Building resilience in industrial water

Water is essential, especially when it is available where and when we need it. Across Western Australia, however, we are seeing less rainfall, increased pressure on our aquifers, and growing demands on our water systems.

Our population continues to grow, industries are expanding and expectations for sustainability are higher than ever. At the same time, our social licence to operate, particularly for resource industries, is under greater scrutiny. We need to plan for the future with a different mindset.

The focus is on shifting from an operational response to strategic stewardship. This means not only trying to find more water but also using our existing resources more intelligently and equitably.

Across Perth and regional Western Australia, we’re facing the same story told in different ways. Stream flows are declining, groundwater recharge is slower and aquifers that once seemed abundant are now more vulnerable. At the same time, groundwater extraction has reached levels that affect dependent ecosystems, prompting us to look deeper and think smarter.

Desalination and network reconfiguration play a role here, connecting new supply sources to existing networks and strengthening the system at points of demand. These projects are complex and require significant energy, but they also offer opportunities to build resilience into our networks and plan for future growth.

The real opportunity lies in rethinking how we use, share and value water, not just how we extract or deliver it.

Much of my career has been spent supporting Western Australia’s mining sector, where water acts as both an enabler and a constraint. Previously, the focus has been on operational continuity, making sure there was enough supply to keep production running.

Today, the conversation has evolved. We’re developing life-of-mine water strategies, closure planning and considering the legacy we leave after operations end. Techniques such as managed aquifer recharge, subsurface barriers and salinity management are becoming central to sustaining water systems long after mines close.

Then there’s a new player on the horizon – data centres. While these facilities may seem unrelated to mining, they also rely on water for cooling. This makes it essential to explore innovative and efficient approaches. As we consider new developments locally, the focus is on sustainable water use and integrating solutions that balance growth with resilience.

This changing landscape encourages us to think differently. Whether at a mine site, a processing plant or a server farm, we all draw from the same finite water system. The challenge is not only to secure enough water, but also to find the balance between industries, communities and the environment.

When I talk about the future of industrial water, I often use a simple analogy – the bucket isn’t empty, but if you take water out faster than it refills, it will take a significant time to recover. This is the situation we face today. Although it may sound daunting, it presents an opportunity to rethink our approach.

We’re already seeing this shift:

• Moving from operational thinking to strategic resource management.
• Recognising water as a shared asset with collective responsibility.
• Applying adaptive planning to explore different futures and make decisions that evolve as conditions change.

With adaptive planning, in simple terms, we can prepare for uncertainty. Rather than committing to a single plan, we develop pathways or different routes we can follow as circumstances change. This flexible approach is essential for managing resources like water, where many variables are beyond our control. Through adaptive planning, we can make confident decisions today while keeping our options open for tomorrow.

Chairing the session at the Connected by Water conference reminded me that no single organisation or sector can solve these challenges alone. Our success relies on how well we work together – through sharing data, aligning strategies and seeking opportunities that benefit both industry and the community.

For example, we’re seeing stronger alignment between mine closure planning and regional water needs, which creates potential to repurpose existing infrastructure for future use. Likewise, collaborating with emerging sectors such as data and technology can unlock shared infrastructure and innovation in water recycling and reuse.

Engineers, planners, environmental scientists and digital specialists must work alongside government and industry to make these connections real. Together, we can develop strategies that are not only technically sound but also grounded in social, environmental and economic value.

Reflecting on the conversations at Connected by Water, we are encouraged by the momentum building across Western Australia. There is greater openness to collaboration, a willingness to challenge old assumptions and a strong appetite for innovation.

Collaboration transforms good engineering into lasting impact. By working together, we can deliver lasting value for our clients and the people who depend on this resource every day.