water@ UNSW water research centre
About Us The UNSW School of Civil and Environmental Engineering has a 60 year history of leading development of water technology in Australia. Apart from maintaining the largest postgraduate and undergraduate teaching programmes in water engineering in Australia, the School remains active in Australian fundamental water research: OOsurface and groundwater hydrology – ongoing Australian leadership of the quantifying of rainfall, runoff and groundwater flows at catchment scales (This history includes development of the lead Australian design document, Rainfall and Runoff, now published and developed by Engineers Australia). OOpublic health and water treatment – fundamental investigations of the chemistry and microbiology of water for urban use have been focussed within the Centre for Water and Waste Treatment over the last 20 years. OOcivil and environmental hydraulics – practical Project-based and theoretical hydraulics research undertaken using the unique large-scale facilities of the Water Research Laboratory at Manly Vale. 76
CENTRES
There are two primary centre nodes: at Kensington with staff and students accommodated within the Vallentine annex; and, at the Water Research Laboratory at Manly Vale. The centre is co-supervised by Richard Stuetz and Bill Peirson, who are respectively responsible for each node. Centre activities are grouped around three dominant research themes:
1. Water Supply Australia is a continent of low rainfall and its development and economic robustness is constrained by presently available and potential water supplies.
2. The Coast Over 86% of the Australian community live in the coastal zone with consequent environmental impact and climate vulnerabilities.
3. Sustainability To maintain Australia’s current level of population and economic growth, water and contamination management need innovative solutions in terms of environmental, energy and social considerations.