Research
Building knowledge and improving decision making.
Our science and research program
Providing a better understanding of our risks and opportunities.
WaterNSW undertakes research on catchment and downstream river health. This research supports the effective management and protection of water quality in the Greater Sydney drinking water catchment and optimisation of our water operations to enhance water quality, quantity and biodiversity outcomes across the state.
Our Research Strategy focuses on five key themes that reflect WaterNSW’s operational needs, regulatory requirements, and organisational values:
Sustainable Assets
Understand how WaterNSW assets can be managed to maximise co-benefits and mitigate adverse impacts to customer, community, cultural and ecological values.
Priority Areas
- Reservoir & weir management
- Bushfire resilience on land assets
- Ensure high-quality water and water security from our water supply schemes in Greater Sydney & Fish River
Benefits
- Identify & promote additional co-benefits of our operations
- Enhance community wellbeing & amenity
- Improve waterway health & biodiversity
- Protect & enhance condition of culturally significant sites & values
Efficient Monitoring
Accelerate the development and uptake of emerging technologies including exploring the use of AI that can improve the efficiency of water monitoring.
Priority Areas
- Water monitoring technologies
- Cyanobacteria monitoring & management
- Advanced forecasting analytics including AI and Machine Learning
Benefits
- Optimise investment for monitoring activities
- Improved safety outcomes & water quality
- Enhanced data quality to meet customer & strategic planning needs
Proactive Risk Assessment
Extend the evidence base that informs proactive source water risk assessment and decision-making.
Priority Areas
- Emerging contaminants of concern that may affect public & ecological health
- Climate change influences on water security & quality
- Advanced analytics for quantifying and reducing uncertainty
Benefits
- Identify emerging risks & inform mitigations options
- Reduce uncertainty to improve risk assessment & response
- Reduced public & ecological health/biodiversity risks
Healthy Sydney Catchment
Understand how catchment interventions can more effectively reduce source water pollution and protect the health of the Sydney Declared Catchment.
Priority Areas
- Manage pollution sources
- Understand catchment health drivers & monitoring
- Mining impacts on water quality & security
Benefits
- Improved biodiversity and source water quality, security, & supply reliability
- Lower treatment costs
- Maximise value from catchment management interventions
Long-term Resilience
Inform long-term transformation pathways towards a climate-resilient and nature-positive business.
Priority Areas
- Climate adaptation
- Integrated systems management
- System connectivity, dynamics, and capacities
- Nature-based operations
Benefits
- Reduced carbon emissions and biodiversity loss
- Build more resilient water systems
- Improve outcomes for communities
Related links
WaterNSW acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and pay our respects to all elders past, present and emerging. Learn more