Safer water reuse starts with understanding how antimicrobial resistance persists, changes, and travels through our water systems.

Esty Al-gertan is a SAAFE PhD Scholar at The University of Queensland whose research sits within SAAFE’s AMR Monitoring Program. Working in collaboration with SAAFE partners WaterRA and Seqwater, her project evaluates how antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants are removed across treatment barriers within advanced water treatment plants.

Esty holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering, as well as a master’s degree in urban water engineering science from The University of Queensland, where her research focused on urban water treatment and sustainability. It was a course on water treatment that became the turning point in her academic journey, and environmental sustainability and sustainable water management have been central passions ever since.

At SAAFE CRC, Esty is investigating the potential occurrence, removal and/or amplification of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants in indirect potable reuse throughout the advanced water treatment barriers, pipeline system, and receiving reservoir. Her research further examines the contribution of various catchment activities and land-use practices to the occurrence and dissemination of AMR within the receiving environment. A typical day combines extensive literature review with experimental design and hands-on laboratory work to detect AMR under varying environmental conditions. Esty is also an academic staff member at UQ, co-teaching water and wastewater treatment courses.

Esty was drawn to SAAFE by the chance to work alongside people who share the same interest and approach a common problem from different disciplines and perspectives. She is passionate about helping people understand that AMR extends far beyond the misuse of antibiotics, reflecting the interconnected nature of human, animal and environmental health. Through her research, she aims to improve understanding of AMR dynamics in water systems and support the development of effective strategies to reduce its spread throughout the water cycle.

Outside of research, Esty loves to travel and discover new places whenever she can and catching up with friends over coffee. Her motto: step beyond your limits and uncover your true potential.

Esty’s long-term goal is to identify any potential points of persistence, regrowth, and possible amplification of AMR across indirect potable reuse systems, supporting water-reuse practices that minimise AMR risks and protect public and environmental health and supports decision-making in the food, agribusiness and environmental sectors and contributing to safer, more sustainable water reuse and the development of future policy, monitoring and regulatory frameworks.