Dr Barry Cayford worked on the project, ‘Sewer Corrosion and Odour Research Program: Putting Science in Sewers.''Photo courtesy of the University of QueenslandThe project, ‘Sewer Corrosion and Odour Research Program: Putting Science in Sewers’, is believed to be the world’s largest sewer-related research project.

The award, which will be presented in June in Singapore, recognizes the substantial level of new knowledge, highly advantageous tools and innovative technologies that this research has uncovered to help water utilities across Australia deal with the huge problem of corrosion and odour in sewerage systems.

Program leader Professor Zhiguo Yuan, from UQ’s Advanced Water Management Centre, said the five-year research project brought together five research partners and 11 industry partners.

“The team of world-class engineers, microbiologists, materials scientists, analytical chemists and mathematical modellers have developed sustainable solutions to support the cost effective management of complex sewer corrosion and odour problems in the future,” Professor Yuan said.

“Within the lifetime of this project, our clients and partners have already saved several hundred million dollars.

“This project will have an enduring impact on the global water industry.” The Sewer Corrosion and Odour Research Project ‘Putting Science into Sewers’ will now represent the Asia Pacific region at the World Congress in Lisbon, Portugal, for the Global Award, to be awarded in September this year.

The project partners are The University of New South Wales, The University of Newcastle, The University of Sydney, Curtin University of Technology, Sydney Water Corporation, Barwon Region Water Corporation, CH2MHILL, City of Gold Coast, Hunter Water Corporation, Melbourne Water Corporation, South Australian Water Corporation, South East Water Limited, Veolia Water Australia and New Zealand, Water Research Australia Limited, and Water Corporation of Western Australia.