Water

South Australia’s water industry is centred on the development of innovative water management systems and the collection, treatment, distribution, re-use and application of water for national and international markets.

With world demand for water increasing, and Australia battling worsening drought conditions, opportunities exist for investors to work with South Australian companies in developing their world-class water management systems.

Output

• Water supply generated $327 million Gross Value Added in 2002-03.¹ 

Exports

• $47 million water product exports in 2002-03.¹

Employment

• 3,250 people employed in the water supply and drainage industry in the 12 months to August 2009.²
  

Workforce Information Service

Number of businesses

• 100 businesses in the water supply and drainage industry at June 2007.³

Research and development

• Water research and development is carried out in South Australia by the national Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Water Quality and Treatment, the South Australian Water Corporation’s Australian Water Quality Centre (AWQC), Adelaide University and the University of South Australia.
• Research ranges from identifying blue-green algae species with genetic technology to trialling bubble aerators with treatments in reservoirs.

Geographic focus

• Most water industry businesses are located in Adelaide.

Case studies

AVK Australia
OSMOFLO
Philmac

Industry groups

Australian Water Association
Stormwater Industry Association Incorporated
Water Industry Alliance
Water Services Association of Australia

1. Econsearch, Quantifying the Economic Contribution of Regional SA, www.sapo.org.au/pub/pub3381.html

2. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force, Catalogue 6291.0.55.003, spreadsheet 5 and data cube E06_aug94, www.abs.gov.au

3. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, Catalogue 8165.0, www.abs.gov.au

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