WCW26

In both Australia and Canada, access to potable water in many Indigenous communities is a challenge due to systemic issues; including a historic lack of investment, ageing infrastructure, and challenges associated with logistics in small remote communities. Equitable water access drives the need for water treatment plant (WTP) upgrades and their respective designs to holistically consider community needs. 
In Canada, a combination of systemic and historical challenges has led to the prevalence and persistence of boil water advisories. These advisories necessitate WTP upgrades and adequate staffing to provide a reliable supply. Though 151 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted since November 2015 on public systems, there are still 39 long-term drinking water advisories in effect in at least 37 First Nations public water systems across Canada under long-term drinking water advisories as of February 10, 2026.  
The Australian Government has also committed to support the delivery of water infrastructure, which includes the National Water Grid’s $150M commitment towards water security in First Nations communities. One of the goals includes 9b. Closing the Gap. This goal by aims to have all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households either: 1) receiving essential services that meet or exceed the relevant jurisdictional standards or, if near a town, 2) essential services to those households shall meet or surpass the standards generally applied within that town by 2031. 
The purpose of this presentation is to review two case studies and discuss parallels, challenges, and lessons learned for design considerations needed in WTPs in remote Indigenous communities. The two case studies are located in Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, Canada and Bamaga, Northern Peninsula Area (Cape York), Queensland. Despite differences in climate and geography, both projects reveal parallels in project delivery and lessons learned that may support future drinking water equity for Indigenous communities globally.
While financial estimates and technical performance are usually prioritised in the optioneering process for selecting the best treatment processes for a source water, remote Indigenous communities face unique needs in the design and operation of potable water infrastructure beyond the traditional financial and technical inputs. This includes public perception, which requires building trust with local stakeholders, aligning staffing requirements with available skillsets, and managing complex construction costs and logistics. These considerations were critical to the implementation of both projects. The review and assessment included comparisons where applicable in the following focus areas: prediction of water demand, raw water quality, selection of water treatment processes, ease of delivery access, decision modelling principles, cost estimation factors, and construction considerations. This multi-faceted approach allowed for an exploration of both the conceptual and practical challenges involved in water treatment design for remote Indigenous communities in varying phases of delivery, from planning through construction and commissioning. 
This assessment revealed interesting parallels in challenges faced. Identifying shared obstacles in projects serving Indigenous communities can help uncover opportunities for improvement. By integrating these lessons learned into future designs, we can better understand barriers and further advancement for water equity access around the globe.