Water Research Australia
Water Research Australia is a membership-based collaborative research organization serving 84 Australian water utilities, government departments, universities, and industry partners through the WaterVal validation framework, HealthStream publication, Research Leadership Program, and applied water sector research.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersAdelaide, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Water Research Australia does
Water Research Australia (WaterRA) is a membership-based collaborative research organization founded in 1995 and operating from Adelaide, South Australia. It convenes 84 member organizations—spanning water utilities, government health and environment departments, universities, and industry consultants—to produce applied research on emerging Australian water sector challenges including PFAS contamination, microbial risk management, water reuse, catchment health, and treatment validation. The organization's intellectual core is the WaterVal framework, a nationally-developed water treatment validation system built around nine Protocol Elements and five Validation Protocols, transferred to WaterRA in 2018. Complementing WaterVal are the HealthStream technical publication (Australia's water and public health journal, running since 1996 under the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment), the Research Leadership Program for PhD/Masters/Honours students (reporting 95% sector retention), an extensive portfolio of multi-stakeholder research projects, and a member directory.
WaterRA's revenue model centers on tiered membership subscriptions from utilities, regulators, and research institutions, supplemented by event ticketing for webinars and conferences (Ozwater, Singapore International Water Week, Know Your Neighbour regional events), individual digital subscriptions to HealthStream at $120 AUD annually, and collaborative research project funding. Go-to-market is relationship-driven and sales-led, anchored on direct engagement with water utilities and government departments, knowledge dissemination through publications and conferences, and ecosystem-building programs. The organization holds the WaterVal trademark, has published internationally in venues including the Water Reuse journal (in collaboration with California's CalVal), and maintains alliances with the Global Water Research Coalition, Water Services Association of Australia, Australian Water Association, and state regulators across Australia. Leadership includes CEO David Bergmann, Senior Research Manager Dr. Marty Hancock, and HealthStream Editors Dr. Daniel Deere and Prof. Nicholas Ashbolt.
Water Research Australia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Water Research Australia
- Legal name
- Water Research Australia Limited
- Website
- https://waterra.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Water Research Australia is a membership-based collaborative research organization serving 84 Australian water utilities, government departments, universities, and industry partners through the WaterVal validation framework, HealthStream publication, Research Leadership Program, and applied water sector research.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Water Research Australia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Research and Treatment Validation Services
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water, Wastewater & Stormwater Compliance (BPAHAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG), Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)
Keywords
Where Water Research Australia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Adelaide
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Water Research Australia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: WaterRA operates as a membership organization with water utilities, research institutions, government agencies, and industry partners as members. Members receive access to research projects, publications, events, and networking opportunities. The member directory shows at least 84 member organizations including water utilities, councils, universities, and government departments.
- Digital Subscriptions: Digital subscription service for online magazines and publications (including HealthStream). Subscription Period is 365 calendar days. Annual individual subscription for Australian subscribers is $120 plus GST; Overseas subscription is $120AUD. Subscribers receive three issues per year and access to all previous issues.
- Event Ticketing: Revenue from sale of tickets to WaterRA events including webinars, workshops, conferences, and networking events. Some events are free for members while others may have registration fees.
- Research Project Funding: Collaborative research projects funded by member contributions and partnerships. Projects address shared challenges in the water sector through evidence-based research.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | WaterRA Member Access |
| Subscription | Annual | HealthStream Australian Individual Subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | HealthStream Overseas Individual Subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Digital Subscription Period |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Water Research Australia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Water Research Australia is a member-based collaborative research organisation that delivers applied water sector research, the WaterVal standardised validation framework for water treatment processes, the HealthStream technical publication for water and public health professionals, and the Research Leadership Program for PhD/Masters/Honours students. It also runs events, webinars, networking forums, and a member directory serving Australia's water utilities, regulators, researchers, and industry partners.
Product overview
Water Research Australia operates as a collaborative research organization offering a portfolio of products and services centered around water research, validation, and professional development. The core offerings include the WaterVal Framework for water treatment validation, HealthStream publication for water and public health professionals, the Research Leadership Program for student development, and an extensive research projects library. These products are complemented by events/webinars, publications, and a member directory serving Australia's water sector utilities, researchers, regulators, and industry professionals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WaterVal: A nationally-developed framework for water treatment processes validation, providing standardized and streamlined approach for ensuring safety and effectiveness of water treatment processes. Originally established as NatVal in 2011 through the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence.
Products and services
- WaterVal Framework Nationally-developed framework for water treatment process validation in Australia, providing standardised and streamlined Validation Protocols built on nine Protocol Elements to ensure safety and effectiveness of water treatment processes. Used by water utilities, regulators, technology suppliers, and consultants across Australia and internationally.
- HealthStream Publication Australia's go-to technical publication for water and public health professionals since 1996, published three times per year, providing trusted evidence-based insights on emerging risks, regulatory changes, and public health protections across the global water sector.
- Research Leadership Program (RLP)
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% retention rate within the water sector for RLP student program participants
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Water Research Australia
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Water Research Australia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Water Research Australia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- WaterVal Partners (WVP)coreWaterVal Partners include utilities, regulators, industry service providers/consultants/associations, technology providers and researchers. Partners include Seq Water, Hunter Water, SA Health, Carollo, NSW Health, South East Water, ROUS County Council, Water Corporation, EPA Victoria, Melbourne Water, Coliban Water, Tasmanian Government, SA Water, WA Health, Victoria State Government. The program coordinates treatment process validation protocols nationally.
- Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC)coreInternational coalition of water research organizations. WaterRA participates in GWRC-facilitated workshops and research initiatives including the nitrous oxide emissions protocol development with Professor Liu Ye from University of Queensland.
- Australian Water SchoolcoreWaterRA operates the Australian Water School, providing education and training in the water sector.
- Alluvium Group ConsultingmajorCollaborated on Project 1140 Catchment Health Metrics. Alluvium developed Python toolbox for catchment health assessment. Joint workshop delivered at Ozwater'26.
- Australian Water Association (AWA)majorCollaboration at Ozwater'26 including joint sessions on purified recycled water. WaterRA researchers presented at AWA events and AWA President spoke at Ozwater.
- Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA)coreLed US Water Reuse Tour in March 2026 with WaterRA participation. Collaboration on Water in Transition report. Joint webinars and study tours.
- CalVal (California)coreCollaboration between WaterVal (Australia) and CalVal (California, USA) to develop universal validation guidance for potable reuse. Joint article published in Water Reuse journal (IWA Publishing). Both frameworks aim to harmonize validation protocols internationally.
- Australian Water Quality Centre (AWQC)majorLocated at Level 2, 250 Victoria Square, Adelaide SA 5000. Member organization and research collaborator.
- Water Quality Research Australia (WQRA)corePredecessor organization that continued HealthStream publication from 2008 to 2013. WaterRA has committed to ongoing production of HealthStream.
- Co-operative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment (CRCWQT)corePredecessor organization that established HealthStream in 1996. WaterRA inherited and continued this publication legacy.
- GHDmajorCommissioned by WaterRA to undertake review of key water-related policy instruments in Australia. Report reviewed 22 relevant policy instruments and produced gap analysis and key recommendations.
- University of QueenslandmajorProfessor Liu Ye from UQ provided background study for GWRC nitrous oxide emissions protocol. Research collaboration on wastewater treatment emissions.
- Barwon Water and TaswatermajorWaterRA collaborating with Barwon Water and Taswater on low-grade heat recovery from sewer water research.
- State RegulatorscoreState and territory regulators participate in WaterVal framework through WaterVal Partners. MDBA (Murray-Darling Basin Authority) and various state health/environment departments engaged in WaterRA research.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Water Research Australia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Water Environment Federation (WEF): US-based international nonprofit for water-quality professionals, with extensive publication, certification, and standards programs. A broad incumbent offering overlapping research and technical content channels to WaterRA's membership-style audience.
- Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC): International coalition of water research organisations. WaterRA is itself a GWRC member; comparable peer because it operates the collaborative applied-research mandate that WaterRA delivers for Australia.
- International Water Association (IWA): Global membership-based organisation covering the full water cycle with publishing, specialist groups, and conferences (including SIWW). Broad incumbent that WaterRA engages with around validation frameworks and conference programming.
Direct peers
- UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR): UK collaborative research body funded by water companies to deliver strategic, applied, and regulatory research. Highly comparable model: water-utility membership, evidence-based outputs, and central role in national water standards.
- Water Reuse Association / WateReuse: US-based nonprofit advancing safe water reuse, the operational counterpart to WaterVal's recycled-water validation protocols. Their California affiliate underpins the CalVal framework that WaterRA is actively harmonising with.
- Alluvium Group: Australian water and catchment consulting firm collaborating with WaterRA on Project 1140 Catchment Health Metrics. Comparable niche consulting/research provider serving the same Australian utility and regulator customer base.
- Water Research Foundation: US-based subscription-funded collaborative research organisation for the water sector. Closest functional analogue to WaterRA: produces applied research reports, validation guidance, and member-driven programs for North American utilities.
Regional players
- Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA): Australian peak industry body representing urban water utilities. WaterRA collaborates with WSAA on the US Water Reuse Tour and joint webinars; serves overlapping audiences but focused on policy/advocacy rather than collaborative research.
- GHD: Major Australian engineering consultancy commissioned by WaterRA for water-policy reviews. Comparable because it competes for the same utility and government advisory spend, particularly around water-quality standards and compliance.
- Australian Water Association: Australia's largest water-sector member network running Ozwater, awards, and policy engagement. Peer to WaterRA in audience but commercial/membership oriented rather than research-output focused.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Water Research Australia social profiles
Digital presenceWater Research Australia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Water Research Australia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Water Research Australia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Water Research Australia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Water Research Australia
What does Water Research Australia do?
Water Research Australia is a member-based collaborative research organisation that delivers applied water sector research, the WaterVal standardised validation framework for water treatment processes, the HealthStream technical publication for water and public health professionals, and the Research Leadership Program for PhD/Masters/Honours students. It also runs events, webinars, networking forums, and a member directory serving Australia's water utilities, regulators, researchers, and industry partners.
Is Water Research Australia a public or private company?
Water Research Australia is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Water Research Australia founded?
Water Research Australia was founded in 1996. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Water Research Australia based?
Water Research Australia is headquartered in Adelaide, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Water Research Australia make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are digital Subscriptions, event Ticketing and research Project Funding.
Who are Water Research Australia's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Water Environment Federation (WEF), Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC) and International Water Association (IWA). Direct peers are UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), Water Reuse Association / WateReuse, Alluvium Group and Water Research Foundation. Regional players are Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), GHD and Australian Water Association.
Does Water Research Australia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Water Research Australia.
What industry is Water Research Australia in?
Water Research Australia's product category is Water Research and Treatment Validation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAJAJ, Water, Wastewater & Stormwater Compliance, with a secondary code of EUANAAAG, Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory). Its NAICS code is 54162 and its SIC code is 8731.