Internationally, privately-owned water systems have resulted in higher bills, largely because of rising interest costs, debt and dividend payouts. This report, commissioned by the Australian Services Union NSW & ACT, analyses the fiscal, economic and public health effects of privatising Sydney Water.

This paper explores circular cities, where the use and reuse of water and wastewater resources are optimized, thereby unlocking the true value and potential of urban areas.

The urban water sector in Australia is facing major challenges over the coming decades. This paper examines the policy and implementation frameworks currently governing the urban water sector to identify where there may be impediments to the adoption of Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM).

Infill development in Australian cities over the coming decades is expected to have considerable negative influence on the hydrology, resource efficiency, liveability and amenity of our cities. This project aims to develop and apply a performance evaluation framework to understand infill impacts, create design options...

This paper argues that new sources of financing are needed in order to provide clean water and sanitation for citizens around the world. The challenge is particularly acute in cities where population growth and urbanization are stretching resources and deteriorating living conditions.

Vanuatu’s water resources are often contaminated and groundwater in cities is increasingly coming under pressure. There is little provision for the treatment and disposal of sewage and wastewater, which allows waste to leach into other water systems.

Climate change has made Perth's winters drier and summers hotter and, combined with urban and population growth, has dramatically affected Perth's water resources. This plan sets targets to respond to the major impacts of climate change on water resources and liveability to support the 3.5...

This paper explores what cities can do to ensure more equitable access to safe, reliable and affordable water, while facing down major trends affecting water access, including population growth, degraded and depleted water sources, and climate change.

India faces a major water crisis; it is already water scarce and will become even more so without major intervention. The crisis is largely due to years of mismanagement, fragmented governance frameworks and contradictory policy.

This report argues that catchment-level cap-and-trade systems for water abstraction, incorporating both urban and rural water uses, are the best approach for New Zealand to manage water supplies in catchments where water is becoming scarce.

The Modelling the Uptake of Water Conservation and Efficiency Measures in Sydney report team worked with Sydney Water’s WaterFix Program to validate their agent based, decision-making model aimed at encouraging consumers to participate in water saving programs.

This report proposes legislative and policy reforms for the protection and repair of the rivers and creeks across Melbourne’s west.

This policy brief draws upon the expertise of RMIT’s Water: Effective Technologies and Tools (WETT) Research Centre to inform policy makers and the wider community on critical challenges in planning for Victoria’s future water use.

This report summarises the Monash University research outcomes for Project B2.2/2.3—Protection and restoration of urban freshwater ecosystems: informing management and planning. Nitrogen management is imperative. Synthetically derived nitrogen and an increase in impervious surfaces have rapidly increased the amount of nitrogen in rivers and coastal...

Improving the health of a high ecological value waterway with stormwater disconnection.

This is a water sensitive city vision and transition strategy for Bendigo. The project aims to develop tools and processes for bringing city stakeholders together to create strategic alignment and partnerships for transitioning to their envisioned water sensitive future.

This audit examined whether the environmental and public health impacts of domestic wastewater are being effectively managed.

The traditional use of water in our cities severely distorts the natural water cycle, consuming potable water for purposes such as toilet flushing and irrigation, whilst discharging excessive volumes of stormwater runoff and wastewater. Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) offers a new approach to urban...

This Vision and Transition Strategy defines a vision of a water sensitive future for Greater Perth, WA, and outlines the broad steps the city should take to enable a transition towards this future. It is the outcome of the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive...

This Vision and Transition Strategy defines a vision of a water sensitive future for Bendigo, Victoria, and outlines the broad steps Bendigo should take to enable a transition towards this future. It is the outcome of nine months of research, analysis and engagement with 31...

This report argues that Townsville has strong momentum towards achieving its vision of a future water sensitive city. However, strategic attention is needed to overcome the social and institutional barriers that could impede further on-ground progress.

This Vision and Transition Strategy defines a vision of a water sensitive future for Greater Sydney, NSW, and outlines the broad steps the city should take to enable a transition towards this future. It is the outcome of a series of action research workshops which...

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the costs and benefits of applying a set of smart surface solutions1 , including cool roofs, green roofs, solar PV, and permeable and reflective pavements and road surfaces across three cities: El Paso, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The...

Infrastructure Australia commissioned this report on the optimal settings required for economic, environmental and health regulation in the Australian urban water sector, and the opportunities for regulatory improvement.

Much of New Zealand’s public wastewater and stormwater systems were not designed for the challenges climate change will bring, from sea level rises to the predicted changes in precipitation frequency and intensity.