Water utilities unite to improve service standards in Aboriginal communities

Water quality experts working in Aboriginal communities will share their knowledge to ensure every Australian has access to safe and secure water services.

WA’s Water Corporation is set to play a leading role in a new national working group formed to help advance water service standards in Aboriginal communities. 

Coordinated by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) under its First Nations Water Program, the Clean Water and Sanitation Network brings together state and territory utilities to share learnings across similar organisations.

The network has a focus on sharing insights in the areas of water quality, source protection, community engagement, policy and water service regulation in Aboriginal communities. As well as Water Corporation, founding members include SA Water, NT Power and Water, NSW Water Directorate, Wannon Water (Vic), and Redland City Council (Qld). 

It follows the introduction in July 2023 of Water Corporation’s Aboriginal Communities Water Services (ACWS) program, created to manage water and wastewater services in Aboriginal communities that were transferred from the WA Department of Communities.  

Network Chair and Water Corporation Head of Water Quality, Rachael Miller, said the opportunity to share learnings across utilities would provide invaluable insights to the ACWS program.  

“Particularly in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory there are similar challenges and opportunities in delivering reliable, high standard water services in Aboriginal communities,” Ms Miller said.  

“We are all working towards common goals, which is why it’s so important to have a forum where utilities can collaborate, share ideas and generally seek to do things better for residents in Aboriginal communities.  At the end of the day, everyone has the right to safe and reliable water services regardless of where they live. 

“By addressing shared water infrastructure challenges in Aboriginal communities, we’re working to ensure equitable access to essential services and support wider government commitments to Closing the Gap.” 

WSAA Executive Director Adam Lovell said there were unique challenges providing water services in remote communities.  
 
“The Clean Water and Sanitation Network is about everyone working together to overcome those challenges and improve water services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country.  
 
“All of us involved – First Nations communities, water utilities and other organisations and stakeholders – can progress best by working together, sharing learnings and overcoming hurdles.” 

Staged over an initial 10 years, Water Corporation’s ACWS program will be progressively upgrading infrastructure in Aboriginal communities it now services.

The program has initially focused on community engagement, assessing the condition of existing water infrastructure, and implementing enhanced water quality monitoring to better understand community requirements and help identify priority upgrades.

Engagement has commenced with close to 50 communities and asset assessments have been conducted in more than 30 communities.

Several programs of work have also commenced to address higher-risk water quality issues, improve water quality testing, and scope and plan more significant, longer-term infrastructure upgrades.

For more information about the ACWS program, visit Water Corporation’s website here.