New Futures Hackathon for Water Security will bring together multidisciplinary minds to explore the barriers around water use, pollution and disaster and generate solutions to build a sustainable world.

WHY WATER SECURITY?

Only 3 percent of the world’s water is drinkable and water scarcity affects more than 40 percent of people, an alarming figure that is projected to rise as temperatures do. More and more countries are experiencing water stress, and increasing drought and desertification is already worsening these trends. By 2050, it is projected that at least one in four people will suffer recurring water shortages.

More efficient use and management of water are critical to addressing the growing demand for water, threats to water security and the increasing frequency and severity of droughts and floods resulting from climate change.

Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent and it is especially important that we conserve our water systems. Looking locally, Newcastle and the Hunter Region are experiencing the lowest water levels in our dams in over two decades and are currently in Level 1 water restrictions.

Our region’s population is expected to grow by nearly 120,000 over the next 20 years. At this rate of growth, and with current water usage patterns, total demand is expected to surpass reliable supply by 2036.

Each person has a role to play in protecting our water systems locally and throughout the world.

WATER SECURITY CHALLENGES

- Water fit for purpose: Water supplies that are safe and are fit for use

- Water efficiency: Supporting water that is managed efficiently, delivering maximum environmental and social benefit at least cost

- Water performance: Effective measurement and reporting on water security to our community

- Water sustainability: Supporting water that is managed within sustainable limits, delivering whole of water cycle outcomes

-Water reliability: Supporting water supplies that are secure, resilient and deliver customer value.

• Innovation
  How innovative is your solution? Is it an improvement to existing systems or a breakthrough new product/service
• Solution fit
  Is there a real problem? Is your solution really going to solve it?
• Feasibility
  How likely is the project to work and be accepted by the market / community?
• Prototype
  What progress have the team achieved during the hack and how functional is the project?
• Pitch
  In the end everything comes down to how well you can sell your ideas