WATER QUALITY CONSULTING SERVICES
Provision of Water Quality Advisory, Consultancy and Training Services
Water Quality Management
Water Quality Monitoring
Water Quality Taste & Odour Training
Laboratory Operations Advice
About
Dr Thorsten Mosisch
Owner, Water Quality Consulting Services
Dr Thorsten Mosisch (BSc, MSc, PhD) is a highly skilled water quality specialist who brings decades of experience in managing and delivering complex projects, investigations, and consultancy work. Renowned as an expert in his field, he has accumulated over 30 years of knowledge within the water sector, focusing on water quality monitoring and management, training, NATA-accredited laboratory operations, freshwater ecology, catchment management, and similar areas.
Throughout his career, Dr Mosisch has held key roles at major Australian water utilities and organisations. His positions have included Water Quality Scientist at SEQ Water, Source Water Quality Manager with SA Water, Manager of Field and Life Science Services, and Manager of Quality and Systems at the Australian Water Quality Centre (AWQC, part of SA Water). He also directed the Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program for four years with the Healthy Waterways Partnership in South-east Queensland.
Dr Mosisch's expertise covers research, consulting, training, and the full lifecycle of water quality monitoring program design, implementation, and management. He offers authoritative guidance on topics such as source water quality, catchment management, data analysis, risk management frameworks, and preparing for NATA audits in laboratories. He possesses thorough knowledge of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Services offered
Water Quality Taste & Odour Training
Taste and odour sensory assessment training for water utility operational staff
A custom-designed, practical training course specifically developed for operational staff in water utilities. The program introduces participants to the primary taste and odour issues encountered in both raw and treated waters, along with their underlying causes. Each 1.5-hour session accommodates up to ten participants and focuses on recognising and classifying key taste and odour compounds relevant to drinking water quality, including geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), chlorine, hydrogen sulphide, and ferrous sulphate. Delivered in a highly interactive format, the course provides attendees with water samples made up with certified sensory pure standards to practise identification of specific tastes and odours. The session concludes with a blind taste and odour assessment. This course has been delivered to several major water utilities across South Australia and Victoria.
Water Quality Monitoring Program Design and Review
Design and review of water quality monitoring programs; interpretation of water quality data; and compliance against frameworks such as the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, local Safe Drinking Water Regulations and recreational guidelines.
Water Quality Investigations and Advisory Services
Regulatory compliance review and advice; risk assessment including evaluating potential hazards such as microbial or chemical contaminants and their impact on public health and the environment; water quality incident management advice.
SOME RECENT CONSULTANCIES
Management of cyanobacteria in a direct supply reservoir
A comprehensive report was developed for a major water utility, focusing on strategies and operational responses to increased levels of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in a direct supply reservoir—an essential part of the utility’s distribution system. The report offered the client practical guidance to enhance their reservoir monitoring and operational responses. This included an evaluation of current methods for managing algal blooms, an assessment of the effectiveness of existing aeration systems, recommendations for improving algal bloom management, and information on real-time, in-situ water quality monitoring systems to track real time data. This information helped the utility improve algal event monitoring and response.
Permeability of polyethylene pipes to hydrocarbons
A consultancy was conducted for a leading water utility, focusing on an evaluation of polyethylene (PE) pipes and their potential susceptibility to hydrocarbon penetration. The review assessed the feasibility of using PE as an alternative to higher-cost steel piping for a proposed main, situated near previously identified contaminated land that may influence groundwater inflow from the site. Key tasks included analysis of groundwater data for the relevant area, comparison of results with Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, and a review of pertinent literature regarding the ability of hydrocarbons to permeate PE pipes. The findings enabled the client to select the most appropriate material for the new main, thereby safeguarding drinking water quality against possible hydrocarbon leaching in the future.
Review of a water utility’s Water Quality Monitoring Program
This consisted of a thorough review of a water utility’s Water Quality Monitoring Program, assessing its compliance with local Safe Drinking Water Regulations (SDWR) and Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) ahead of an audit. The first phase checked if all SDWR requirements were met, focusing on risk management, quality standards, and sampling frequency, resulting in a report that detailed compliance status and recommended improvements. The second phase compared tested parameters against the ADWG, highlighting any omissions and suggesting changes to testing frequency based on risk or previous results. This helped identify where monitoring could be reduced without compromising compliance, improving operational efficiency.
Management of algal issues in large, shallow constructed lakes
This consultancy reviewed water quality data from a City Council's public lakes, focusing on algae and nutrients. The key issue of concern for Council were complaints by residents that the lakes were unsightly and emitted unpleasant odours due to ongoing algal issues. The assessment led to recommendations for improved monitoring, especially during summer, and remediation measures like aeration, nutrient-absorbing plants, and preventive maintenance. The revised program featured early warning through increased monitoring and a "traffic light" system for interpreting algal data, helping operators to make timely operational decisions. The report also summarised issues related to common problematic algal species found in the lakes.
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Water Quality Consulting Services
Address
Kent Town SA 5067, Australia
Phone
0417782984ABN
19734476510
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