The Urban Water Theme is the largest urban water research program in Australia, one of four major programs under the Water for a Healthy Country Research Flagship.
Background
Eighty-five per cent of Australians, some 17.6 million people, live in cities.
Greater than 90 per cent of national population growth over the next quarter century, an additional 4.5 million residents, will occur in Sydney, Melbourne, South-East Queensland and Perth.
For Australia’s cities, achieving the goal of sustainable water management remains the major challenge for the 21st century, and our Urban Water Theme aims to deliver on our goal:
'To provide science and technology that enables the delivery of socially acceptable, affordable and environmentally beneficial water management solutions for Australia’s cities.'
The water challenge
Flagship research is tackling the major challenge of sustainable water management for Australia’s cities.Science supporting sustainable water use.
The considerable challenges facing Australia’s urban water sector include:
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water security in a drying climate – climate change and population growth indicate our cities face a water deficit
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healthy water environments – as urbanisation increases our waterways and wetland systems face increased risk from contaminants
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greenhouse emissions – with climate change firmly on the global and local political agenda, the energy costs of water supply options become increasingly important to utilities
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aging infrastructure - maintenance and management of our aging water infrastructure sits at A$4.5 B annually.
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people and institutions – governments need to establish appropriate governance, institutional and pricing structures to encourage innovation without compromising social and environmental outcomes.
CSIRO is providing the research to assist government, industry and communities to address these challenges.
Science supporting sustainable water use
Our research is targeted in four key areas:
 | We are assisting water resource managers to implement the most sustainable water management design and practice under changing climate and resource use pressures. |
 | Developing alternative water supply options through research into innovative water recycling methods. |
 | Assisting to improve the nation's water infrastructure to deliver water for Australia's growing population and industry. |
 | Reducing the environmental footprint on water resources from expanding urban regions. |
Our researchers are taking key roles in major research initiatives that will ensure a sustainable water future for the nation, including:
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South-East Queensland Water Security Research Alliance – an A$50 million (M) research alliance between:
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Flagship Collaboration Fund Advanced Membrane Cluster – an A$7.2 M collaboration with nine universities to develop low energy demand membranes for water purification.
Partnerships
The Urban Water Flagship Theme collaborates with a wide range of Australian and international research partners in government and academia to increase the impact of our research, including:
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the Western Australian State Premiers Water Foundation
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Victorian Smart Water Fund
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South Australian State Government
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ACT Territory Government
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ACTEW
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research bodies such as:
We align our research to meet the demands of Australia’s water industries, working with:
Our research is playing a role in improving water services internationally, through our work with:
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American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AwwaRF)
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Water Environment Research Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia, USA (WERF)
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European Union (EU)
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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
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Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) India.
Find out more about CSIRO's work in Urban Water.
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