Research Projects
In addition to conducting a three year groundwater replenishment trial, the Water Corporation is working closely with a number of government agencies, universities and research institutions to investigate specific issues about groundwater replenishment.
Issues under investigation include:
- potential impacts on groundwater by returning high quality water to the aquifer;
- potential for some chemicals to pass through the reverse osmosis process and be injected into the groundwater; and
- impacts on water quality, from an environmental and health perspective.
Project partners include the CSIRO, Curtin University of Technology, the Chemistry Centre, the University of Western Australia and the Department of Water, Department of Health and the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Information on some of these projects (referred to as managed aquifer recharge, which is the same process as groundwater replenishment) is available from the CSIRO web site at:
CSIRO Fact Sheets
Water Reuse Technologies
Managed Aquifer Recharge- FAQs
Research Partners and Contributors
Premier's Water Foundation
The Premier’s Water Foundation is supporting research into groundwater replenishment through significant financial contribution.
The Premier's Water Foundation was created in response to the State Water Strategy released in February 2003 by the Western Australian Government. The Foundation's programs support research and development projects that challenge boundaries and investigate innovative new ways of conserving water and maximising recycling of wastewater.
For more details contact:
Jeff Major, Project Manager
Department of Water
Phone (08) 6364 7491
Jeff.major@water.wa.gov.au
Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship, CSIRO
CSIRO's contribution incorporates thorough investigation into the environmental and health risks, operational and technical requirements, economic considerations and social acceptability of groundwater replenishment programs.
For more details contact:
Dr Simon Toze
Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, CSIRO
Ph: 08 9333 6130
Email: simon.toze@csiro.au
For more details on the social context aspect of groundwater replenishment:
Blair Nancarrow
Australian Research Centre for Water in Society, CSIRO
Ph: 08 9333 6290
Email: blair.nancarrow@csiro.au
WA Chemistry Centre
The Chemistry Centre is the permit analytical chemistry facility in Western Australia. It has an extensive history and reputation in the delivery of high quality analytical, consultative and investigative chemical services to a diverse range of government agencies, industry and research clients.
For more details contact:
Dr Peter Taylor
The Chemistry Centre, WA
Ph: 08 9222 3078
Email: ptaylor@ccwa.wa.gov.au
Curtin University
The Curtin Water Quality Research Centre (CWQRC) is aformal alliance between the Water Corporation and Curtin Universitywith a mission to provide excellent applied and strategic research, development, training and advice in water quality and treatment issues. The CWQRC is now increasingly recognised world-wide for its comprehensive research expertise, assisted with leading-edge instrumentation, to identify and solve potable water issues.
CWQRC conducts strategic and applied research that underpins new and improved methods of water management and treatment. The Centre’s research spans a wide variety of areas within the sphere of water quality, with projects generating new knowledge that contributes directly or indirectly towards better methods of water management and treatment. Chemicals of concern in treated wastewater for recycling schemes, such as groundwater replenishment schemes, is one of the areas of focus for the Centre.
For further detail please contact:
Associate Professor Anna Heitz, Director
Curtin Water Quality Research Centre, Curtin University
Ph: 08 9266 7267
Email: a.heitz@curtin.edu.au
Website: www.cwqrc.curtin.edu.au
The University of Western Australia
TheSchool of Population ealth at the University of Western Australia provides education for current and future public health professionals, conducts research relevant to public health issues and offers consulting services in research data collection and analysis. The School is responsible for the risk analysis of the groundwater replenishment trial.
For more details contact:
Mr Brian Devine
School of Population Health, UWA
Ph: 08 9488 8667
Email: briand@dph.uwa.edu.au
Centre for Groundwater Studies
The Centre for Groundwater Studies is a joint venture inAustralia for groundwater research, education and training. It addresses major land and water resources issues through multidisciplinary research and specialist training.
For more details contact:
Mr Trevor Pillar
Centre for Groundwater Studies
Ph: 08 8201 5632
Email: cgs@groundwater.com.au