eFlash #656

eFlash #656 New

Date: 11-May-2026

In this edition: Decision on Workplace Exposure Standards for Chlorine and Hydrogen Sulfide | Water Connections Tour 2026 | Meet qldwater at Ozwater’26 | Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste Workshop | Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste Workshop | Call for nominations: WIOA Queensland Operator Awards and more.

Decision on Workplace Exposure Standards for Chlorine and Hydrogen Sulfide

WHS Ministers have decided to retain the existing workplace exposure standards for chlorine and hydrogen sulfide.

Safe Work Australia (SWA) provided the Decision Regulatory Impact Statement (DRIS) on the proposed workplace exposure limits (WELs) for 9 chemicals to WHS Ministers in January 2026, for their decision by 26 April 2026.

As of 5 May 2026, Safe Work Australia has received five responses from WHS Ministers. Based on these responses, a two-thirds majority decision has been reached to retain the current workplace exposure standards (Option 1 of the DRIS) for 8 of the 9 chemicals, including chlorine and hydrogen sulfide.

We note that a decision has not yet been made on the proposed WEL for benzene. Safe Work Australia has received three responses that agree to retain the current WES and 2 responses that agree to the proposed WEL (Option 2 of the DRIS).

qldwater, in partnership with WSAA, has been advocating for water utilities on this matter for over four years and has received sustained unwavering support from our combined membership. This process has demonstrated how effective we are when we take a coordinated, evidence-based approach to our advocacy on behalf of the water sector.

Thanks to everyone who directly contributed to this extremely positive outcome on the workplace exposure limits for chlorine and hydrogen sulfide. We will keep you updated on any further developments/next steps.

Water Connections Tour 2026

The 2026 Water Connections Tour heads to North Queensland this week, connecting with members across Mackay, Whitsunday, Burdekin and Townsville.

The program includes site visits to key assets such as the Nebo Road Water Treatment Plant, Mackay South Water Recycling Facility, Bowen Water Treatment Plant, Ayr Brandon Macroalgae Bioremediation Facility, Magnetic Island and Horseshoe Bay Recycling Facilities and the Advanced Recycled Water Plant at Cleveland Bay.

The tour offers a unique opportunity to showcase the challenges and innovations involved in delivering essential water and wastewater services across regional, remote and island communities.

It also brings together State Government representatives and local leaders to gain first-hand insights into key water projects, operational risks and compliance considerations, supporting informed decision-making and stronger collaboration across the sector.

We look forward to connecting with members on the ground next week and continuing to strengthen partnerships across North Queensland.

Meet qldwater at Ozwater’26

qldwater will have a strong presence at Ozwater’26 with a dedicated booth, so make sure you drop in to connect with the team.

You can also see us across a range of presentations, posters, workshops and panel sessions including:

Dr Louise Reeves (Lead Scientist) presenting “PFAS Source Control: Essential to facilitating a circular economy for the urban water sector” (finalist for the Ozwater’26 Best Paper Award and “Adopting a holistic vision for biosolids management”). Louise will also be sitting on a panel on the topic of Biosolids Value Chain.
Dr David Scheltinga (SWIM Manager) presenting “Without data it’s just an opinion – swimlocal, a tool for all”.
Dr Georgina Davis (CEO) joining a panel on the circular economy.
Desiré Gralton (Communications Manager), alongside the Water Literacy and Education and Regional, Rural and Remote Water Specialist Networks, presenting “Ready for Floods? A Game of Community Resilience”.
Neil Holmes (QWRAP Program Director) and Georgina Davis representing Queensland at the WSAA breakfast (Tuesday 26 May) in a panel on “Harnessing AI: Empowering rural, remote and regional water utilities”. More info and register here.

Come along, get involved, and see how Queensland is shaping the future of the water sector.

Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste Workshop

Registrations are now open for the qldwater Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste workshop taking place 22-23 July 2026 at the qldwater office in Eagle Farm, Brisbane.

This two-day event will showcase the latest insights and outcomes from qldwater’s Trade Waste Uplift Project, supporting stronger, more consistent trade waste management across regional Queensland through practical tools and shared learnings.

The program will explore:

Why trade waste matters for known and emerging contaminants
Sector perspectives on trade waste challenges and opportunities
Best practice case studies from across Queensland

Kicking off with a site tour on Wednesday, the event continues with a full-day, interactive workshop on Thursday.

If you’re working in trade waste, wastewater quality or emerging contaminants — or want to better understand how they intersect, this is a valuable opportunity to connect and learn.

Some sponsorship opportunities are still available, offering a chance to showcase solutions that help utilities meet regulatory expectations and manage contaminants more effectively. Download the sponsorship prospectus for details and contact Louise to lock it in.

More info and register here.

