Drinking
water researchers collaborate to tackle common problems.
The nation's leading drinking water
research organization and the top Australian drinking water association
recently agreed to cooperatively fund projects and share research. The
agreement between the U.S.-based Water Research
Foundation (Foundation) and the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA)
was developed so both organizations can work together to more effectively solve
pressing water resource problems.
Among their top priorities is the effect of climate change on drinking water
resources.
"Australia and the U.S. both
face water quality problems and impending water shortages," said Robert C.
Renner, the Foundation's executive director. "Together, we can fund
research more cost effectively and find answers more rapidly."
In the next several months, the
Foundation and WSAA will conduct planning sessions to write a joint research
roadmap. The organizations will also share research, filling in knowledge gaps
in their respective organizations. This fall, WSAA will ask the Australian
government to fund parts of the cooperatively developed roadmap. The partners
will also fund joint conferences, training sessions and knowledge transfer
workshops.
For more information, go towww.WaterResearchFoundation.org.