AWQC - News

AWQC pilots new in-vehicle safety system

AWQC’s sampling team has commenced piloting the new Field Worker Safety Program’s in-vehicle safety system with five vehicles (and seven employees) from AWQC’s field team participating in a thorough eight-week testing of the system and processes.

AWA highlight the benefits of DNA sequencing technology

On Tuesday, the Australian Water Association published a news article discussing AWQC’s new DNA sequencing technology. The full article can be viewed here.

AWQC Groundwater and Rainwater Tank Sample Collection and Analysis

The Australian Water Quality Centre (AWQC) provides Groundwater and Rainwater sample collection and analysis to South Australian Health based standards for landowners, councils, industry, businesses and the general community.

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Technology

Using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology, we’re able to take a simple water sample and determine exactly what organisms, including vertebrates, native fish, and bacteria have been in contact with that water source.

Water Industry Operators Association branch meeting

In November Australian Water Quality Centre (AWQC) attended the Water Industry Operators Association branch meeting in Tasmania at the Bryn Estyn Water Treatment Plant.

Semi Volatile Organic Compound Testing – over 100 reasons why you can’t go wrong!

Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC's) are a group of compounds that can lead to adverse effects on both animal and human health. Exposure can arise from direct product use, the indoor environment and contaminated water sources.

AWQC showcased at international water event

The research and service capabilities of our Australian Water Quality Centre (AWQC) were on show this week at an international water event in Brisbane.

Analytical Quality Control Programs

Do you often ask yourself these questions? Did I choose the right analytical laboratory? The laboratory we chose appeared to be the best value for money during the tender, but how confident am I that the results their analysts are producing are accurate? What evidence do I have that my instruments are being maintained or calibrated correctly?

The poo detectives

The Australian Water Quality Centre (AWQC )is using ground-breaking DNA technology to identify the source of faecal contamination in water sources. By tracking environmental DNA we can determine which animal (or organism) is present in, or impacting, a particular water source. All that is required to identify organisms are 1 litre samples of water or 1 gram samples of soil ...

Australian Water Quality Centre - Melbourne Laboratory

In response to customer demand, AWQC is pleased to open its Melbourne laboratory to better service the time-critical analytical needs of the Victorian water industry. With over 80 years’ experience, our specialist water utility services are dedicated to ensuring public health through the measurement and analysis of water and wastewater, across the complete water cycle.

Soil Testing – AWQC places the pedal to the metal

Trace and heavy metals occur naturally in soils and rocks. Increasingly, human activities (industrial pollution) are contributing higher quantities of these metals into the environment and, as they accumulate, both human and environmental health can ultimately suffer. Possible sources of metal pollution into the ecosystem include combustion of fossil fuels, municipal waste incineration, industrial processes producing wastewater and emitting pollutants ...

Field Services all set to improve groundwater sampling

The Australian Water Quality Centre’ Field Services Team has recently acquired a low flow bladder pump and controller to improve its capabilities for groundwater sampling.

Burkholderia pseudomallei in Water Sludge and Soil

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a motile, gram-negative, aerobic bacterium of the Burkholderiaceae family. B. pseudomallei is commonly found in soil and muddy water in tropical regions of Australia. It can infect humans and animals and cause the disease Melioidosis

Notification of Recent Name Changes for Cyanobacteria Adopted and Reported by AWQC

From the 16th of December 2015, the Australian Water Quality Centre will be making several name changes to common species of freshwater cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). The taxonomic name changes are detailed the table below. This represents the first round of taxonomic changes to be made, with additional taxonomic changes (covering both algae and cyanobacteria) expected to be implemented in 2016.

AWQC Demystifying Microbial Detection Methods

Coliforms are bacteria that can be found in plant matter, soil and water. Thermotolerant (Faecal) Coliforms, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), are a group of coliforms that commonly inhabit the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals. Their presence in water is an indication of faecal pollution and the possible presence of enteric pathogens. There is a direct relationship between the densities ...

Victorian WIOA 2015

AWQC will be exhibiting at the Victorian WIOA trade exhibition at stand 113 and 114. Come and see for yourself that AWQC is at the forefront of water quality science through its excellence in analytical services, research and innovation. AWQC will be conducting an odour awareness challenge and training session at the stand, come see us and take the challenge!

AWQC - Sample Bottle Pocket Guide

The AWQC is pleased to announce the release of its new Sample Bottle Pocket Guide. The guide is aimed at providing field operators with a comprehensive overview of sample collection, field filtering, sample storage, sample preservation and sample holding times for chemical, biological and microbiological analysis in waters, wastewaters, soils and sludge.

Not all bugs are boring

SA Water and AWQC excel at innovation, so when you combine the efforts of our hydrogeologist with those of one of our passionate microbiologists you know the outcome will be exciting.

A new test for testing times - Cryptosporidium

The Source Water & Environment Research Team, in collaboration with the Catchment Management Team and Water Research Australia, has developed a new method for the analysis of Cryptosporidium, highlighting an excellent example of cross-functional teamwork.

Volatile Fatty Acids

The Australian Water Quality Centre has recently developed a new test method that provides a detailed profile that reports eight individual volatile acids (acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid, caproic acid and heptanoic acid) as well as total volatile fatty acid as acetic acid equivalent.