Call for nominations: WIOA Queensland Operator Awards

A reminder for managers and supervisors to nominate outstanding team members for the qldwater-sponsored operator awards at the annual WIOA Queensland.

Queensland New Operator of the Year Award Recognising individuals who have been in the water industry for less than five years, this award celebrates those showing strong commitment, enthusiasm and potential early in their careers.

Queensland Operator of the Year Award This award acknowledges experienced water and wastewater operators who demonstrate excellence in their day-to-day work, including initiative, reliability and attention to detail.

Recognition starts with a nomination, so let’s shine a spotlight on the people making a real difference in Queensland’s water industry.

Nominations close 3 June.

More info here.

OTHER NEWS

Water Supply Regulator Update

The next Water Supply Regulation Workshops are scheduled for Tuesday, 25 August in Brisbane and Monday, 12 October in Townsville. The date and location of the SW QLD in September will be confirmed.

The department has released an updated Community Water Security Assessment Guideline, providing practical support for councils to develop water security assessments for their communities. Access the guideline here or email the Regional Water Security team for further information and support.

A wide range of free Waterwise resources is also available to support demand management and community drought resilience including posters, fact sheets, brochures/fliers, activity sheets, animations and more. Access the resources here.

The Water Education Network continues to connect water education and communication staff to share ideas and learnings. To get involved, contact the waterwise team.

WIOA QLD Conference – Call for Posters and Papers

Have you got hands‑on experience to share? WIOA is calling for abstract submissions for papers and posters that showcase real‑world insights, lessons learned and ideas other can apply in their own operations.

You don’t need formal presenting experience to get involved. If you’ve solved a problem, improved a process or learned something valuable in your job, our partners at the Water Industry Operations Association (WIOA) want to hear from you.

Presenters whose abstracts are selected receive a 35% discount on delegate registration.

Submissions close 8 May.

View the program and submit your abstract here.

BoM Long Range Forecast

The Bureau of Meteorology hasreleased its latest long-range forecast for May to July 2026.

Family and Domestic Violence Framework

The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) has released a new Family and Domestic Violence Support Framework for water utilities.

Developed with guidance from Safe and Equal, the framework brings together research, sector insight and lived experience into a practical, usable resource. It’s designed to provide a coordinated sector wide approach to strengthening prevention, early intervention, response and recovery.

Download the Report and Toolkit here.

CURRENT CONSULTATIONS

Public Consultation on Draft Guidance for the ADWG on chlorate, nickel and ammonia

The National Health and Medical Research Council has opened a consultation on draft guidance for the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines on ammonia, nickel and chlorate and other minor changes. The consultation details can be found here.

The draft guidance material proposes retaining the current aesthetic guideline value for ammonia, raising the health-based guideline value for nickel and establishing a new health-based guideline value for chlorate in drinking water.

A key outcome of this proposed change is the introduction of a health-based guideline value for chlorate in drinking water of 0.8 mg/L that will apply to the ADWG.

This value is in line with existing interim guidance from Queensland Health provided through the Chlorate Position Statement from April 2022 which was published on the qldwater website.

That guidance, which was based on value is based on the World Health Organization’s 2016 drinking water guideline value for chlorate, required notification to the water supply regulator of detection at a concentration of greater than 0.8 mg/L.

The new guidance includes:

Ammonia Aesthetic guideline value of 0.5 mg/L
Nickel Health based-guideline value of 0.05 mg/L
Chlorate Health based-guideline value of 0.8 mg/L

qldwater will be making a submission on this draft guideline. If you would like to share your experience of meeting compliance for any of the proposed guideline values, please reach out to Louise Reeves at lreeves@qldwater.com.au.

The consultation closes on 5 June 2026.

Call for submissions on Queensland’s drinking water quality standards

Queensland Health is consulting on proposed amendments to the Public Health Regulation 2018 to more accurately reflect the national guidelines for drinking water quality standards in relation to radioactivity.

It is proposed to remove the reference to a ‘guideline value’ to align with the language in the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

Water service providers may be interested in providing a submission in response, including to comment on the proposed wording of the new quality standard.

For more information on the proposal, please visit Stakeholder consultation | Queensland Health and download the consultation paper.

Submissions are due to Queensland Health by 5pm, 15 May 2026.

Queensland Productivity Review into Environmental Regulation

qldwater has welcomed the Queensland Government’s decision to direct the Queensland Productivity Commission (QPC) to conduct an inquiry into the impacts of recent changes to federal environmental regulation.

The inquiry into reforms to Commonwealth environmental laws – including the 2025 changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act – was an important opportunity to address long‑standing issues around assessment timeframes, duplication and regulatory burden for urban water (infrastructure) projects in Queensland.

The QPC will release further information on the inquiry shortly and the inquiry will run for 12 months.

More info here.