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Water and Waste

Water is the most important liquid on earth, providing nourishment to plants, animals and the human species, a lifeform that covers almost 75% of the earth's surface.

About the industry

When you mindlessly turn on the tap for a shower, a cold cup of water or to wash your clothes it’s the people behind the splash that transform the way we live.

The Australian water industry is a forward thinking, innovative sector that continuously adapts with the evolution of human existence. Within water, you can expect to see a variety of jobs emerge in places like water catchment supply, sewerage, drainage services and pipeline transport (water). Working in any aspect of the water industry, you will be involved in water resource planning, managing water entitlements and managing access to water addressing Queensland's greatest challenge of a reliable and sustainable future for our water resources. It is an industry that continues to make waves in our quest for a sustainable Australia.

The Water and Waste industry needs...

Movers

...to tackle old problems in new ways, bringing a level of creativity to set up the workplace for a new generation of water workers.

Planners

...to plan for a growing population and additional water sources in the future to supply the larger population.

Connectors

...to bring the right people together and share learning and collaborate is essential for the industry to take new ideas forward.

Thinkers

...to use all available data to make strong decisions. The best decisions are backed by robust data.

Expectation vs Reality

  • vs

    The water and waste industry is outdated

    A myth we hear about the industry is that water work is archaic/’old-school’, with ancient technology and outdated practices
    vs

    It is an exciting developmental stage for the industry

    In reality, the industry is introducing the application of new technology all the time. Examples of this include using drones to inspect catchments and dams along with renewable storage options like pumped hydro. The water industry is changing and technology plays a big role in enabling change.
  • vs

    Water just appears when we turn on the tap

    There is not much to do when it comes to working in the water industry
    vs

    The water process is complex, with lots of moving parts

    Sewage leaves your home through drains and flows through pipes to a sewage treatment plant to be cleaned. At the treatment plant things like soap, laundry detergent, human waste and other pollutants are removed. When the water is clean it can be reused as an alternative water source

What positive impact does the water industry have on the world?

Water is essential for life. We often take for granted that we turn on our tap in Australia and can count on safe water spilling out. Water industry workers are responsible for delivering safe and secure drinking water every day. Outside of that, water industry workers provide essential flood mitigation services, manage catchment health and offer community recreation facilities along with irrigation water supply for farming.

Our water and waste partners