Welcome to the
National
Water Quality and Health Network
Safeguarding Water, Sustaining Health
Connecting Sectors
for Resilient Systems
​
​
Advancing Water Quality, Environmental Health, and Sustainable Resource Management
The Water Quality and Health Network (WQHN) serves as a national platform for advancing knowledge, policy, and practice in water quality and environmental health.
Established in 2017, WQHN has grown from a Western Australian initiative into a network with a strong presence across Queensland, South Australia, and other regions of Australia.
By convening government agencies, regulatory authorities, researchers, and industry leaders, WQHN provides a trusted environment for critical dialogue, professional development, and knowledge translation.
​
What we do
​
WQHN investigates and communicates critical developments in water regulation, environmental management, and public health by working with universities, research institutions, regulators, local governments, service providers, and industry stakeholders nationwide.
​
Our areas of focus include:
-
Regulation and Policy – Analysis of legislative frameworks, risk-based management, regulatory compliance, and national policy alignment.
-
Environmental and Health Protection – Waterborne disease surveillance, contaminant management (including PFAS and emerging pollutants), and adherence to drinking and recycled water quality guidelines.
-
Climate and Resilience – Water security planning, drought and flood risk management, disaster preparedness, and adaptive strategies for climate variability.
-
Sustainable Resource and Mining Water Management – Circular economy approaches, wastewater reuse, stormwater management, and responsible stewardship of mining water systems, waste management, and tailings storage facilities, with a focus on reducing contamination risks and improving long-term environmental performance.
-
Urban and Community Systems – Potable and non-potable water supply, wastewater and sewerage infrastructure, plumbing and water fittings regulation, resilient urban design, and water-sensitive urban planning.
​
WQHN translates this knowledge into practice through academic and industry forums, policy workshops, and professional education programs, designed to:
-
Support regulatory compliance and best practice.
-
Enhance professional capability across sectors.
-
Facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration.
-
Strengthen resilience and sustainability outcomes.
Our Commitment
Every WQHN initiative is:
-
Evidence-driven, drawing on the latest research and policy analysis.
-
Collaborative, developed with input from academia, government, and industry.
-
Solution-focused, addressing current and emerging challenges in water and environmental health.
​
Based in Western Australia with an expanding national footprint, WQHN is committed to supporting scholarly engagement, professional development, and sustainable practice across Australia’s water and environmental sectors.
Our Events & Collaborative Approach
The Water Quality and Health Network (WQHN) is a national platform dedicated to advancing water regulation and policy, climate resilience, net zero strategies, mining sustainability, health and aged care systems, the built environment, environmental management, and overall water quality.​
Through our industry-leading events, we engage government agencies, policymakers, scientists, researchers, and industry leaders to address critical challenges and shape the future of water governance in Australia.
​
Cross-Sector Collaboration & Interdisciplinary Solutions
Effective water management requires a coordinated, cross-disciplinary approach to ensure regulatory compliance, environmental sustainability, and long-term resilience. In collaboration with our partners—Mines and Environment, Net Zero Australia Collaborative Network, and Oceans and Environment—our events provide a platform for professionals across mining, environmental science, hydrology, hydrogeology, water auditing, and engineering to engage on key issues, including:
​
-
Regulatory Frameworks & Policy Development – Examining evolving legislation, risk-based management approaches, and national alignment in water governance.
-
Climate Change & Water Security – Addressing the impacts of climate variability on water resources and advancing adaptive management strategies.
-
Net Zero & Sustainable Water Solutions – Integrating water management into carbon reduction targets and circular economy initiatives.
-
Mining, Mine Waste, Groundwater & Environmental Stewardship – Balancing resource extraction with responsible water use, including groundwater management for mining operations, mine waste and tailings management, contamination mitigation, and ecological rehabilitation.
-
Council & Municipal Water Solutions – Exploring sustainable water strategies for local governments, including stormwater management, wastewater treatment, and resilient urban water planning.
-
Water Auditing & Quality Assurance – Strengthening industry standards through compliance audits, best-practice reporting, and innovations in water testing and treatment.
Focus on Water Regulation & Sustainable Resource Management
With water regulation, auditing, waste management, and policy reform at the forefront of industry and environmental discussions, WQHN provides a dedicated platform for engagement, knowledge-sharing, and regulatory alignment.
Our events ensure that stakeholders remain informed on:
​
-
New and emerging water quality regulations impacting industry, councils, and communities.
-
Best practices in compliance, reporting, water auditing, and risk-based water management.
-
Innovative solutions for managing groundwater, surface water, wastewater, and mine waste.
-
The role of water in achieving sustainability, circular economy goals, and net zero targets.
-
Strategies for mitigating water contamination, optimising resource recovery, and advancing waste-to-value solutions.
​
By bringing together experts from mining, environmental science, hydrology, hydrogeology, water auditing, engineering, researchers, academics, and local government, WQHN facilitates discussions that shape the future of water quality, climate resilience, mine waste solutions, and sustainable water management in Australia.
Mission and Core Values
MISSION
MISSION
To facilitate national dialogue, research dissemination, and professional engagement that strengthen water quality governance, environmental health outcomes, and climate resilience.
CORE VALUES
CORE VALUES
​Scientific Integrity
We are committed to advancing knowledge and practice through evidence-based approaches, peer-reviewed research, and rigorous policy analysis. By aligning science with regulatory frameworks, we ensure that decision-making processes are both credible and compliant with national and international standards.
​
Collaboration
Effective water and environmental health management requires interdisciplinary cooperation. We provide a platform that connects academia, government, industry, and community stakeholders, fostering partnerships that enable shared solutions to complex challenges.
​
Innovation
Emerging issues in water governance demand forward-thinking strategies.
We support the development and dissemination of sustainable, practical, and compliant innovations—ranging from new technologies to policy instruments—that address current needs while anticipating future demands.
​
Resilience
Climate change, population growth, and environmental pressures require adaptive responses.
We promote resilience by supporting strategies that strengthen water security, safeguard ecosystems, and prepare communities and industries to manage variability, uncertainty, and risk.
​
Public Health and Equity
Access to safe and sustainable water is a fundamental public good.
We prioritise initiatives that protect human health, reduce inequities in service delivery, and ensure that urban, regional, and remote communities have access to reliable and high-quality water systems.