Water July/August

Focusing on the future of stormwater

CONTROL VALVES

Flow with Confidence, Controlling Water Supply with NZ’s leading Control Valve Solutions

Bermad 700 SIGMA ES/EN

Worlds most versatile Control Valve

Highest Kv’s / Lowest Headloss

AS4020 - AS4158 - AS5081 Watermark Certified

High Performance materials

Design / Supply / Commission / Train / Support

New Zealand’s Control Valve Experts

Smart Metering

Filtration

Over 40 Years of Bermad commitment to NZ Air Valves

Backflow Prevention

President: Tim Gibson

Board Members: Bruce Balaei, Tim Gibson, David Hogg, Lorraine Kendrick, Paddy McNamara, Soltice Morrison, Suzanne Naylor, Priyan Perera

Chief Executive: Gillian Blythe

Internal Events and Logistics Co-ordinator: Katrina Guy

Corporate and Membership Services Manager: Mumtaz Parker

Membership Administrator/Office Manager: Pip Donnelly

Technical Lead – Regulatory and Catchments: Nicci Wood

Technical Lead – Projects and Sustainability: Lesley Smith

Technical lead – Drinking Water Quality and Education: Belinda Cridge

Communications Manager: Debra Harrington

Marketing Lead: Frances Sheriff

Executive Assistant to the CE and Association Secretary: Caroline Lewin

OUR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

and Inclusion

Ama | Aukaha te Wai Water Service Managers’ Group Water Efficiency and Conservation Action Network (WeCan)

Wastewater

Young Water Professionals: Chapters in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

For information contact: Katrina Guy 04 495 0891, email: Katrina.guy@waternz.org.nz

WATER JOURNAL

Editor: Mary Searle Bell, Contrafed Publishing

M: +64 21 676 034

Advertising Sales: Debbie Laing

M: +64 27 455 0223

Design: Jonathan Whittaker

M: +64 21 147 5591

Publishing: Contrafed Publishing, General Manager: David Penny, 1 Grange Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024

PO Box 67131, Mt Eden, Auckland, 1349

P: +64 21 190 4078

www.contrafed.co.nz

Distribution: Pip Donnelly, enquiries@waternz.org.nz

P: +64 4 472 8925

DISCLAIMER: Water New Zealand reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising material submitted for publication. The opinions expressed in contributions to Water are not necessarily those of Water New Zealand. The information contained in this publication is given in good faith and has been derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, neither Water New Zealand, nor any person(s) involved in the preparation of this publication accept any form of liability whatsoever for its content including advertisements, editorials, opinions, advice or information. This extends to any consequences from its use. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or ink–jet printing without prior written permission of the publishers. ISSN 1179-2949 (Print) ISSN 2382-1906 (Online) www.waternz.org.nz

INSIDE

4 President’s comment

6 Investing in training

8 State of water assets

9 Photo of the year

STORMWATER CONFERENCE

12 Conference in photos

14 Keynote speaker recap

18 Stormwater discharge workshop

22 Project of the year

26 Award winners

FEATURES

28 Profile: Sue Ira

30 Profile: Jamie Sinclair

32 Young scientist, Rena Misra

44 HDC’s evidence-based renewals programme

46 Central Interceptor boring complete

52 East Coast water sovereignty project

55 Lead in pipes

58 Harvesting water from fog

60 Water, the foundation material for life

70 Microplastics in wastewater

72 Saltwater-soluble plastic developed

74 AI boost for mussel industry

76 Tauranga Harbour’s pioneering artificial reef

78 Tracking groundwater with radar

80 Water sector solutions to biodiversity crisis

84 Clean-up to protect lake in Antarctica

86 Reversing the decline of Northland’s largest lake

88 WASH to improve the lives of Pacific women

CASE STUDIES AND COMMENT PIECES

36 Water sector at an innovation crossroads

40 Consistent data for future decisions

42 Three Waters asset data standards

64 Ensuring customer engagement is done right 66 Legal update

68 AI technology in wastewater operations

‘Ka ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora nga tangata’

‘If the water is healthy, the land is healthy, the people

Stormwater, action, and resilience

Tim Gibson President Water New Zealand

If you were among the lucky ones to attend our Stormwater Conference I’m sure you’ll agree that it was one of the best yet – and that’s a pretty high bar. We have great conferences. And like me, I’m sure you will have come away feeling inspired and energised about the future of our sector, and particularly stormwater.

