Welcome to our March 2024 Research and Innovation Newsletter.
|
Industry Innovation and Resilience
|
|
 |
|
Count Her In!
WSAA & AWA International Women’s Day Panel
|
|
WSAA and the AWA will be hosting a unique opportunity for International Women’s Day.
12th March, 1:00 AEDT
This online webinar will provide the opportunity for you to hear firsthand from a panel of women in the water sector, reflecting on their experience and discussing opportunities for greater inclusion for women and girls at both an individual and organisational level.
No matter where you work, we hope all the water sector will come together to help ensure women and girls have the tools to thrive, lead, and make an impact in the water sector. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the change!
REGISTER HERE
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Young Water Scientist Shortlisted for 2024 NSW Water Awards
|
|
WaterNSW is very excited that a young scientist working on a key project with Sydney Water has been shortlisted for the AWA Student Water Prize for 2024.
Jin Zhu, a student at the University of NSW, has been working with WaterNSW and Sydney Water to better understand taste and odour causes in the Prospect Reservoir supply system.
Best of luck Jin Zhu!
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Smart Approved Water Mark available in North America
|
|
The Water Conservancy has entered into an agreement with The Alliance for Water Efficiency to extend the water efficiency certification – Smart Approved WaterMark – to product manufacturers in North America.
The independent assessment certification process provides a guarantee for consumers, businesses and the water industry that the certified products and services are water efficient, sustainable and fit for purpose.
Read more at the Water Conservancy
|
|
|
|
|
Energy and the Circular Economy
|
|
 |
|
Building Modular Waste Treatment Plants
|
|
Something new is happening in large-scale engineering. It’s the development of large scale modular construction.
In modular construction industrial plants are put together in a workshop and shipped to site and then installed. Modular construction can significantly reduce the time it takes to construct a large plant, it’s unaffected by the weather, improves engineering quality and improves construction safety.
In China’s Guangdong Province they have constructed an all-in-one waste treatment plant that was built off-site and towed to the location for installation.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Micro-Hydropower Produces Energy from Water Pipes
|
|
InPipe energy from the US have released a new white paper that makes the case for deployment of their in-conduit micro hydro systems. The paper is interesting because it gives an outline of how these systems work and some of the issues and opportunities.
Read more here
Read the paper here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
New Method to Detect PFAS in Under Three Minutes
|
|
Researchers from New Jersey Institute of Technology have demonstrated a new lab-based method to detect traces of PFAS from food packaging material, water and soil samples in just three minutes or less.
The researchers claim that the new method — involving an ionization technique for analysing the molecular composition of sample materials called paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) — is 10-100 times more sensitive than the current standard technique for PFAS testing, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.
Read more at NJIT
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Electron Beams Used to Eradicate PFAS
|
|
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, in collaboration with 3M, have successfully demonstrated that an electron beam can destroy the two most common types of PFAS in water—PFOA and PFOS.
The electron beam seems a promising technology to help break down PFAS in large volumes of water that contain high concentrations of PFAS.
The unique component here is that the process destroys PFAS, rather than just removing it.
Read more at PhysOrg
|
|
|
|
 |
|
How Metal-Organic Frameworks Capture Water From Air
|
|
Researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and Dresden University of Technology have unravelled the water adsorption mechanism in hierarchical metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) while probing them on the atomic scale.
We’ve heard a lot about the properties of Metal Organic Frameworks, but the mechanism by which water adsorbs in the structures is not well understood.
Read more at PhysOrg
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Korean Artificial Intelligence Set to Revolutionize Treatment of Emerging Contaminants in Water
|
|
Researchers from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) claim to have developed artificial intelligence (AI) technology that promises to transform the way we address emerging contaminants in wastewater.
The approach uses self-organizing maps and random forest algorithms in machine learning, streamlining the analysis of previously unknown substances and offering a cost-effective solution compared to traditional methods.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Researchers Develop Eco-Friendly Magnet to Battle Microplastics
|
|
Researchers from the University of Kentucky have developed a technique that uses Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) to capture and remove microplastics.
The NADES act as a magnet that attracts and holds on to small plastic pieces like Velcro.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF), Singapore
|
|
The new Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF), an integral part of Singapore’s long-term plan to meet its solid waste management needs, will be equipped with state-of-the-art solid waste treatment technologies to improve energy and resource recovery from waste.
