Why we do what we do — and how we see our work in the broader context of water, environment, community and planet.
DWS works in a world entirely reliant on an assured and sustainable water supply — anything less would have profound implications for the environment and for the 7.5 billion people who depend on it.
Water does not exist in isolation. Every infrastructure decision we make operates at the intersection of energy, land, communities, biodiversity, economics and culture. We approach our work with that complexity front of mind — understanding not just the pipe or the pump, but the full system it serves and the world that depends on it.
DWS acknowledges that all water solutions have pathways of influence on six core interconnected elements. We seek to understand these relationships in everything we plan and deliver.
DWS recognises that our work is part of a complex, integrated web of environmental, economic and social forces — where no single focus will provide sustainable solutions. There are many externalities over which we have no direct control, but which can significantly impact infrastructure planning outcomes. We undertake due diligence on these factors and advise our clients of the associated risks.
Through the application of sound science and engineering, DWS seeks to define a resilient and affordable pathway for sustainable water and wastewater services for all communities. Our value-system — built on honesty, integrity, compassion and generosity — underpins an approach that listens carefully to our clients’ needs and strives for excellence in every solution we develop.
Our purpose is not simply to deliver engineering outputs. It is to understand the full context of the water systems we work within, advocate for outcomes that genuinely serve communities and ecosystems, and ensure our work creates long-term value — not just short-term solutions.
Understand the broader water resources context Actively understand the sustainability of designated water sources and hydrological assumptions underpinning every water and wastewater infrastructure plan we undertake — not just the engineering layer.
Deliver prudent, efficient and long-term value Ensure our infrastructure solutions are prudent, efficient, fit-for-purpose and represent genuine long-term value for our clients and the communities and customers they serve.
Advocate for outcomes that benefit the whole system Advocate for infrastructure planning outcomes that link back to benefits for all components of our World of Water — not just the narrowly defined brief, but the broader environmental, economic and social ecosystem.
Consider the full infrastructure lifecycle Consider the long-term life cycle of every infrastructure solution we recommend — accounting for future maintenance, renewal, climate adaptation and the evolving needs of the communities these assets serve.
Consult broadly and inclusively Ensure meaningful consultation across relevant stakeholders in our clients’ teams and community representative groups — because the best infrastructure decisions are informed by the people who live and work with them.
Our vision is defined not just by what we want DWS to become, but by what we want to contribute to the water industry and the communities it serves — across Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
Smart, digital service provision A future where water and wastewater service delivery is underpinned by validated, practical, operational understanding of each system — powered by smart digital tools and real-time data, not guesswork.
Acknowledged Water Stewards For DWS to be recognised as an acknowledged Water Steward — undertaking assessments that consider the full water cycle as a resource, and protecting our clients from medium- or long-term vulnerability to service disruption.
Open knowledge and collaboration To openly share knowledge and foster collaboration across the industry — ensuring infrastructure development plans represent value for money and do not carry unacceptable environmental impact or resilience risk.
Fearless advocacy for sustainability To be recognised as a fearless advocate for sustainable service provision — based on scientific and engineering excellence, not commercial convenience or short-term thinking.
Contributing to the long-term prosperity of ANZ communities To contribute to the continued economic growth of communities across Australia and New Zealand — ensuring they have safe, assured and sustainable access to water and wastewater services well into the future. Water is not just infrastructure. It is the foundation on which communities are built.
Statements of purpose and vision only matter if they translate into how we actually work. These are the commitments we make — to our clients, to our people, to the communities our work touches, and to the environment we all depend on.
We commit to understanding the full context of every engagement — the hydrological, environmental, social and economic systems that our infrastructure interacts with — before we recommend a solution.
We commit to advocating for outcomes that protect and, where possible, enhance the ecological systems our water infrastructure touches — not just meeting minimum compliance requirements.
We commit to recommending solutions that stand the test of time — accounting for future growth, climate change, asset lifecycle and the evolving needs of the communities they serve.
We commit to basing every recommendation on sound science, rigorous analysis and transparent assumptions — never on convenience, and never without the data to back it up.
We commit to keeping the communities our infrastructure serves at the centre of every plan — considering affordability, equity of access, and the social fabric that water systems support.
We commit to sharing what we know, contributing to the development of better practice across the industry, and speaking up when short-term decisions risk long-term consequences for water systems and the people who depend on them.