The water industry encompasses any businesses or organisations involved in storing, purifying and supplying water. This includes organisations that run dams, filtration plants, pumping stations, water catchments, pipelines for water transport, reservoirs and wastewater treatment plants. Over 28,000 people are employed by the industry and has an estimated annual revenue of around $23 billion in Australia. Water is integral to the prosperity of a nation, and as the driest inhabited nation on Earth, Australia must be prepared for anything that could potentially threaten our water source. Most of Australia’s drinking water supply comes from surface water, which refers to water that comes from any above-ground body of water. Groundwater and water from desalination plants are also large contributors to the drinking water supply in Australia.