Water Technology

Water Technology is an employee-owned Australian engineering and environmental consulting company that provides scientific insight and innovative solutions for a broad range of water and environmental challenges. Founded in 2000 by Dr Andrew McCowan in a suburban home in Victoria, the firm has grown into a multidisciplinary practice of more than 190 people across Australia and New Zealand. Its services span surface water, groundwater, coastal, marine and environmental management, combining planning, science, engineering and practical design. The company works with state and federal government, the mining and renewable energy sector, and the development and construction industry. Typical engagements include flood and stormwater management, waterway management, integrated water resource management, groundwater assessments, environmental impact assessments, mine closure planning and rehabilitation, resilience and adaptation planning, and coastal engineering. Water Technology positions itself as a provider of expert insight and practical solutions, with a strong emphasis on data-driven strategic plans and stakeholder engagement. Water Technology is headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, and operates across Australia and New Zealand. It remains privately held and employee-owned. In July 2025, the urban water management specialist E2Designlab joined Water Technology, with the E2Designlab name and brand continuing under a co-brand logo. The firm is led by Managing Director Steve Clark, a senior principal engineer with over 25 years of experience in water resources and coastal engineering.

Water Technology began in 2000, when Dr Andrew McCowan founded the company in a room in a suburban home in Victoria, Australia. Andrew's vision was to create a place that does great work making a difference, while also being a workplace that values and cares for its people. He strongly promoted innovation and gave people permission to try new techniques or methods. Andrew was joined by Steve Clark in 2001 and Warwick Bishop in 2003. The team continued to grow and established a vision to provide expert insight and practical solutions for surface water, groundwater, coastal and environmental challenges across Australia and beyond. Over the years, the firm developed a multidisciplinary approach combining planning, science, engineering and practical design, allowing it to tackle issues in both natural and built environments. By the 2020s, Water Technology had grown to a team of more than 190 people spread across Australia and New Zealand. The company remained employee-owned and privately held, headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria. Its client base includes state and federal government, the mining and renewable energy sector, and the development and construction industry. A significant development occurred on 1 July 2025, when E2Designlab, an urban water management specialist founded in 2011, became part of Water Technology. The two organisations had collaborated for many years on complex urban water management projects and shared a company culture, a passion for research and innovation, and a belief that technical capabilities in engineering, science, ecology, urban design, planning and communication can create real change for communities and the environment. The E2Designlab name and brand continue to exist under a co-brand logo for the foreseeable future. E2Designlab is recognised across industry as a thought and practice leader in Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and Integrated Water Management (IWM), with deep collaboration with the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities and Water Sensitive Cities Australia. Water Technology is led by Managing Director Steve Clark, a senior principal engineer with over 25 years of experience in water resources and coastal engineering. He has worked on major projects including serving as principal hydraulic modeller on the Yangtze River Flood Warning and Control Project between 2002 and 2005, a five-year cooperative project between the Governments of Australia and China.

• 2025

  On 1 July 2025, E2Designlab becomes part of Water Technology, with the E2Designlab brand continuing under a co-brand logo.

• 2011

  E2Designlab is formed by a group of long-standing colleagues and collaborators.

• 2003

  Warwick Bishop joins the company.

• 2001

  Steve Clark joins the company.

• 2000

  Dr Andrew McCowan founds Water Technology in a suburban home in Victoria, Australia.

Expert insight and practical solutions for surface water, groundwater, coastal and environmental challenges; science and engineering experts working together to solve local water management challenges.

• Surface water and flood management

  Flood and stormwater management for development and construction projects of every scale.

• Groundwater assessments and engineering

  Groundwater assessments and engineering for government, mining and renewable energy clients.

• Coastal and marine engineering

  Specialised skills across coastal and marine management.

• Environmental impact assessments

  Environmental impact assessments for mining and renewable energy operations.

• Integrated water resource management

  Data-driven strategic plans and integrated water resource management for stronger, more resilient communities.

• Waterway management and ecology

  Waterway management and ecology services led by the National Lead – Waterways and Ecology.

• Mine closure planning and rehabilitation

  Support during planning, operational and closure phases for mining operations.

• Resilience and adaptation planning

  Resilience and adaptation planning for state and federal government clients.

1. 1Home - Water Technologywatertech.com.au
2. 2About - Water Technologywatertech.com.au
3. 3Our Team - Water Technologywatertech.com.au
4. 4E2Designlab - Water Technologywatertech.com.au
5. 5Water Technology (Australia) - Wikidatawikidata.org