Organised by the IWA Specialist Group on “Algal Toxins and Taste and Odour Compounds in Water”, the findings to date of worldwide cyanobacteria investigations and prevention efforts were presented and discussed. This specialist group is chaired by our Research Manager Arash Zamyadi and Professor Tsair-Fuh Lin (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan – pictured below).

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Held in Melbourne from July 3rd to 6th, the event provided a forum for the international research community, water utilities and water professionals to present and discuss the latest developments in the application of pond systems to wastewater treatment and the use of algae for resource recovery and production of added value products using wastewater as the growth medium.

WaterRA CEO Karen Rouse was pleased to acknowledge the Best Poster Presentation and Best Oral Presentation award winners during the event.

Best Oral Presentation was awarded to Dr Franja Prosenc from the University of Slovenia for her presentation on Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Algae-based Treatment; and the Best Poster Presentation went to Eva Salgado from the University of Porto, Portugal for her poster on Microalgal Cultures for the Bioremediation of Urban Wastewaters in the Presence of Siloxanes.

Image middle: WaterRA CEO Karen Rouse (second from right) with Dr Franja Prosenc (right).

Image right: WaterRA CEO Karen Rouse (second from right) with Eva Salgado (right).

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The techniques developed in Australia have now been trialed in both low prevalence case settings as well as during the height of the Australian outbreaks and can be confidently adapted and applied in these scenarios in Suva, Fiji.

The project has been structured in a similar way to ColoSSoS Mekong, with SA Water providing both utility and laboratory expertise to developed tailored sampling and analysis protocols. Australian health departments will also be engaged in a formal capacity to provide tailored advice to Fijian counterparts.

The international work to date has seen the application of SARS-CoV-2 detection and analysis practices outside of Australia in the Mekong region, through the sharing of tools, protocols, and best practice skills, and knowledge. These wastewater monitoring techniques will remain relevant if new strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerge globally, and current global and Australian research efforts focus on the identification of new strains in the community and ports of entry, as well as the quantification of proportions of these variants within community populations. Its use in Fiji will provide the heath agency with valuable information to make critical decisions to protect the community.

To date, Project Delivery Group have established working relationships between Australian and Fijian laboratory and utility partners. Health agency connections are currently also being established, and work is underway to specify laboratory equipment and consumables, some of which will be shipped to Fiji by the project team. Furthermore, tailored guidelines and protocols are being written for use by Fijian counterparts and first drafts of these are expected to be completed by the end of April 2022.

WaterRA’s continued involvement in these projects has provided our Australian Members an opportunity to elevate their international profile through DFAT-funded collaborations under the umbrella of the Australian Water Partnership. Furthermore, this sharing of Australian knowledge and skills supports Australia’s regional response to the ever-evolving Covid-19 situation, providing tools and strategies to help protect communities both in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

The post ColoSSoS work continues in Fiji appeared first on Water Research Australia.

Each month, WaterRA brings together experts from each of the state health departments in Australia and New Zealand meet to share their most recent experiences in the ongoing response to the ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic. From initial sampling and analysis method development in mid-2020, Australian and New Zealand scientists and water utility operators work hand in hand with health authorities to gather, process, and interpret relevant and prescient data to inform the health response to emerging outbreaks, including new variants.

The post WBE methods continue to adapt to the changing landscape of the fight appeared first on Water Research Australia.