC Board meengs held in South Africa (November 2010) and

France (April 2011).

STRATEGIC AIM 3:

COLLABORATION


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Signicant project level collaboraons for WQRA over the last year have been:

Two projects with the GWRC that will:

o Deliver a literature review on the most appropriate available bioassay methods for

screening a variety of water sources, including potable water, recycled water and

wastewater WQRA was the proposer and is project leader (Project 2014-09); and

o Explore water footprinng in the urban water management sector (Project 1049-10).

An ARC Linkage funded project (one of the largest in Australia) focussing on management

of odour and corrosion in sewers. This project is connually generang new informaon,through its nine subprojects, to assist the industry naonally to manage odour and corrosion

issues (Project 2004-08).

The NatVal project, funded by the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence. This

project brings together 21 collaborators represenng industry, suppliers, government and

academia, and WQRA is its lead agent, tasked with ensuring delivery on me, on budget and

from all project parcipants (Project 3009-10).

A WateReuse Research Foundaon project which is invesgang the applicaon of a hazard

analysis crical control point (HACCP) approach for microbial control in recycled water

systems. Through its networks, WQRA was able to assemble an internaonal team that was

successful in winning this project in a very compeve eld. A literature review and gap

analysis comparison were completed in 2010-11 (Project 3005-09).

A Water Research Foundaon project that will invesgate chemical transformaon products

of endocrine disrupng compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceucals and personal care products

(PPCPs) resulng from disinfecon of drinking water (Project 1051-11).

Signicant organisaonal and member-level engagement acvies have included:

Co-hosng the 2010 Naonal Cyanobacteria Workshop in Melbourne (August 2010). The

event was aended by more than 120 people, with thirty presenters, who spoke on key

issues such as source water management and treatment, guidelines, distribuon, monitoring

and tesng. A facilitated discussion idened the research priories, issues around

consistency and management of Cyanobacteria. Key outcomes from the meeng included a

summary of research priories and strengthening networks across Australia.

Development of the WQRA Research Blueprint, which outlines WQRAs priority researchareas and key research quesons for the following ve years, requires signicant engagement

with members and key stakeholders. Through this engagement, WQRA will deliver a

proacve research agenda that drives research in high priority areas, with a focus on

idenfying signicant knowledge gaps, targeng issues of naonal signicance and avoiding

duplicaon.

Parcipang in the Internaonal Year of Chemistry launch at Parliament House, Canberra,

presenng on the topic Water management: How chemistry can provide soluons and

parcipang in a subsequent panel session (February 2011).

STRATEGIC AIM 3:

COLLABORATION


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Hosng delegates from Chinas Foreign Economic Cooperaon Oce of Ministry of

Environmental Protecon (FECO/MEP), who were vising as part of the AusAID Australian

China Environment Development Partnership iniave. WQRA presented on its research and

wider water quality issues in the Australian context and also gained an insight into issues

faced by water managers in China (June 2011).

Convening regular members meengs and node meengs to provide the opportunity

for members to exchange news, informaon and research ndings, and to discuss

research priories.

WQRA has also sponsored key conferences to help support the greater water researchcommunity, to assist in developing crucial pathways of knowledge sharing and disseminaon and

support the development and connuaon of professional networks for its membership. WQRA

has supported the following conferences during 2010-11:

Internaonal Water Associaon Young Water Professionals Conference, Sydney (July 2010).

2010 Naonal Cyanobacteria Workshop, Melbourne (August 2010).

Whats in Our Water? Conference, Canberra (November 2010).

Internaonal Membrane Science and Technology Conference, Sydney (November 2010).

WQRA sta and Board Directors, WQRA scholarship recipients and project leaders, as well as

many WQRA members, parcipated in Ozwater11, the key annual Australian water industry

event. As part of its commitment to the development of young water researchers, WQRAsponsored the naonal 2011 AWA Undergraduate Water Prize award, which is awarded at each

year at Ozwater. This award aims to encourage and reward students for excellence in the eld

of water studies and research. It also provides a forum for students to display their academic

excellence and research ndings to leaders in the water industry. WQRA scholarship holders gave

poster or plaorm presentaons, and aended a range of naonal and internaonal events.

WQRA also convened a workshop at Ozwater11, on behalf of the Australian Water Research &

Development Coalion, which WQRA helped to establish (see page 24).

STRATEGIC AIM 3:

COLLABORATION


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In seeking to address future challenges, Australias water industry recognises the need to be

innovave, exible and responsive, and has an enviable record of research and development

involving ulies, private industry, state and commonwealth governments and the research

sector.

The CEOs of nine key research brokers saw an opportunity to have a coordinated approach to the

R&D in the urban water sector and have formed the Australian Water Research & Development

Coalion (AWRDC). WQRA has taken a lead role in the establishment of this group and connues

to provide secretariat support to ensure the AWRDC has dedicated resources and maintains

tracon.

The AWRDC aims to foster an environment of cooperaon and collaboraon in which research

dollars will go further, through pooling knowledge resources and eliminang duplicaon, and in

which research outcomes and adopon can be leveraged more widely across all stakeholders.

Members of the AWRDC include:

Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence

Goyder Instute for Water Research

Naonal Centre of Excellence in Desalinaon

Naonal Centre for Groundwater Research and Training

Naonal Water Commission

Urban Water Security Research Alliance

Victorian Smart Water Fund

Water Quality Research Australia Limited

Water Services Associaon of Australia

COLLABORATION:

AWRDC


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The landscape of the Australian water industry has changed dramacally in recent years, with

the formaon of new specialised research centres, and new water-related Centres of Excellence.

WQRA has established partnerships with key water R&D organisaons and other water-related

groups both new and old.

WQRA has strong alliances with naonal and internaonal agencies and organisaons. The

strength of these relaonships, and the project work that is developed from them, brings

signicant value to members by providing an enhanced knowledge base, greater leveraging

capability and richer networking relaonships. Our partners and alliances include:

Global Water Research Coalion (and its individual members) Australian Water Research & Development Coalion (and its individual members)

Internaonal Water Associaon

Naonal Health and Medical Research Council

Water Services Associaon of Australia

Key stakeholders for the water sector with which we engage include:

Murray-Darling Basin Authority

Bureau of Meteorology

Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populaons and Communies

Orange County Water District (California)

West Basin Municipal Water District (California)

Australian Research Council

Commonwealth Scienc and Industrial Research Organisaon

Through links with internaonal organisaons, WQRA is able to access and provide crical and

mely informaon on emerging issues, parcipate in global priority-seng, forge collaborave

project alliances, and pool funding resources to address shared research objecves. Internaonal

investment in WQRA projects has expanded over 2010-11. WQRA is taking leadership on the

world stage, bringing Australian experse to bear on issues of global concern as well as acvely

seeking new internaonal knowledge for applicaon in Australia. Parcipaon in internaonal

events includes:

Board of the Global Water Research Coalion

Organising commiee for the IMSTEC 2013 Conference

Water Environment Research Foundaons exploratory team

Project Advisory Commiees for WaterRF

In addion, WQRA presented at the 2010 IWA Water Congress in Montreal. The projects list

included in this Annual Report (pages 39-51) provides an indicaon of the degree of internaonal

WQRA collaboraon.

STRATEGIC AIM 3:

COLLABORATION


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STRATEGIC AIM 4:

ADVOCACY>> To promote the importance on the naonal agenda of safe water to the Australian

community.

WQRA has strong links with key decision-making bodies, groups and individuals that inuence the

naonal agenda, and parcipates in a broad range of commiees and acvies relang to water

quality. WQRA member representaves are oen leaders in their elds, with strong connecons

to industry, academia and government, and therefore are able to make well informed judgements

about the current and future needs for the industry. WQRA ulises its member strengths to make

scienc contribuons to reviews of guidelines and regulaons.

Key advocacy and engagement acvies for 2010-11, included: Conrmaon of WQRAs status as an observer on the Water Quality Advisory Commiee,

which provides oversight to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

Parcipaon as an invited guest in the Naonal Water Commission-coordinated Naonal

Recycled Water Regulators Forum meengs in November 2010 and April 2011.

Development of a naonal, collaborave team and approach to the creaon of a roadmap

that will lead to naonal validaon guidelines for recycled water schemes.

