The practices of water industry workers and
organisations are critical to the environmental health
of Australia. There has been a significant shift in
public values over the last few decades including
a pro-environment preference among many
Australians. Water issues are now political and topical
involving the community’s future.
The water industry is undergoing substantial
change, driven by the National Competition Policy
The Water Industry
requirements and the introduction of the National
Water Reform Framework by the Council of Australia
The water industry is a major employer of graduates,
Governments (COAG).
particularly engineering graduates.
In Australia, responsibility for water management is
Water is an essential service and across Australia
vested in the eight state and territory governments.
more than 44,000 people are employed in this vitally
These systems are run as a public service, with
important industry.
the utility owned by either local or state/territory
There are an estimated 300-350 water authorities,
government. In most cases urban utilities are state-
and at least 200 water treatment plants and 750
owned-corporations. Integrated water systems are
wastewater treatment plants across Australia, as well
common, although in some cities the functions are
as an estimated 160 council-owned large dams.
separated.
The water industry designs, constructs, operates
The water industry’s aim is to protect the
and manages sophisticated water and wastewater
environment while sustaining Australia’s future and
networks, from water catchment management,
ensuring the supply of an essential service.
water collection, treatment and distribution systems,
Numerous career opportunities are available across
and wastewater treatment plants in the provision of
the country in varied work environments but also
water and wastewater services to households and
around the world. Benefits include training, flexible
industry.
hours, and good working conditions.
Content from “Government & Community Safety: Industry
Skills Report”, April 2007 -- Australian Government
The work
Department of Education, Science and Training in
consultation with Government Skills Australia, 2007.
The water industry includes the major sectors of
water supply, wastewater and drainage services, and
pipeline transport.
Work within the water industry includes not only
engineering but also:
Some of the obscure duties undertaken by
 Design
water industry professionals include:
 Information Technology
 Constructing a rock ramp fishway to help
 Human Resources
migrating fish
 Project management
 Drilling then pulling a 1.3 km long pipe
 Business administration
through a hill
 Customer service
 Using a wigameter for tendon stress testing a

spillway
Retail and product development

 Helicopter flights to film the operation of
Science and technology
treatment plants and ocean outfalls
 Research
 Sampling sludge lagoons
 Finance and accounting
 Walking through a live sewer at night to take
 Communications and marketing
measurements of a 1200 diameter sewer pipe
 Water conservation & environment
for a design of pump station upgrade
 Economics, policy and trades
 Diving inspections of sewage diffusers and
The work is challenging, varied and satisfying.
pipelines from a wastewater treatment works
Projects can range from desalination, recycling,
 Diving into a water reservoir in search of
catchment management, protecting waterways,
cracks (leakages) in the concrete floor
transportation and asset management, increasing
 Going on the Kokoda Track to raise money
access to clean water, wateraid and special projects
and do work for Wateraid
overseas. Content provided by Hunter Water.
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