Charles Lee University of Newcastle

1. How Can Water Utilities Meet the
United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals?
Dr Charles Lee
Associate Professor / CIFAL Fellow
Newcastle Australia Institute of Higher Education

2. NEWCASTLE
AUSTRALIA
The Newcastle Australia Institute of Higher
Education (Newcastle Australia IHE) is a campus
of the University of Newcastle, Australia in
Singapore.
Established as a wholly-owned entity of the
University in 2006, we continue to deliver and
expand both our full-time and part-time programs
as we become the Asia Pacific hub of the
University.

3. Outline
United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs)
What Elements of SDGs Relate to
Water-Wastewater?
How Can We Be Involved?

4. 2015: Conceptualised – 193 governments
2030: Meet the 17 Global Goals to Solve Pressing
Sustainability Issues - 169 Targets & 230 Indicators

5. Water - Wastewater Directly Linked with 11 SDGs

6. Source: Obaideen K et al., The role of wastewater treatment in achieving sustainable
development goals (SDGs) and sustainability guideline. Energy Nexus (7). 2022.
Wastewater Contribution to UN SDGs

7. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
WHO: 1 in 3 people NO access to safe drinking water
4 billion people lack access to Safe Sanitation

8. SDG 7: Clean Energy
WWTP: Generates Energy from
wastewater solids through
anaerobic digestion
Microbes chew biodegradable
materials (non-O2) = >
methane / CO2 (biogas)
Energy used for heat and
power!

9. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities
and Communities
Wastewater Infrastructure: network for collection, treatment,
and disposal of sewage
Requires Resiliency & Sustainability
Problem: Old aging infrastructure – smelly/ugly/leaking
Solution: Resource recovery facilities – clean water (Newater),
nutrient recovery (N, P), renewable energy
Example: Deep Tunnels Sewerage System

10. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities
and Communities
Deep Tunnels Sewerage System (DTSS)

11. SDG 14: Life Below Water
< 20% wastewater is treated: Contaminated water
supplies and diseases
Indonesia: 1% urban wastewater safely collected and treated
World Bank: economic cost of poor sanitation 2.3% GDP health &
environmental related losses
Pollution: Eutrophication – algal blooms
Human health impacts - pathogenic microbes and toxins
Biodiversity loss
Tourism threats

12. SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals
Existential Issues: Water Supply / Wastewater Treatment
Rights to clean drinking water – humans
Ecosystems survival – no pollution from treated wastewater
11 UN SDGs are directly achievable
All 17 SDGs are applicable
ACTION is now to achieve true SUSTAINABILITY

13. SDG Collaboration - University of Newcastle
UNITAR: United Nations Institute for Training and Research
CIFAL:
French acronym - International Training Centres for Local Authorities
and Local Actors (Centre International de Formation des
Autorités/Acteurs Locaux). Collaboration - host local
authorities/institutions, private sector partners, UNITAR and other UN
organizations. 25 Centres.
CIFAL Newcastle:
Only centre in Australia and Asia Pacific. To equip and empower
communities and organisations with skills and resources to action
Sustainable Development Goals
https://cifal.newcastle.edu.au/

14. CIFAL CENTRES

15. CIFAL Newcastle Course
Course Description
Communities are at risk of emergencies which may be
triggered by disaster events, including those associated
with the occurrence of natural hazards like infectious
disease outbreaks, conflicts, technological failure
amongst others. Within the context of speed of
urbanization (which is on the increase) and climate
change, the frequency, severity and impact of such
events are crucial.
Target Audience
· Government officials
· Health professionals
· Disaster management professionals
· Academic and training institutions working on disaster
risk management
Learning objectives
At the end of each module, participants will be able to
achieve the following:
Module 1:
Module 2:
Module 3:
Brought to you by:

16. CIFAL Newcastle - SDG Collaboration
Step 2:
Decide on Topic
Develop Course
Outline / Content
Step 1:
Collaboration
Entities
{IEH-NAIHE}
Step 3:
Complete &
Submit CIFAL
Newcastle Forms
Step 4:
CIFAL Newcastle
Approves
Step 5:
Develop Course
Details
Deliver
Delivery
✓ Short Course (1-4 days)
✓ Self-paced E-Learning
✓ Webinar

17. Thank You