Assistance with the establishment of the AWRDC, which in itself is a strong advocacy group.

Together with AWRDC members, WQRA is preparing to map the Australian water research

landscape, to help highlight areas of shared focus, support collaboraon, idenfy knowledge

gaps and inform research and funding priories.

WQRA is acve in responding to public submissions to provide a voice in relaon to water quality

issues as well as providing publicaons through a range of forums. Submissions and publicaons

prepared during 2010-11 include:

A response to the Producvity Commissions dra review into the urban water sector.

WQRA also aended and presented at the reviews public hearing in Adelaide.

Input and comment to the Naonal Water Commissions biennial assessment of the Naonal

Water Iniave and parcipaon in the NWC stakeholder forum.

A submission to the Victorian Department of Health, in response to dra guidelines for

validang treatment processes for pathogen reducon.

A response to the Victorian Department of Innovaon, Industry, Science and Researchs

consultaon paper on Australias research workforce needs.

A paper in response to the proposed changes to the ADWG of the E. Coliguideline values.

The paper arculated the reasons to dispel the noon that industry was lowering standards

by refung the proposed 100% E. colicompliance target for drinking water.

A fact sheet for members on hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), which provided informaon for

the Australian water industry in response to concerns reported in the United States.

Highly regarded WQRA publicaons, including HealthStream, an internaonally published

public health newsleer focussing on water quality; Water Quality Maers; and the WQRA

Newsleer, a newsleer to communicate with the broader water community.

Arcles in a range of media, including peer-reviewed journals, books and other publicaons.

A list of publicaons for 2010-11 is available in the WQRA2010-11Programs Update.


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Scienc

AdvisoryCommiee

Regulatory

Advisory

Commiee

Project Review

Team

Educaon

Commiee

MEMBERS

BOARD

CEO

Corporate

Services

Drinking Water

Program

Wastewater &

Recycled WaterPrograms

Educaon

Program

Markeng &Communicaons

WQRAS STRUCTURE


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The WQRA Board is a skills-based and representave Board responsible for the strategic direcon and

overall oversight of WQRA on behalf of the members. It is comprised of three Directors nominated by

research members, four Directors nominated by industry members, an Independent Chairperson and

the CEO.

During 2010-11 the Board met in person four mes and held one formal Board meeng via

teleconference. The WQRA Board progressed several key areas of business to build solid foundaons

for the connued growth and sustainability of WQRA. Key areas included the nalisaon of the WQRA

Strategic Plan: 2010-2015, inclusion of the WQRA Associate constuency, implementaon of WQRAs

priority research investment approach and oversight of the new WQRA website. The Board also

approved, with comment, the annual WQRA Business Plan for 2011-12, as well as providing signicant

inial input and direcon for the WQRA Research Blueprint.

At the WQRA 2010 AGM, the WQRA Independent Chair, Prof Michael Moore, was re-elected for a

further three-year term. In addion, two Industry Directors chose not to renominate for the Board

due to their impending rerements Ms Anne Howe (SA Water) and Ms Jan Bowman (Department of

Health, Victoria) and two new Industry Directors were elected unopposed Dr Hamish Reid

(South East Water) and Dr Melita Stevens (Melbourne Water). The current WQRA Board comprises:

Prof Michael Moore Non-Execuve Chair

Prof Michael Moore was elected as the Independent Chair of WQRA in July 2008

and again in October 2010 for a further period of three years. Prof Moores extensive

experience has him well placed to lead WQRA. He is a registered toxicologist, and

founding member and Registrar of the Australasian College of Toxicology and Risk

Assessment. He has a PhD in medicine and a Doctor of Science in biochemistry inmedicine, and trained in clinical pharmacology at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School.

Prof Moore was a Foundaon Director of the Australian Centres for Human Health Risk Assessment,

and Director of Queensland Health Scienc Services. He also worked in the University of Glasgow,

where he was Reader in Medicine and Therapeucs, contemporaneously being a Director of

Monklands and Bellshill NHS Hospital Trust in Scotland. He holds the posions of: Honorary

Professor, Smart Water Research Centre, Grith University; Emeritus Professor, University of

Queensland; Adjunct Professor, Queensland University of Technology (Research Aliate in the Centre

for Research Excellence in Sun & Health); and Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Science, Sunshine

Coast University. Prof Moore has wrien several books, numerous book chapters and over 500

refereed research publicaons.

