The Outlook: our forward look at the defining challenges for water
The water sector is facing key challenges that require shifts in how water is valued, managed and supplied. At the same time, expectations are evolving, with customers, regulators, and communities calling for better performance, affordability, and sustainability.
Research and science has a critical role to play in meeting these challenges – to generate knowledge, and inform decisions and planning. But what research? Where are the key knowledge gaps? What can we learn from what is happening both nationally, here in Australia, and internationally?
These are the questions considered in The Outlook – Water Research Australia’s forward look at the defining challenges for water.
Drawing on global trends and drivers, international research, and local insights, it encapsulates key areas under the banner of the 'Big 8' interconnected challenges: source, health, circularity, digital transformation, resilience, equity, strategy and governance, and water economics.
SOURCE: Securing our water sources and vulnerable catchments
HEALTH: Protecting human and environmental health through advancing science and technology
CIRCULARITY: Recovering resources, protecting our environment, and enabling a circular sustainable water future
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: Transforming water management through intelligent systems and data-driven tools
RESILIENCE: Building adaptable, reliable, and future-ready assets and workforce
EQUITY: Ensuring access, affordability, and inclusion for all people and communities
STRATEGY & GOVERNANCE: Strengthening foresight, integrated planning, policy, and governance models for transparency and trust
WATER ECONOMICS: Understanding future water economics and pathways to sustainable models and systems
The Outlook and the Big 8 challenges present a powerful call to action, providing a pathway and foundation for great collaborative research in the Australian water sector, to ensure that the sector is at the forefront of the opportunities, risks and trends impacting it.
WaterRA is committed to working with our members to deliver research to meet these challenges and deliver impact for the water sector for years and generations to come.
Directions for research and future projects will be discussed further at WaterRA’s Horizon event in October, with some other planning conversations underway now. If your organisation is interested to get involved, reach out to our Research team to discuss any key areas.
🔓 Access
The Outlook is a members' publication: you’ll need to log in with a WaterRA member account to acces it. If you don't have one already, you can set one up using your work email, if your organisation is a WaterRA member.
⬇️ Download The Outlook →
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