Professor Nicholas J Ashbolt Administering Organisation: Queensland University of Technology Fellowship Project Summary IL250100072 - Climate resilience: protecting our drinking water from uncontrolled threats Professor Ashbolt’s project aims to safeguard drinking-water distribution systems from climate-driven events, including changing water sources that affect water quality for decades – an issue not addressed by current regulation. By applying innovative tools to unravel underlying mechanisms, Professor Ashbolt’s team will pinpoint molecular triggers that cause contaminants (toxic metals, carcinogens, pathogens) to be sloughed off from biofilm-coated pipe surfaces during water quality fluctuations. Key outcomes include industry co-designed strategies and a best-practice predictive tool with biofilm sloughing controls, guiding the development of regulations for the world’s first climate-resilient, catchment-to-tap drinking-water quality system. Australian Research Council funding: $3,849,597 Industry Partners: Water Research Australia Limited, NHMRC, Water Futures Pty Ltd, Queensland Health, Hunter Water Corporation, The University of Sheffield, UK, Water NSW, United States Environmental Protection Agency To find out more about Professor Ashbolt, please visit his profile page here. For further information about this funding scheme, please visit the Industry Laureate Fellowships page.