WaterVal® is a science-based framework for streamlining the validation of water treatment processes. It provides a consistent, research-backed methodology to assess the log removal performance of water treatment processes – ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and giving utilities confidence in the performance of their water treatment systems.
Validation of water treatment is required under the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) and Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling (AGWR), however there has historically been no uniform approach, creating uncertainty with utilities and regulators. WaterVal® brings that certainty.
In 2023, Water Research Australia expanded WaterVal® beyond its historical foundation and established the WaterVal® Research Program. This dedicated initiative is strengthening WaterVal® through targeted research projects and industry collaboration, that will expand the framework to cover more processes – ensuring WaterVal® remains a robust, long-term solution for water treatment validation.
The WaterVal® Research Program
The WaterVal® Research Program is a three-year initiative supported by over 20 industry partners across the water sector. With a strong commitment to long-term viability, these partners have collaboratively identified research priorities and launched projects for the development of validation protocols for a wide range of treatment technologies, including:
- Ultrafiltration
- Membrane Bioreactors
- Reverse Osmosis
- Granular Media Filtration
- Ultraviolet Advanced Oxidation Processes
Expanding the scope of research initiatives
While WaterVal® validation has traditionally focused on pathogen removal, the water industry is increasingly prioritising the validation of chemical contaminants – particularly Contaminants of Emerging Concern. To address this need, the WaterVal® Research Program is evolving to incorporate both pathogen and chemical contaminant validation, strengthening the framework’s comprehensiveness and ensuring ongoing protection of public health and the environment.
Current developments and initiatives
The program’s strategic plan, shaped by industry partner workshops, has resulted in the commencement of four key projects:
- Project 3502: Micro/Ultrafiltration Validation
- Project 3503: Water Validation Reference Guide
- Project 3505: Reverse Osmosis Chemical Validation Protocol
- Project 3507: WaterVal Protocol Template Review
- Project 3050: Assigning and maintaining appropriate pathogen LRVs in MBRs
Additionally, two new funding requests are currently being pursued:
- Project 3504: Activated Sludge Treatment Process Validation
- Project 3506: Granular Media Filtration Protocol Trial
International collaboration and future directions
WaterVal®’s impact extends beyond Australia and is recognised internationally as a best practice approach to treatment validation. The international recognition is being strengthened through its collaboration with the National Water Research Institute in California and their CalVal project, a globally recognised leader in Purified Recycled Water (PRW) validation. This partnership will help further develop validation protocols specific to PRW treatment processes and ensure that WaterVal® is international best practice.
In October 2025, the CalVal team will visit Australia to participate in Next Water, Australia’s premier scientific and technical conference on water research and innovation. They will contribute to workshops and collaborate with Australian experts to develop roadmaps for validation of water reuse, share current treatment validation research and contribute to the advancement of validation methodologies and the development of validation protocols that create certainty for all sectors of the industry.
Get involved
To learn more about the WaterVal® Research Program and how you might be able apply WaterVal® to a current or new water treatment process to validate its Log Removal potential visit WaterRA’s website or contact Dr Marty Hancock.