Read more from WSP
Everything you could ever want to know
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The First Dutch Biobased Water Pipeline will be in Brabant
|
|
Brabant Water in the Netherlands has started the construction of the first biobased water pipeline in the Netherlands made of old frying fat, wood pulp and sugar cane residues.
According to manufacturer Pipelife, the net CO2 savings from use of the new pipe can be up to 90 percent of the comparable new PVC.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
New Design Improves Water Decontamination Via Plasma Jet
|
|
Researchers from the University of Córdoba have collaborated on the development of a reactor to create plasma, that when interacting with water, degrades organic compounds.
The research tested the approach on high concentrations of methylene blue dye in water, with very efficient results in terms of energy, achieving the complete elimination of the dye at reduced treatment times.
|
|
|
|
|
WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY
|
|
 |
|
Harnessing the Potential of Heat from Sewage
|
|
Sewage heat recovery (SHR) is gaining momentum as a reliable and renewable energy solution. This article from AquaTech delves into the innovative world of SHR to shed light on why water companies are investing in this forward-thinking approach.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Dog Washing is a Major Source of Pet Pesticide Pollution
|
|
Research from the University of Sussex and Imperial College London found that wastewater from sewage treatment works is a major source of fipronil and imidacloprid pollution in UK rivers.
They conclude that pesticides used in flea products on domestic pets are washing down household drains, in concentrations exceeding safe limits for wildlife.
The work is being used to help underpin new regulatory approaches to the use of pet flea products.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
New System to Remove Microplastics from Laundry Wastewater
|
|
A collaboration with the University of Sydney has seen PEGRAS, a pioneering company in ecological solutions, develop the world’s first scalable microfibre removal system from industrial laundry wastewater.
This system is engineered to efficiently remove harmful microfibres from water flows, uses an evolutionary binding agent and a distinctive in-line and continuous extraction process.
Read more at NSSN
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Chronic Nose-Picking Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease
|
|
Researchers from the University of Western Sydney claim that there is strong evidence that people who frequently pick their nose are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s fun that you learn that the correct title of nose – picking is rhinotillexomania, however, my favourite part is that the article appears in the ‘Lifestyle’ section of News.com.au.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Neurodiversity in the Water Sector Workshop
|
|
7th March, 9:00 – 4:30, Arup Offices Sydney
How can we as a sector harness the power of the neurodiverse to address our skill shortage both now and into the future?
Join AWA members for this unique workshop to:
- Share experiences of initiatives and programs both within and external to the water sector.
- Map the water sector and neurodiverse enabling environments to identify opportunities and gaps.
- Connect water sector employers with schools and organisations to allow them to develop (pilot) programs, increasing participation by neurodiverse people.
Register here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Ozwater’24 is now open for registration!
|
|
First held as the Federal Convention in 1964, Ozwater is now Australia’s premier water event and the largest water conference and exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere.
Ozwater supports a program of speakers, papers, and workshops by and for people working with water to promote excellence, networking and international engagement.
Register Here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
International Cleanup Conference – Adelaide 2024
|
|
15 – 19 September 2024, Adelaide
The 10th International Contaminated Site Remediation Conference incorporating the 4th International PFAS Conference.
Join delegates from Australia and around the world to help build professional skills on PFAS management, human health risk assessment, bioremediation and more.
More Information Here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Global Nature Positive Summit
|
|
Australia will host the first Global Nature Positive Summit at the International Convention Centre in Sydney on 8-10 October 2024.
The Summit will bring together delegates from around the world including ministers, environment groups, Aboriginal peoples, business, scientists and community leaders, to consider how to supercharge investment in projects that repair nature.
The Global Nature Positive Summit is an invitation-only event.
To register your interest in hearing more about the Summit, please go to: www.dcceew.gov.au/naturepositivesummit
|
|
|
|
|
Research Data Australia
|
|
Find, access, and re-use data from over one hundred Australian research organisations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Australian Government – GrantConnect
|
|
Forecast and current Australian Government grant opportunities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Having trouble reading this email? View online
If you no longer wish to hear from us please unsubscribe or update preferences |
|
© 2024 Water Services Association Australia.
Level 8, Suite 8.02, 401 Docklands Drive, Docklands, VIC, 3008
|
