A sustainable solution to secure water supplies
As the world’s population continues to increaseÌýand the effects of climate change become more severe, stress on existing naturalÌýwater suppliesÌýwill escalate.ÌýWhilst water covers most ofÌýEarth’s surface, notÌýallÌýthe water available is fresh or drinkable. There are many parts of the world currently experiencingÌýwater shortagesÌýandÌýdroughtÌýconditionsÌýcombinedÌýwith water supplies that are unfit for human consumption.ÌýÌý
AlternativeÌýwater sourcesÌýare neededÌýto ensureÌýwater qualityÌýforÌýcommunities, industryÌýand agricultureÌýis sustainable.ÌýWater treatmentÌýandÌýseawater desalinationÌýcan provide an alternate source of drinkingÌýwaterÌýbyÌýreducingÌýwaterÌýcontamination andÌýremoving salt and impuritiesÌýto produce fresh water.
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Impact
Due to energy consumption, converting sea or brackish water into potable water is more costly than obtaining fresh water from surface water, water recyclingÌýor water conservation. However, these alternatives are not always available. Ìý
We are playing a key role in protecting and increasing one of Australia’s most valuable resources by developing several new treatment technologies that use renewable energy and are environmentally friendly and inexpensive, including techniques for:Ìý
- seawater desalinationÌý
- water treatment processes and wastewater sterilisationÌý
- selective removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewaterÌý
- efficient concentration of wastewater slimes to recycle waterÌý
- the prevention of water cavitation to enableÌýmuch cheaper transport. Ìý
Other new techniques like high-temperature reactions achieved in low-temperature water and low energy desalination are also being developed.Ìý
Competitive advantageÌý
We've developed several new water technologies based on improved desalination processes and efficient wastewater treatment processes. We have also produced several international Patent Cooperation Treaty applications and submitted several provisional patent applications, which haveÌýled to the establishment of a new local company: ‘Breakthrough Water Technologies’.
We've also produced many international journal articles. During this time Professor Barry Ninham AO FAA, who works closely with our group, was awarded the Academy of Sciences’ 2017 Matthew Flinders Medal.ÌýÌý