National Water Week 2025: Water, Technology & the Future

Every year in October, National Water Week invites Australians to reflect on the value of water and the challenges we face in protecting it. Hosted by the Australian Water Association, it’s a moment to raise awareness, spark conversation and drive action across communities, industry and government.  

For those of us working in infrastructure, construction, and engineering, the message couldn’t be more relevant. Water is not just something we consume, it’s a cornerstone of what we design, build, and manage. From dam upgrades and desalination plants to data centres and transport corridors, every project we deliver either draws on or defends this finite resource. 

A Growing Global Challenge 

Across the world, water scarcity is intensifying. The World Bank estimates that by 2030, global demand for water could outstrip supply by 40%, driven by population growth, urbanisation, and climate change. 

This is not just a developing world issue. Many regions in Australia, particularly across the Murray-Darling Basin, parts of Queensland and the NT, already experience long-term water stress. Reduced rainfall, higher evaporation rates and competing land uses are putting pressure on supply systems and infrastructure assets alike. 

How Data Centres Use Water 

Large data centres rely heavily on water for cooling. While each individual facility may appear efficient, the cumulative impact is growing fast. Globally, AI and data centre operations could consume up to 6.6 billion cubic metres of water per year by 2027 – a volume equal to 30–45% of Australia’s total annual consumption. 

Metrics like Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) are emerging to standardise how water use is measured relative to energy usage. 

The Australian Data Centre Boom & Risk 

In Sydney, data centres already approved are projected to consume 9.6 gigalitres of clean water annually – nearly 2% of Sydney’s maximum water supply. Some developers propose using rainwater or recycled water, but many plans remain vague, lacking measurable commitments.  

Industry voices are beginning to call for stronger water stewardship as these “water-guzzling giants” expand in regions where water is scarce.  

Engineering for Water Stewardship 

Sustainable water management is no longer just an environmental consideration; it’s becoming a core engineering challenge. 

Here’s how the industry can respond: 

1. Embed Water Efficiency from Design Stage 

• Prioritise closed-loop cooling systems, recycled water, and rainwater harvesting in major facilities. 

• Use Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) principles to integrate stormwater, drainage, and green infrastructure systems that retain and reuse water. 

• Consider whole-of-life water impacts, from material production to operational usage. 

2. Plan Infrastructure Around Scarcity, Not Surplus 

• Design for extreme variability – both droughts and floods. 

• Strengthen regional water networks to balance demand between urban and industrial users. 

• Support investment in alternative sources: desalination, purified recycled water, and aquifer recharge. 

3. Adopt Clear Metrics and Reporting 

• Encourage the use of Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) and Total Water Footprint metrics for high-demand assets. 

• Promote transparency through water stewardship frameworks, like those developed by the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). 

4. Collaborate Across Sectors 

• Engineers, planners, and policymakers must work hand-in-hand to align land-use, energy, and water strategies. 

• Public and private sectors should share data and innovations, particularly where projects rely on shared catchments or infrastructure corridors. 

Why It Matters  

As National Water Week reminds us, water connects every part of our economy and every corner of the infrastructure sector. 

It’s time to treat water not as an afterthought, but as a strategic asset, one that demands the same innovation, foresight, and investment as any other piece of critical infrastructure. 

Because when we protect water, we protect the foundations of everything we build.