Harnessing Monash-Warwick Alliance to advance climate-resilient water infrastructure

Building climate resilience into urban systems is an increasingly urgent global priority, requiring strong international partnerships to develop innovative, data-driven, and sustainable solutions that also support long-term net-zero aspirations.

A/Prof. Ir. Ts. Gs. Dr. Chow Ming Fai, together with A/Prof. Soroush Abolfathi from University of Warwick, has been awarded a grant under the Monash-Warwick Alliance for the project titled “Advancing Climate-Resilient Water Infrastructure through Cross-Climate Innovation: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Removal in Stormwater Biofiltration Systems”. The project aligns closely with broader global and national sustainability agendas by advancing resilient green infrastructure solutions that contribute to safer urban water systems and support pathways toward low-carbon, net-zero cities.

A/Prof. Chow is also one of the Principal Investigators of CNZT’s NSFS (Net-Zero Strategic Funding Scheme) project, “A City-Wide Digital Twin Model Integrating Solar PV-Powered Electric Transport and Water Treatment Systems for a Holistic Net-Zero Infrastructure”, further reinforcing the strategic linkage between climate resilience, sustainable urban water management, and integrated net-zero infrastructure development.

The Monash-Warwick Alliance is an award-winning partnership between Monash University and University of Warwick that fosters collaboration in education and research to generate global impact.

This project will investigate innovative biofiltration strategies for removing persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from urban stormwater to support safer, more climate-resilient urban water systems. Through controlled laboratory column experiments, the study will systematically evaluate the influence of native vegetation types, submerged anaerobic zones, and wet-dry operational cycles on PFAS removal efficiency and long-term treatment performance.

The research is expected to uncover the dominant mechanisms governing the removal of different PFAS compounds while establishing a predictive and mechanistic framework for optimising next-generation green infrastructure systems. Beyond improving sustainable stormwater management practices and strengthening urban ecosystem resilience, the findings will also contribute to the development of resource-efficient and low-carbon urban infrastructure solutions that support broader net-zero transition goals in Malaysia and globally.

CNZT congratulates A/Prof Chow for this success and will look forward to the productive outcomes from this collaborative research.

Contact: Dr Chow Ming Fai

Email: chow.mingfai@monash.edu