Goal 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation

Goal 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation

RMIT University is committed to making a measurable impact on management of clean water and sanitation.

RMIT contributes to the sustainable management of water through research, campus operations and industry collaboration that improve water efficiency, water quality and long-term water resilience. 

The University undertakes research that addresses water security, wastewater treatment and nature-based solutions, while continuing to reduce water consumption across its Australian and international campuses. 

Through partnerships with government, industry and communities, RMIT supports innovative approaches that help protect water resources and strengthen resilience to future environmental challenges.

Highlights of recent SDG 6 aligned activity are included below, with more information available in our 2025 Sustainability Annual Report (PDF 13 MB), with our 11 years of reporting progress outlined on the Sustainability Annual Report webpage.

Broader sustainability contributions are also highlighted in our organisational Annual Report, which are tabled in the Victorian Parliament.

2025 Case Studies

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RMIT continues to reduce water consumption through investment in efficient infrastructure, water harvesting and digital monitoring systems. 

In 2025, Australian campuses consumed 140,112 kilolitres of potable water, representing a 57 per cent reduction in water consumption intensity compared with the 2007 baseline. 

RMIT's Bundoora and Brunswick campuses participated in the WaterSmart program, which uses digital monitoring technology to identify opportunities to reduce water use and improve operational efficiency. 

The University also maintains 1.3 million litres of on-site water storage capacity that supports rainwater and stormwater reuse for irrigation and campus operations. 

Through these initiatives, RMIT is helping build more sustainable and resilient water systems.

RMIT researchers are demonstrating how wetlands can provide practical solutions to environmental and water management challenges. 

In 2025, research undertaken through RMIT's Centre for Nature Positive Solutions showed how restored wetlands can improve water quality, increase drought resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Working with partners including Melbourne Water, Westernport Water and CSIRO, the projects are applying nature-based solutions that strengthen ecosystem health while helping communities manage water more sustainably. 

These initiatives highlight the important role wetlands can play in supporting resilient water systems and healthier landscapes.

RMIT researchers are developing innovative ways to transform wastewater from an environmental challenge into a valuable resource. 

In 2025, researchers led by Associate Professor Nasir Mahmood, Professor Nicky Eshtiaghi and Dr Muhammad Haris developed experimental technology that uses metals already present in wastewater to boost green hydrogen production. 

The research has the potential to reduce pressure on freshwater resources while lowering the cost of wastewater treatment and clean energy production. 

By creating new opportunities to recover value from wastewater, RMIT is contributing to more sustainable water management and supporting the transition to a circular economy.

2024 Case Studies

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RMIT led an international team to develop nature-based water treatment solutions in urban areas of Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, addressing challenges from industrialisation, urbanisation, and climate change. 

The project, led by Professor Magdalena Plebanski, included constructing floating wetlands in Can Tho and Kandy, and creating green roofs in Ho Chi Minh City and a constructed wetland in the Philippines. 

Forty students from Can Tho University and 32 early career researchers participated in hands-on learning. The initiative aimed to remove water pollutants and enhance urban livability and resilience. RMIT collaborated with teams from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and other countries to achieve this. 

The project also explored integrating nature-based practices in cities and developed guidelines for scaling these solutions. A follow-up project to engage more sites and develop further capacities has been proposed. The final report is published by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research.

New technology is nearing commercialisation, transforming waste into reusable goods for energy and agriculture. By using high temperatures without oxygen, the PYROCOTM pyrolysis technology produces biochar, a carbon-rich product useful in batteries and as a soil enhancer.

It processes materials such as treated sewage and organic waste, effectively removing harmful pathogens, PFAS, and microplastics.

RMIT, in collaboration with South East Water, Intelligent Water Networks, and Greater Western Water, has successfully trialled this technology at the Melton Recycled Water Plant. Project lead Professor Kalpit Shah from RMIT states, “The latest trials validated results of the first trials and showed further improvements.”

This breakthrough offers a promising step towards more efficient and environmentally friendly management of water and waste resources.

RMIT's Professor Oliver Jones, a leading authority in Chemistry and Deputy Director of the RMIT Water: Effective Technologies and Tools Research Centre, provided critical insights into Australia's newly released guidelines for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. 

Recognised for his expertise in water safety, Professor Jones evaluated the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) proposed thresholds for PFAS, noting sensible adjustments based on extensive existing data rather than new research.

Highlighting RMIT’s contribution to this field, Professor Jones explained the nature of PFAS, emphasising the misleading notion of them as "forever chemicals." He advocates for a science-based approach to understanding PFAS, countering public misconceptions fuelled by the media. 

With RMIT's commitment to evidence-based research, Professor Jones underscores the importance of sensible guideline setting, encouraging public engagement in the consultation process to ensure comprehensive water safety standards in Australia.

SDG Alignment Mapping Overview

As reported in the 2025 Sustainability Annual Report, there were 24 course units and 119 research projects aligned with SDG 6 in 2025, representing a wide range of clean water and sanitation related topics. 

Other SDG alignment insights are captured in the data below.

24 Course Units

119 Research Projects

16 International Research Partnerships

142 Publications

  RMIT Global Average
Publications in Top 25% Journal Percentiles by SIR (%) 91.2 65.5
Citations per Publication 7.4 3.5
Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) 2.1 54%
National Contribution (%) 6.4% N/A
International Collaboration  57.8 26.1
Developing Country Collaboration (%) 54% N/A
Low to Lower-Middle Income Country Collaboration (%) 21% N/A

Research Projects and Initiatives Over the Years

The following research projects have been specifically aligned to Sustainable Development Goal 6 and the aim to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. These projects and initiatives are examples of the University’s contribution to the SDGs over the years.

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Aquatic Pollution Prevention Partnership

The aims of this research partnership between Melbourne Water and RMIT University is to help prevent aquatic pollution.

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Engineering solutions for informal settlements in Honiara, Solomon Islands

Based on technical site visits and self-identified community needs, RMIT University engineers from different disciplines are designing solutions to mitigate water, sanitation, drainage, waste, and flood risks in five highly vulnerable settlements in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

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The Litter Trackers: Reducing Littering by Education

Most litter that ends up in Port Phillip Bay comes from the catchments. Education is an integral tool for achieving long-term change in community behaviors and reducing litter in waterways and the Bay.

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Sustainable water desalination using waste heat and renewable energy sources

The need for freshwater is considered a critical global problem, consequently the demand for alternative sustainable water sources including ground water, desalinated water, and recycled water has increased over recent years and, as a result, the implementation of desalination plants is growing on a large scale.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples