Greater Western Water

Image Major research collaborations
Major research collaborations
Image Campus water fountains installed
Campus water fountains installed
Image 5,100 trees planted 2022
5,100 trees planted 2022

Over 20 years, Victoria University and Greater Western Water have developed a strong and far-reaching partnership.

This encompasses research collaborations, scholarship programs, capstone projects and internship opportunities for VU students across a range of disciplines.

About Greater Western Water

Greater Western Water proudly serves one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia. They provide drinking water, recycled water, sewerage and trade waste services to more than 550,000 residential customers and 46,000 business customers. Their service area covers 3,700 square kilometres, stretching from Melbourne’s CBD, inner and north-western suburbs through the Melton and Sunbury growth corridors to Bacchus Marsh and the Macedon Ranges.

They operate in Bunurong, Wurundjeri, Wadawurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Country. The Maribyrnong and Werribee Rivers are the major waterways in their region and the source of some of the water they supply to customers.

Greater Western Water’s mission is to enhance community resilience and liveability through safe and efficient water services, delivering:

  • exceptional and affordable customer-centric services
  • communities supported to grow and prosper
  • healthier, climate-resilient environments
  • an innovative, future-ready utility for our whole region.

Our collaboration

Both organisations’ goals are more aligned than ever, and our commitment for deeper collaboration is critical for the development of our region and beyond. Our shared purpose is to create value and impact for the diverse communities we serve, and to protect, heal, and care for Country.

Working together, we will achieve the following outcomes during the next phase of our partnership:

VU and Greater Western Water partner on education initiatives at all levels of study, from TAFE diplomas (VU Polytechnic), through to bachelor, masters and PhD degrees.

VU students can complete workplace learning with Greater Western Water in areas including administration, business, law, engineering, community development, science, event management, IT, cyber security and marketing.

 

Courses that benefit

Zohreh Rajabi, Civil Engineering student and water researcher
Flow-on effect: Water researcher sets sights on the future
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil Engineering), Doctor of Philosophy
"As a researcher, every day is a dream come true. Only 12% of engineers in Australia are female, so I strive to achieve, and hope that I can motivate future generations."
Zohreh's story

The partnership also supports our Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) and Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) students’ final-year projects. These projects provide an excellent platform to bring an industry lens to help deliver an enriching learning experience by providing the opportunity for students to work on real-world problems from the water industry.

Research

Greater Western Water and VU collaborate on a number of research projects in the areas of water treatment, sustainable water resource management and environmental sustainability, with a focus on improving the quality and sustainability of water processes for Melbourne’s western urban/rural region. Research outcomes will contribute to healthier environments and resources for local communities in the future.

Our research collaborations include investigation into:

  • accessing excess pressure in pipe networks to create energy
  • Indigenous water management, stormwater harvesting, and community values
  • desalination pre-treatment for recycled water using polymeric and ceramic membranes
  • energy and cost-efficient membrane distillation of industrial waste water
  • the use of solar heat in water treatment
  • a computer based screening tool for locating and assessing storm water harvesting sites in urban Melbourne.
  • low-energy nitrogen recovery from trade waste.