Automated Sensors for a ‘wetland in a box’. Globally, and particularly in Australia, water supply and water pollution is one of the most critical constraints to our health and growth. This project seeks to validate a new portable remediation system suitable for deployment at regional locations through the integration and development of advanced sensors. We aim to develop the world’s first completely integrated platform for monitoring both water chemistry and microbiology to provide near-real-tim ....Automated Sensors for a ‘wetland in a box’. Globally, and particularly in Australia, water supply and water pollution is one of the most critical constraints to our health and growth. This project seeks to validate a new portable remediation system suitable for deployment at regional locations through the integration and development of advanced sensors. We aim to develop the world’s first completely integrated platform for monitoring both water chemistry and microbiology to provide near-real-time information regarding the quality of the remediated water. We expect this to improve the availability of regional water resources by providing a low-cost remediation solution with integrated monitoring to provide assurances of meeting the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling (2006).Read moreRead less
Development of novel passive sampling devices for ammonia monitoring. This project will develop novel inexpensive passive samplers for ammonia which is an indicator for faecal contamination in stormwater. These devices will increase dramatically the efficiency in isolating intermittent faecal contamination sources in drainage networks by eliminating the need for extensive manual sampling and inspection operations.
Advanced water treatment technologies to minimise nitrogenous disinfection by-products in drinking water: understanding the role of organic nitrogen. This project will identify improved methods for treatment of drinking water to prevent the formation of potentially hazardous disinfection by-products. It will assist water resource managers and regulators to select the most economical and safe treatment for each type of water source and to plan for future demands on our limited water supplies.
Impacts of pharmaceuticals and personal care products on Australian aquatic ecosystems. Pharmaceutical and personal care products (e.g. antihistamines, caffeine, antibiotics) have recently been shown to suppress rates of the critical processes providing food resources to fish and insects, threatening viability of aquatic ecosystems. Using novel methods, this project will investigate acute and longer term impacts of these chemicals.