If there’s one place where the water industry’s quiet achievers become headline acts, it’s the WIOA conference floor – and in 2026, Bendigo delivered.
The Water Industry Operations Association of Australia (WIOA) returned to the Bendigo Showgrounds from March 25 to 26, drawing water professionals from across the country for the 87th Victorian Water Industry Operations Conference and Exhibition. And the numbers told their own story: more than 1490 attendees, a 9.5 per cent increase on last year, making this the largest Victorian event to date and reinforcing Bendigo as a firm fixture on the calendar.
“With our membership at almost 6000 – the highest in our more than 50-year history – the attendance at this year’s conference has been truly powerful and it reflects the vital role our association continues to play with the meaningful difference we are making across the industry,” said WIOA CEO Dean Barnett.
“It has been incredibly rewarding to see the connections forming and to hear the experience and knowledge being openly shared by our members.”
Beyond attendance, it was the energy on the ground that stood out. Across two days, operators, engineers and industry partners moved between technical sessions, exhibition stands and live demonstrations, all centred on a shared goal: improving the way water networks are run, maintained and future-proofed.
That focus carried through to the conference program, where practical, frontline experience took priority. Presentations from North East Water, SA Water and SUEZ, and Greater Western Water explored real operational challenges, sparking discussions that continued well beyond the session rooms and into the exhibition floor.
Of course, no WIOA event is complete without a bit of friendly competition – and this year, the stakes felt higher than ever.
The Reece Civil + Viadux Main Tapping Competition, the debut Trans-Tasman Main Tapping event, and the crowd-favourite IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water contest brought a buzz of anticipation, turning everyday operational skills into centre-stage moments.
Cameron and Curtis from North East Water powered their way to victory in an impressive performance under pressure in the main tapping competition.
On their second attempt, the duo delivered a clean, non-penalty completion with an impressive time of 3 minutes 2.23 seconds.
Taking things a step further, the introduction of a Trans-Tasman format elevated the event onto the international stage.
Tasmania has claimed national honours at one of the water industry’s most technically demanding competitions, with TasWater taking out the first-ever 2026 WIOA Tran-Tasman Water Main Tapping Competition.
Cameron Lusk and Lynden Thurston secured the win in a tightly contested final, completing the task in 1 minute and 20.72 seconds to edge out New Zealand’s Kūmānu team from Nelson.
The result places Tasmania at the top of a competition that tests the core operational skills required to maintain and expand live water networks.
Water main tapping is a critical operational task that enables new connections to existing pipelines without interrupting the water supply.
For utilities, this capability underpins service continuity, particularly in growing communities where new connections are required without disrupting existing customers.
The competition replicates these real-world conditions, requiring teams to perform a live tap on a pressurised 100mm pipe under strict safety and technical standards.
Speed is only one part of the challenge.
Accuracy is equally important, with penalties applied for leaks, faults or incomplete installations.
This reflects the reality crews face on live networks, where errors can have immediate consequences for safety and service delivery.
The WIOA Water Main Tapping Competition has evolved from a national event into an international benchmark for operational excellence.
Teams compete in pairs, demonstrating not only individual skill but coordination, communication and adherence to safety protocols.
TasWater General Manager Operations, Brendan Windmeyer, said the result reflects the broader capability of the organisation’s workforce.
“This is an outstanding achievement and a real credit to Cameron and Lynden, as well as the broader TasWater operations team,” Windmeyer said.
“Water main tapping is highly technical, safety-critical work carried out live on our network, and this result demonstrates the expertise, precision and pride our people bring to their roles every day.”
The competitive spirit didn’t stop at the pipe. Another long-standing favourite was drawing a crowd for very different reasons.
That same competitive energy carried across to water quality, with suppliers going head-to-head at the 2026 IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water competition.
Utilities from across the state submitted samples of their finest drinking water, reflecting treatment processes, network management and operational discipline. While the competition is light-hearted on the surface, it reflects a serious benchmark for water quality across Victoria.
The title of the state’s Best Tasting Tap Water for 2026 was awarded to Coliban Water’s Bendigo Water Treatment Plant, earning a place on the national stage later this year. The water utility defeated Barwon Water’s Colac WTP and Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water’s Hopetoun Water Treatment Plant.
Entries were assessed for clarity, odour, and taste, with judges blind-testing samples to determine the standout provider.
For Coliban Water, the recognition highlights the consistency of its treatment processes and the performance of its operational teams.
“This is recognition for the amazing effort that the team and our contracting partners, Veolia and ServiceStream, have put into producing and providing great-tasting tap water for our community,” Angus Bowles, Manager of Catchment and Treatment Operations at Coliban Water, said.
The annual IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water competition has become a fixture of the WIOA conference calendar. It provides a rare opportunity to celebrate an essential service that customers often take for granted.
Behind each entry is a combination of source water management, treatment optimisation and distribution system performance. Operators must balance these factors daily to ensure compliance while maintaining a high standard of drinking water quality.
The competition offers a snapshot of that work, bringing together utilities of all sizes to showcase what they deliver to their communities.
While safety and compliance remain the primary drivers of water treatment, taste plays an important role in public confidence. Competitions such as this reinforce the link between operational excellence and customer experience.
Beyond the competition floor, the event also created space for conversations shaping the future of the sector.
The first official Women in Water Operations Breakfast welcomed more than 40 attendees for a dedicated networking session focused on inclusion and advocating industry connections.
The Awards Dinner further highlighted connection, talent, innovation, member recognition and emerging leadership across the sector. Winners include:
- New Operator of the Year: Holly WestBrook of Goulburn Murray Water
- Network Operator of the Year: Ethan Mansfield of South East Water
- Best Paper by an Operator: Liam Tothill and Andrew Sawiilski of SA Water and Suez
- Hepburn Award for Best Paper Overall: Rita Meijer of SA Water
- Best Poster by an Operator: Vincent Encena of Greater Western Water
- Ron Bergmeier Award for Best Exhibition Site: NovoLabs
- IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water in Victoria: Coliban Water
- Main Tapping Competition: Cameron and Curtis of North East Water
That focus on shared learning carried through to the technical program, where real-world insights remained front and centre.
North East Water, presenting Clear Water Storages – Critical Learnings for the Application of Protective Coatings, offering valuable insights into asset protection and long-term infrastructure performance.
SA Water and SUEZ, who shared Sludgy Solutions: Dealing with Excessive Sludge at Barossa WTP, addressing a common challenge through innovative and practical approaches.
Greater Western Water, presenting on the Re-Purposing Soil Hydro Project, showcasing adaptation and optimisation of existing assets to deliver operational efficiencies.
These sessions generated strong discussion and knowledge exchange, reinforcing the conference’s reputation for delivering relevant, frontline-focused content.
With momentum continuing to build, attention now turns north. The 2026 Queensland Water Industry Operations Conference and Exhibition will take place from June 24 to 25 at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre – the next stop in a calendar that continues to bring the industry together on the issues that matter most.
For more information, visit wioa.org.au
This article appears in the May/June 2026 edition of Utility. Subscribe HERE.
