Dr Peter Dillon: researching water quality and recycled water

Dr Peter Dillon is leading research in water recycling and diversified supplies.

• 17 August 2009 | Updated 14 October 2011

• Current activities
• Background
• Academic qualifications
• Achievements
• Professional activities

Current activities

Dr Peter Dillon's primary research area is water recycling of stormwater and wastewater via aquifers.

His research is aimed at securing water supplies by providing scientific evidence to facilitate diversification of water sources, particularly in or near urban areas.

His research topics of special interest include:

• management of aquifer recharge - water quality and clogging issues
• water and effluent reclamation using environmental systems
• stormwater and recycled water recharge and reuse
• urban groundwater resource protection and development
• surface water - groundwater interaction
• groundwater education for professionals and the community.

Background

Dr Dillon has 25 years' research experience in surface water - groundwater interaction, groundwater quality protection from diffuse and point sources and agricultural water reuse.

For over a decade Dr Dillon has led research on managed aquifer recharge with stormwater and reclaimed water.

He was Director of the Centre for Groundwater Studies during its formative years, and coordinated the Australian Water Conservation and Reuse Research Program.

Dr Dillon has undertaken research projects in all Australian states and led international research projects on management of aquifer recharge. He is the founding Chairman of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) Commission on Management of Aquifer Recharge.

Academic qualifications

Dr Dillon has been awarded a:

• Bachelor of Engineering, Civil (First Class Honours) from the University of Adelaide, South Australia, 1975
• Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Adelaide, South Australia, 1984
• Master of Business Administration from the Graduate School of Business, University of Adelaide, 1996.

Achievements

Dr Dillon is the author of over 60 journal papers, 170 reports, 130 conference papers and has edited three books from conference proceedings.

Dr Dillon has won several awards including:

• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Water Prize 2001
• Best Practice Paper Award, International Water Association (IWA) Water Reuse Symposium, Antwerp, Belgium, 2007.

Professional activities

Dr Dillon's professional activities include:

• Hon Associate Professor, Faculty of Science & Engineering at Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
• Chair, International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) Commission Management of Aquifer Recharge
• Executive Member, Australian Water Association's (AWA) Water Recycling Forum
• Founding Member, South Australian Technical Committee on Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)
• Member of IAH, IWA, AWA, Institute of Engineers, Australia (IEAust), Hydrological Society of South Australia
• Member, American Society of Civil Engineers/Environmental & Water Resources Institute (ASCE - EWRI) Standards Committee on MAR
• National Committee Member, AWA's Water Recycling Forum.

He has been involved in:

• working with CSIRO's Water for a Healthy Country Flagship
• leading the Australian Water Conservation and Reuse Research Program
• instigating the UNESCO Network on MAR.

Dr Dillon also has partners with numerous organisations on multiple projects, including:

• United Water International
• South Australian Water Corporation
• City of Salisbury
• South Australian Department for Water Land and Biodiversity Conservation
• Flinders University
• National Water Commission
• Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
• Water Research Foundation (formerly AWWARF).

Read more about Urban water: recycling and diversified supply.