What does Australia, one of the driest inhabited continents on Earth, teach us about water challenges and solutions? A lot, as it turns out!

At Vanilla Club, our motto is "Return to Simple." And there is nothing simpler than water. Episode 3 of Vanilla Club Podcast dives deep with Dr Stuart Khan, a world-class water researcher, Head of School and Professor at the University of Sydney’s School of Civil Engineering. It's important to note that that is not just a word salad of prestigious titles, Prof. Khan manages a path-breaking school with heaps of brilliant engineers and he teaches and publishes research himself. Prof. Khan has decades under his belt in urban water systems and wastewater management, and from water governance quirks to rethinking what "wastewater" even means, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about sustainability, education, and the technologies shaping our future.

Is Wastewater… Really Wasted? Dr Khan flips what many of us consider "wastewater" on its head. Sydney is dumping over 1,000 million litres of treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean every single day. Meanwhile, treatments like reverse osmosis are becoming drought-resistant heroes, transforming "waste" back into quality, clean water usable for drinking or agriculture. The key takeaway? There is no such thing as waste-water. Every molecule needs to "carry it's own weight" if we start to look at things as an engineer would.

Also, you’ve probably heard about Australia’s engineering skills drought—but have you thought about its effect on water reforms? Over 50% of water engineers are skilled migrants, but the sector struggles to attract graduates due to limited wages compared to high-revenue mining or construction. Prof. Khan also highlights the industry's need to engage young women, with less than 30% representation in engineering undergraduates relating to water. The future of sustainable water solutions depends heavily on who we inspire today.

Download the full episode and take a splash!