catchment Archives - Water Research Australia https://www.waterra.com.au/topic/catchment/ National leader in water solutions through collaboration and high impact research Mon, 05 Dec 2022 06:38:39 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://www.waterra.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-waterRA-favicon-1-32x32.png catchment Archives - Water Research Australia https://www.waterra.com.au/topic/catchment/ 32 32 The Living Mooraboolo: Evaluating the effects of human-driven change on River Health https://www.waterra.com.au/project/the-living-mooraboolo-evaluating-the-effects-of-human-driven-change-on-river-health/ Mon, 05 Dec 2022 06:38:39 +0000 https://www.waterra.com.au/?post_type=ts-portfolio&p=10918 This project aims to use qualitative and quantitative approaches, develop a consolidated time-based narrative (and / or) model showing how landscape change, interventions and social factors within the Moorabool catchment have impacted on the river’s health in terms of water quality, flow regimes, ecological carrying capacity, and bank stability / erosion...

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This project aims to use qualitative and quantitative approaches, develop a consolidated time-based narrative (and / or) model showing how landscape change, interventions and social factors within the Moorabool catchment have impacted on the river’s health in terms of water quality, flow regimes, ecological carrying capacity, and bank stability / erosion.

PhD Thesis underway by Paulina Ramos.

project description goes here

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Regulated and emerging disinfection by-products in drinking water: occurrence and precursor removal strategies https://www.waterra.com.au/project/regulated-and-emerging-disinfection-by-products-in-drinking-water-occurrence-and-precursor-removal-strategies/ Thu, 01 Dec 2022 03:03:31 +0000 https://www.waterra.com.au/?post_type=ts-portfolio&p=10829 This project developed an understanding of the occurrence of regulated and emerging disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water in Southeast Queensland (SEQ)...

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Project Description

This project developed an understanding of the occurrence of regulated and emerging disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water in Southeast Queensland (SEQ). This was achieved through the characterisation of natural organic matter of several SEQ source waters and through exploring strategies for halide and organic matter DBPs precursor removal from water, and examining the effect of these removal strategies on DBPs formation.

Honours Thesis completed by Kalinda Watson in October 2014.

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Understanding and limiting the public health risks of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in animals in Australian catchments https://www.waterra.com.au/project/understanding-and-limiting-the-public-health-risks-of-cryptosporidium-and-giardia-in-animals-in-australian-catchments/ Thu, 08 Sep 2022 02:53:12 +0000 https://43.250.142.120/~waterrac/?post_type=ts-portfolio&p=9518 The protozoan parasites, Cryptosporidium and Giardia represent a major public health concern of water utilities in developed nations...

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Project Description

The protozoan parasites, Cryptosporidium and Giardia represent a major public health concern of water utilities in developed nations. In Australia, marsupials, cattle and sheep are the dominant animals inhabiting water catchment areas and contribute a large volume of manure to catchments. Cryptosporidium fayeri, one of the main species identified in marsupials, was identified in a 29-year-old woman in Sydney in 2009 with identical subtypes found in marsupials in the area. There have also been reports of C. parvum and C. hominis (the most common species found in humans), in kangaroos, a wallaby, possums and bandicoots by independent groups, as well as high prevalence’s of zoonotic genotypes of Giardia in marsupials.

This project conducted a comprehensive study of genotypes of Cryptosporidium and Giardia present in marsupials, pre-weaned cattle and sheep and STP sites, over a three-year period to gain a more thorough understanding of the zoonotic risk these parasites pose to humans. In addition to cataloguing the genotypes present using next generation sequencing technologies, researchers also enumerated the numbers of Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts present in samples and conducted a survey of farming practices to determine if particular management practices were associated with a higher or lower prevalence of zoonotic genotypes in pre-weaned cattle and sheep.

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Smart monitoring for microbial risk assessment https://www.waterra.com.au/project/smart-monitoring-for-microbial-risk-assessment/ Thu, 01 Sep 2022 02:20:05 +0000 https://43.250.142.120/~waterrac/?post_type=ts-portfolio&p=9257 One reason catchment water is treated to make drinking water is because it contains unwanted microscopic organisms...

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Project Description

One reason catchment water is treated to make drinking water is because it contains unwanted microscopic organisms. Water treatment plant operators choose the best way to destroy these unwanted microbial pathogens, and their decisions are usually based on information from two sources: sanitary surveys and E. coli monitoring. The problem is that sometimes these two methods indicate different water treatment regimens; a situation that triggers additional expensive environmental monitoring to resolve the conflict. This project commences the establishment of a cheaper, alternative environmental monitoring method which is based on the knowledge that all vertebrate animals (including people), excrete cells that contain DNA; their own cells, as well as pathogen cells. The new method will examine cell-enclosed DNA extracted from water samples, and provide detailed information about the species of animals and pathogens living in the catchment. If this project finds that water sample DNA-sequencing is reproducible and reliable, development will continue because this method has the potential to be more cost-effective than existing environmental monitoring. It also has the added advantage of providing better information that will improve the decision-making processes needed to produce clean, safe drinking water.

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Understanding water quality risks under low and variable water level conditions https://www.waterra.com.au/project/understanding-water-quality-risks-under-low-and-variable-water-level-conditions/ Tue, 30 Aug 2022 06:44:09 +0000 https://43.250.142.120/~waterrac/?post_type=ts-portfolio&p=9223 Lakes and reservoirs are essential for water supply for humans and agriculture, and have an important role in flow regulation, biodiversity, and streamflow below dams...

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Project Description

Lakes and reservoirs are essential for water supply for humans and agriculture, and have an important role in flow regulation, biodiversity, and streamflow below dams. Australia has been subject in recent decades to severe drought which has heightened the importance of reservoirs for human populations and highlighted the need for careful management of water levels to maintain continuity of supply. Climate change is likely to exacerbate water shortages, with extended periods of drought, interspersed with more discrete and intense rainfall, leading to challenges for storing water in reservoirs and potentially affecting the quality of water.


In this project, Griffith University researchers examined the water quality risks from low and variable water levels in dams and reservoirs in Eastern Australia.

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Assessing the human health risks associated with micropollutants in stormwater intended for beneficial reuse https://www.waterra.com.au/project/assessing-the-human-health-risks-associated-with-micropollutants-in-stormwater-intended-for-beneficial-reuse/ Mon, 29 Aug 2022 06:01:25 +0000 https://43.250.142.120/~waterrac/?post_type=ts-portfolio&p=9187 The standards for recycling stormwater are higher for drinking water than for non-potable reuse such as agricultural or urban irrigation...

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Project Description

The standards for recycling stormwater are higher for drinking water than for non-potable reuse such as agricultural or urban irrigation. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) inform regulations that ensure the removal of infectious pathogens and polluting chemicals from potable water, whereas the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling (AGWR) ensure that non-potable recycled water does not pose a risk to human health. Compliance with these Guidelines often requires quantitative risk assessment of stormwater catchments, but this is an expensive and resource-intensive process. This research developed a ‘Chemical Hazard Assessment of Stormwater Micropollutants’ (CHASM) desktop tool to assess the suitability of stormwater for various potable and non-potable uses before commencing an expensive risk assessment, and to guide design of optimal and targeted monitoring and measuring programmes for chemicals of concern in any given catchment. Basic information about each of four Australian stormwater catchments (including size, land-use, and surface types) was entered into CHASM Excel spreadsheets. The tool utilises a database to generate a list of likely pollutants for that catchment, and optimal locations and times for monitoring. The CHASM tool proved reliable and easy to use.

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