Partnerships with overseas groups generate many significant advantages. They can provide a great opportunity to share knowledge and undertake joint investigations and projects.
The Biology Research Unit at AWQC has built up a very strong and enduring collaborative link with the Department of Environmental Engineering School at the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). This is one of the top technical universities in Taiwan and is located in the city of Tainan. The link has been principally with Professor Tsair-Fuh Lin and his group in this school. This is a dynamic group and they are focussed in similar issues and problems for the water industry around the management of cyanobacteria and the toxin and taste and odour problems that they generate for water supplies.
The collaboration extends back over the last 6 years and during that time Professor Lin and six of his students (PhD and Masters) have visited the Australian Water Quality Centre for periods of up to 6 months each to work on a range of joint projects. In return a number of AWQC staff have visited and worked at the University for different periods and have also had the opportunity to work and exchange information with water utilities in Taiwan.
This relationship was instrumental in both SA Water and NCKU being involved as founding members of a new International Water Association specialist group on Lake and Reservoir Management that was formed in 2009. This group fosters knowledge sharing for both research purposes and to advance the practical management of reservoirs.
The joint projects with NCKU have included research into sources of tastes and odours in reservoirs and assessment and development of algaecides that can be used as an alternative to copper sulphate. We have also worked jointly on management practices and guidelines for the Taiwan EPA. This work has resulted in a range of joint publications and presentations at numerous conferences and workshops. The collaboration continues with a sixth student visiting in a few weeks undertaking a project investigating the use of “sediment capping” in reservoirs to reduce phosphorus loading and prevent the growth of nuisance cyanobacteria.
Still further visits are planned for this year when a high level delegation of faculty staff from the University will visit SA Water in August 2010 for an international workshop on water management.
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