Scientists win R&D Excellence at 2024 NSW Water Awards
8 MARCH 2024Did you know that swamps act like giant sponges to purify and store water, and slowly release it to become part of Sydney’s drinking water supply?
There are over 1000 of these upland swamps on the Woronora Plateau south of Sydney. And now a joint research study on the swamps by WaterNSW and UNSW has won the R&D Excellence Award at the 2024 NSW Water Awards.
“Our joint research was shortlisted in two categories – the R&D Excellence Award, and the Student Water Prize – recognising outstanding achievements of innovation in the water sector,” WaterNSW Executive Manager Strategy and Performance, Fiona Smith, said.
“And we’re delighted to have won the R&D Excellence Award, recognising one of our many important research projects.”
WaterNSW Water Quality Scientist Dr Alec Davie and WaterNSW Hydrogeologist Dr Maria Dubikova worked with UNSW PhD candidate Joe Carins and Water Research Laboratory Senior Engineer Alice Harrison to develop a daily water balance model.
The model demonstrates how much water is stored in the upland swamps and improves our understanding of how much can be lost from the swamps due to the impacts of longwall coal mining under the Metropolitan Special Area.
The 90,239 hectare special area protects the catchments of Cataract, Cordeaux, Avon and Nepean dams which together supply up to 20% of Sydney’s drinking water.
“WaterNSW undertakes research on the health of Greater Sydney drinking water catchment, to help us manage and protect water quality for the 5 million people of Greater Sydney,” Fiona said.
“Our scientific research priorities focus on understanding how catchment health and water quality work together to ensure a safe drinking water supply.
“Integrated water management is our other main research priority – understanding how environmental and supply change impacts water quality and quantity, and how we can improve water quantity without compromising water quality.”
WaterNSW and the UNSW Water Research Laboratory won the R&D Excellence Award category for Upland Peat Swamps of the Woronora Plateau – Hydrological Monitoring and Water Balance Modelling.
The Australian Water Association NSW Water Awards were announced on 1 March in Sydney at the NSW Heads of Water Forum, Gala Dinner and Awards.
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