Prof Simon Beecham Non-Execuve Director (Research)Prof Simon Beecham was appointed as a Non-Execuve Director of WQRA in November

2009, and was a member of the original implementaon commiee for WQRA in the

lead-up to its incorporaon.

Prof Beecham is Head of the School of Natural and Built Environments at the University

of South Australia, and is a former Head of Civil Engineering and Director of the Centre

for Water Management and Reuse. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia. Prof Beechams research

interests include water sensive urban design and the eects of climate change on integrated urban

water management. He is also the author of the Syfon soware program which has been used to

design the roof water harvesng system for Sydneys Stadium Australia and the MCG, as well as the

siphonic roof drainage systems at Chek Lap Kok airport in Hong Kong, and the new Internaonal

Terminal Buildings at Adelaide, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur airports.

WQRA BOARD

OUR VALUES > COLLABORATION l TRUST l INNOVATION l RESPONSIVENESS


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WQRA BOARD

Ms Jan Bowman Non-Execuve Director (Industry)

Ms Jan Bowman was appointed as a Non-Execuve Director of WQRA in December

2007, and chaired WQRAs Regulatory Advisory Commiee from its formaon in

2008 unl she rered from the Board in October 2010.

Prior to her rerement, Ms Bowman was the Assistant Director of Environmental

Health for Victorias Department of Health, a role she had held since 2006. In

addion to her posion on the WQRA Board, Ms Bowman served as a member of the Australian

Governments Environmental Health Commiee (enHealth) and the Water Quality Advisory

Commiee of the Naonal Health and Medical Research Council. Ms Bowman has overseen the

development of a number of key pieces of legislaon, and has made substanal contribuons to

the elds of health risk management. She holds a Masters degree in applied toxicology, and is aMember of the Australian Instute of Company Directors.

Mr Keith Cadee Non-Execuve Director (Industry)

Mr Keith Cadee wasappointed as a Non-Execuve Director for WQRA in November

2007. He was Chair of the original implementaon commiee, and was WQRAs

Interim Chair unl the appointment of Prof Michael Moore. Mr Cadee has over

30 years experience in the water industry. He is currently the General Manager of

the Acquision Group for the Water Corporaon (Western Australia), where he is

responsible for the delivery of Water Corporaons capital works program.

From April 2011 he was Deputy Chair of the Naonal Centre of Excellence in Desalinaon,

of which he was a Board member from March, 2010. Mr Cadee has a Masters degree in

environmental engineering, and is a member of the Instute of Engineers Australia, as well as aGraduate of the Australian Instute of Company Directors.

Dr P (Dharma) Dharmabalan Non-Execuve Director (Industry)

Dr Dharma Dharmabalan was appointed as a Non-Execuve Director of WQRA in

March 2008. He has worked in the water industry in Australia since 1989, and has

been associated with the planning and delivery of many projects for Barwon Water,

Central Highlands Water and Coliban Region Water Corporaon. He is currently

the General Manager of Planning and Infrastructure for Coliban Water. He is also a

Director of the Naonal Centre of Excellence for Desalinaon.

An Adjunct Professor with the Instute for Sustainability and Innovaon at Victoria University,

Dr Dharmabalan is also an Adjunct Associate Professor with the Faculty of Science and Technology

at Deakin University. He has a Masters degree in engineering, an Honours degree in civilengineering, and is a cered auditor and skill examiner in drinking water quality management

systems for RABQSA Internaonal.


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Dr John Howard Non-Execuve Director (Research)

Dr John Howard was appointed as a Non-Execuve Director of WQRA in November

2007, and chairs the WQRA Scienc Advisory Commiee. He has twenty-ve years

experience in water quality and water resource management, gained in the United

Kingdom, South Africa and Australia.

Dr Howard joined SA Water as its Principal Water Quality Scienst in 1998, and in

2005 was appointed General Manager of the Australian Water Quality Centre (a business unit of

the South Australian Water Corporaon), and SA Waters Head of Water, Quality and Environment.

