Unitywater recognised for bacteria breakthrough

Wednesday, 27 July, 2011

Unitywater’s senior microbiologist Dr Tracey Wohlsen received the ‘Queensland Water Industry Woman of the Year’ award while Unitywater’s Laboratory team, which is lead by Dr Wohlsen, was awarded the ‘Queensland Program Innovation’ award for its initiative that detects E. coli bacteria in water samples in half the time previously required.

While other methods take a minimum of 48 hours to produce accurate results from saline waters, Unitywater Laboratory team’s innovative method can obtain these results and have operations personnel attending affected sites with 24 hours.

The breakthrough methodology has achieved National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation and is considered so innovative that the project report, authored by Dr Wohlsen, has now been accepted for publication in the respected industry journal Letters in Applied Microbiology.

The dual awards follow the announcement last month that Unitywater’s Brendale Sewage Treatment Plant Operator, Robin Cherry, was chosen as the Australian Water Association’s ‘Queensland Operator of the Year’.

Unitywater CEO Jon Black said the award wins were major achievements for the water and sewerage service provider.

“Winning major water industry awards after just one year of operation is testament to the quality of our personnel and our strong customer focus,” Black said.

“Our Customer Charter is to provide customers with high-quality, safe and reliable water supply and sewerage services and the laboratory’s breakthrough provides greater certainty over water quality, while also minimising the public health risk by ensuring contaminated waterways can be treated and reopened promptly.

“Importantly, it is also a more cost-effective methodology than existing tests,” he said.

Black said he was thrilled that Dr Wohlsen had been recognised by her peers for her champion qualities that benefited not only her fellow employees, but also the state water industry and the general public.

“Tracey’s commitment to working hard is also clearly reflected in her academic record, as she completed her PhD in 2007. During the course of this study, Tracey not only researched microbial methods for water quality analysis and detection of Cryptosporidium in surface waters, she also continued with full-time employment as a microbiologist in the water industry.

“This dedication to her work sets a first-rate example for other employees - particularly females who are looking to pursue a successful career in the water industry,” Black said.

The AWA Queensland Award Winners will now compete at the 2012 AWA National Water Awards.

Unitywater’s Murrumba Downs Sewage Treatment Plant was also a finalist in the category of ‘Queensland Infrastructure Project Innovation’.

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