Water Research Centre

Multidisciplinary water and environmental engineering research for a sustainable future.
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The Water Research Centre (WRC) undertakes multidisciplinary research in water and environmental engineering. Our researchers develop tools to improve the management and sustainability of aquatic and atmospheric environments.

With its two research locations, one at the Kensington campus and the Water Research Laboratory (WRL) located at Manly Vale, WRC is an externally funded research centre within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Research & collaboration
WRC interacts and collaborates with industry, all levels of Government, non-government organisations, and research groups across Australia and overseas.
Number one in Australia for water resources
UNSW is ranked in the top 10 universities globally for water resources.
One of the largest research centres at UNSW
WRC has two locations serving more than 50 staff and supporting more than 80 PhD researchers.

Latest news

UNSW researchers recognised by the world's leading Earth and space science association

Sep 25, 2025
Engineering Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA) Division of Equity Diversity & Inclusion Sustainability Healthy lives General SDG SDG3 SDG6 SDG11 SDG13 School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Water Research Centre

Meet our WRC Researcher: Dr Haoran Duan

Sep 22, 2025
Water Research Centre

Meet our WRC Researcher

Sep 22, 2025
Water Research Centre

Engineering the Future podcast- PFAS – the “Forever Chemicals”

Jul 29, 2025
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Water Research Centre Water Research Laboratory
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Our research

We have many core areas of research and applied research activities, which are supported by academics and researchers from within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Our activities cover virtually everything to do with water, and the technology we develop is also successfully applied to non-water related areas. 
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Partner centres

Water Resources river

UNSW Water Research Laboratory

The Water Research Laboratory (WRL)  is a world-leading academic research and consulting laboratory that endeavours to tackle the most challenging and pressing water-engineering problems faced by the world today relating to water and the environment.

a view of under water and the plants

UNSW Global Water Institute

The UNSW Global Water Institute (UNSW-GWI) is a multi-disciplinary venture.Its water expertise comes from seven faculties and 13 specialist centres across UNSW, including WRC.

Our people

The WRC has a membership of many researchers, professional staff and PhD candidates spanning a dozen research centres. Explore our team to find out more.
Meet the team