He is also a Director of the Australian Water Associaon and a member of the leadership team

of the Adelaide Allwater Alliance. He has an Honours degree in science and a PhD in freshwater

chemistry, and is a Fellow of the Australian Instute of Company Directors, and member of theWater Services Associaon of Australias Water Quality and Health Commiee.

Ms Anne Howe Non-Execuve Director (Industry)

Ms Anne Howe was appointed as a Non-Execuve Director of WQRA in December

2007, and rered from the Board during her second term, in October 2010. Ms Howe

was the Chief Execuve of SA Water from 2001-2010. She was also a member of

the governing Board of the Co-operave Research Centre for Water Quality and

Treatment, WQRAs precursor.

Prior to SA Water, Ms Howe held a number of chief and senior execuve posions in the South

Australian public service. She served on the boards of the Water Services Associaon of Australia,

the South Australian Stormwater Management Authority, the State Supply Board (as Chair), the

Naonal Public Works Council, and the Australian Procurement and Construcon Council. MsHowe was also a member of the advisory board of the South Australian Government Financing

Authority, and a member of the Government Planning and Co-ordinaon Commiee. She was

State President of the Commiee for Economic Development of Australia and is a Naonal Fellow

of the Instute of Public Administraon Australia.

Dr Hamish Reid Non-Execuve Director (Industry)

Dr Hamish Reid was appointed as a Non-Execuve Director of WQRA in October 2010.

The General Manager of Strategy at South East Water, he has responsibilies across

a broad range of key water industry issues. Dr Reid has worked at South East Water

since 2005, working for four years as the Manager of Research and Technology. He has

held roles with Melbourne Water, the Victorian Environmental Protecon Authority

and, in New Zealand, the Instute of Environmental Science and Research, the Ministry for theEnvironment, and the Environmental Risk Management Authority.

Dr Reid has contributed to working groups for the Naonal Water Recycling Guidelines and is on

the Water Quality and Health Commiee for the Water Services Associaon of Australia and the

WateReuse Associaons Management Commiee. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree, and a

PhD in environmental toxicology, and is a Member of the Australian Instute of Company Directors,

and a member of the Water Services Associaon of Australias Water Quality and Health

Commiee.

WQRA BOARD


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Dr Melita Stevens Non-Execuve Director (Industry)

Dr Melita Stevens was appointed as a Non-Execuve Director for WQRA in October

2010. She was also a member of the implementaon commiee that supervised the

start-up of WQRA.

Dr Stevens has a background in public health microbiology and has been involved

in water quality and research for 20 years. She was involved in the development

of hazard analysis crical control point (HACCP) systems for drinking water and recycled water,

and has contributed to the World Health Organizaons guidelines for drinking-water quality, the

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling. She is an

Adjunct Professor at RMIT and an Honorary Senior Fellow at Melbourne University. Dr Stevens is a

former President and Vice-President of the Victorian branch of the Australian Water Associaon,and was the rst winner of the AWA Industry Woman of the Year Award (the Nancy Millis Award).

She is a member of the Water Services Associaon of Australias Water Quality and Health

Commiee.

Prof T David Waite Non-Execuve Director (Research)

Prof David Waite was appointed as a Non-Execuve Director of WQRA in November

2009. The Head of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the

University of New South Wales (UNSW), Prof Waite joined the university as Head

of the Department of Water Engineering and Director of the Centre for Water and

Waste Technology in 1993. He held these roles unl becoming Head of School in

2007. Previously, he had worked for the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission and the

Nuclear Science and Technology Organisaon. He undertook his PhD at the MassachusesInstute of Technology, and undertook postdoctoral studies at the University of Melbourne.

Prof Waite is a Sciena Professor at UNSW. He is a biogeochemist and maintains acve research

acvies in engineered and natural aquac systems. He has published over 240 journal arcles, and

supervised 34 students to PhD compleon.

Execuve Directors

The WQRA CEO holds the only Execuve Director posion on the WQRA Board. During 2010-11

Ms Jodieann Dawe, Board Director and WQRA CEO, held this posion, with Dr Michele Akeroyd,

Acng CEO, standing as alternate Board Director when the CEO was unable to aend

Board meengs.

WQRA BOARD


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BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES

The WQRA Board is supported by two advisory commiees the Scienc Advisory Commiee

and the Regulatory Advisory Commiee. Their role is to provide the Board with strategic and

imparal scienc and regulatory advice on WQRAs research program, and on emerging issues

that should be of concern to the water sector. The advisory commiees are comprised of naonal

and internaonal experts, who are highly regarded in their respecve elds.

The Scienc Advisory Commiee

The Scienc Advisory Commiee (SAC) met during 2010-11 to review the projects WQRA had

idened as a priority for investment, through its Request for Proposal process, and provided

expert review on the WQRA Strategic Plan: 2010-2015. A core role for the SAC in 2011-12 will

be input into the WQRA Research Blueprint, which is scheduled for dra release to members fordiscussion in October 2011.

Scienc Advisory Commiee Members: 2010-11

Dr John Howard (Chair) SA Water

Prof David Waite (Deputy Chair) University of New South Wales

Dr Andrew Bath Water Corporaon (WA)

Prof Ian Falconer University of Adelaide

Prof Jurg Keller University of Queensland

Mr Adam Lovell Water Services Associaon of Australia

Em Prof Nancy Millis University of MelbourneDr Frans Schulng Global Water Research Coalion

Regulatory Advisory Commiee

The Regulatory Advisory Commiee (RAC) provided expert review on the WQRA Strategic Plan:

2010-2015 during 2010-11.

Regulatory Advisory Commiee Members: 2010-11

Ms Jodieann Dawe (Chair from October 2010) Water Quality Research Australia

Ms Jan Bowman (Chair to October 2010) Department of Health (Victoria)

Dr Paul Byleveld NSW Department of Health

Dr David Cunlie Department of Health (SA)

Ms Vesna Cvjecanin Naonal Health and Medical Research Council

Ms Sophie Dwyer Queensland Health

Mr Xavier Schobben NT Department of Health and Families

Mr David Sheehan Department of Health (Victoria)


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MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES

Educaon Program Commiee Members: 2010-11

Project Review Team Members: 2010-11

The WQRA CEO is supported by two operaonal commiees the Project Review Team and the

Educaon Commiee. These commiees provide the CEO and sta with advice to ensure the

provision of high quality and relevant research. The members of the operaonal commiees are

representaves from member organisaons who bring a high level of knowledge and skills to

WQRA and its members.

Educaon Program Commiee

The Educaon Commiee provides advice on the Educaon Program iniaves of WQRA.

The Educaon Commiee met three mes during 2010-11 to review project and candidate

submissions for WQRA scholarship iniaves.

Project Review Team

The Project Review Team (PRT) met three mes during 2010-11 and oversaw the

implementaon of the rst Request for Proposal process held by WQRA, to deliver its core

project research investment. The PRT also provided invaluable support in the review of project

proposals for submission to the ARC, Victorian Smart Water Fund, Water Research Foundaon,

Water Environment Research Foundaon and the new Naonal Centres of Excellence for Water

Recycling and Desalinaon. The PRT comprises the WQRA CEO, WQRA program managers, and a

cross-secon of industry and research representaves.

Dr Andrew Humpage (Chair) Australian Water Quality Centre

Dr Michele Akeroyd WQRA

Dr Judy Blackbeard Melbourne Water

A/Prof Heather Chapman Grith University

Ms Jodieann Dawe WQRA

Ms Amy Dysart Power and Water Corporaon

Dr David Halliwell WQRA

Dr Penny Knights Sydney Catchment Authority

Dr Martha Sinclair Monash University

Dr Rino Trolio Water Corporaon (WA)

Prof Felicity Roddick (Chair) RMIT University

Dr Michele Akeroyd WQRA

Mr Paul Atherton Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water

Ms Carolyn Bellamy WQRA

Mr Simon Groves Hunter Water

Dr Rita Henderson / Prof Richard Stuetz UNSW

Mr Asoka Jayaratne Yarra Valley Water

Dr Kathryn Linge Curn University

Prof Dennis Mulcahy University of South Australia

Prof Chris Saint / A/Prof Mike Burch SA Water


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

WQRA recognises the connued support of SA Water as the host organisaon for WQRAs

head oce. SA Waters signicant in-kind contribuon includes reduced rent for oce space

in SA Water House a six star, green star facility in the Adelaide CBD as well as meeng room

facilies, IT support services and access to oce equipment.

The central locaon of SA Water House, which is posioned in the heart of Adelaides CBD, makes

the building an aracve and convenient base for WQRA sta, as well as vising WQRA members.

WQRA is pleased to announce that WQRA and SA Water have recently signed a new, ve-year

hosng agreement.

WQRA also recognises the support of the Water Services Associaon of Australia (WSAA), which

provides oce space and support for the manager of WQRAs Wastewater and Recycled Waterprograms, Dr David Halliwell, who is based in WSAAs Melbourne oce.

WQRA would also like to acknowledge the support of the Smart Water Research Centre at Grith

Universitys Gold Coast Campus, which provides oce space for the Chair of WQRAs Board,

Prof Michael R Moore.

Finally, WQRA is indebted to the many members around the country who have made facilies,

assistance and the experse of their sta available for meengs and parcipaon in various

WQRA commiees during the year. Thank you to all!


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WQRA TEAM

WQRAs operaons are supported by a small but highly skilled team, enabling the organisaon to

deliver signicant benets to members, and support to the Australian water community, while

operang on a streamlined basis to ensure that more member funds are directed into research.

Details of WQRA sta during 2010-11 follow.

Ms Jodieann Dawe CEO and Execuve Director

Ms Jodieann Dawe was appointed as the inaugural CEO and Execuve Director of

WQRA in June 2008.Before joining the team at WQRA, she was the rst Managing

Director of Arc@UNSW. Prior to this, Ms Dawe was the Manager Research

Operaons at Meat and Livestock Australia Limited; Business Development Manager

for Unisearch Limited; and a Product Development Manager at Varian OSI.

She commenced her career with Defence Science Technology Organisaon as a processchemical engineer.

Ms Dawes academic qualicaons include a Bachelor of Science in geology and chemistry,

Master of Applied Science in chemistry, Master of Business Administraon, Graduate Diploma

of Finance, Securies and Corporate Law, and a Graduate Cercate in Governance Pracce

and Administraon. As well as being a chartered chemist with RACI, she is a Graduate of the

Australian Instute of Company Directors, an Associate Fellow of the Australian Instute of

Management and a Cered Member of Chartered Secretaries Australia.

Ms Dawe is a member of the Board of the Australian Water Associaon and the Global Water

Research Coalion, and is a member of research advisory boards for the SA Water Centre for

Water Management and Reuse, UniSA and Curn Water Quality Research Centre.

Dr Michele Akeroyd Acng CEO, alternate Director and

Program Manager, Drinking Water

Dr Michele Akeroyd is the Drinking Water Program Manager at WQRA, a role she

has held since November 2008. She was also the Acng CEO from April 2010 to May

2011, and was an alternate Director for this period.

Before joining WQRA, Dr Akeroyd was based at the Murray-Darling Basin

Commission (MDBC) for seven years and was involved in the implementaon of the MDBCs key

environmental and corporate programs. Prior to joining the MDBC, Dr Akeroyd held various policy

roles at the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Dr Akeroyd has a PhD in plant water relaons, and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in

environmental science. Dr Akeroyd is also a Graduate of the Australian Instute of

Company Directors.


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WQRA TEAM

Mr Philip Auckland Chief Operang Ocer

Mr Auckland is the Chief Operang Ocer at WQRA, a role he has held since

September 2009. He is also Company Secretary to the WQRA Board. Mr Auckland

is an FCPA, a Graduate of the Australian Instute of Company Directors, and has

a Bachelor of Business in accounng, a Graduate Diploma in Company Secretarial

Pracces, and has completed the Columbia University Senior Execuve Program.

Ms Carolyn Bellamy Educaon Program Coordinator

Ms Carolyn

WQRA Annual Report 2010_11

Documents

Transcript of WQRA Annual Report 2010_11