Stormwater has often been regarded as the neglected cousin of the three waters sector because of a lack of investment compared to drinking and wastewater. But it’s clear that stormwater is now getting the attention it deserves, and I hope this will eventuate into the right amount of investment in the future.

This is a space where design and innovation will be essential. The way we manage stormwater will not only impact our climate change resilience but also help shape our urban environment for generations.

We know many of you in councils are currently immersed in developing your water services delivery plans. Post-September, we hope to see more certainty for the sector.

This was also a very clear message from Local Government Minister Simon Watts during his keynote address. The Minister was adamant: it’s time to move from talk to action.

Infrastructure projects need to get underway – we need to see contracts signed, money flowing, and boots on the ground. This is crucial not only to deliver essential services but also to retain and grow the skills and talent we need here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Insurance Council CEO Kris Faafoi also delivered a sobering reminder of the need to build resilience into our infrastructure and planning. His presentation focused on the growing financial risks posed by climate change. These costs are already hitting communities and impacting our policies.

Of course, the conference was also about celebrating excellence and I congratulate all our award winners; you were all deserving and your work exemplifies the innovation and commitment driving us forward.

Water New Zealand’s conferences may be our flagship events but much of our work towards ensuring a sustainable, affordable and resilient three waters sector continues in the background. We’re membership-driven, and it’s our members, through our special interest and technical advisory groups, who provide much of the rigour for our many submissions and technical guides.

As we all know, we’ve been going through the biggest reforms in a generation and so a big focus has been to ensure that the voice of the sector is heard loud and clear.

Our submissions on key pieces of legislation have been an important focus of our work and these past few months have been particularly intense as key legislation including the Local Government Water Services Bill (Bill 3) works its way through Parliament.

By the time this publication is printed, we will likely have seen the select committee report back and have a good idea of the final direction of travel.

Now we’re turning our attention to an equally big and transformational piece of legislation, the RMA replacement bills and National Environmental Standards.

As President, and on behalf of our board, I reiterate how much we appreciate the technical expertise and the work of the special interest groups. I know our board members have found our recent catch-ups with SIG chairs to be particularly helpful. The connection and the ability to discuss and understand issues affecting our members, along with the work being undertaken at grassroots level, is vital for us to remain effective as a board and to truly represent and advocate on your behalf. We are your water community and, with your input, we will continue to ensure that we continue our role as a trusted advisor.

This year we will be seeking two new board officers to replace Lorraine Kendrick and Priyan Perera who are retiring by rotation at the end of the year. One position will be by appointment and the other will be elected by membership.

I thank Lorraine and Priyan for the commitment and time they have given the association and am pleased that we will continue to benefit from their experience and expertise until their retirement at the end of the year.

We’ll be sending nomination forms and voting papers to our financial members very soon.

We know many members have been generous with their time and so I’m pleased that we’ve been able to give a little back through our scholarships. These are designed to provide members with the opportunity to grow their skills and professional development through educational opportunities and attending conferences.

Congratulations to all our successful applicants and we look forward to hearing your observations. We’ll be continuing this successful programme so if you missed out this time, please keep an eye out for further opportunities.

One of our scholarship recipients will be joining us for the 10th IWAASPIRE Conference and Water New Zealand Conference later this year.

The conference this year will be particularly special as we are joining with the IWA to ensure a genuinely international aspect with in-person presentations from overseas colleagues.

An enormous amount of preparation and planning has gone into ensuring an outstanding event, so take a look on our website to see the latest draft programme and ensure you don’t miss out on tickets.

Ngā mihi nui.

Tim Gibson

President

10th IWA-ASPIRE CONFERENCE AND WATER NEW ZEALAND

CONFERENCE & EXPO

Christchurch Ōtautahi 29 September – 3 October 2025

Get in quick! Don’t miss great early bird and group deals All early bird deals close on 11 July

Empowering tomorrow – smart water solutions for resilient communities

10th IWA-ASPIRE WATER NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE & EXPO

In an exciting new partnership, the International Water Association (IWA) and Water New Zealand are combining into a single landmark event: The 10th IWA-ASPIRE Conference and Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2025. These two conferences, held jointly, will provide a platform for international and Aotearoa New Zealand water professionals, practitioners, scientists and experts to meet and unite around common themes – environmental sustainability, smart water solutions, innovation, indigenous knowledge and more

Christchurch Ōtautahi

29 September – 3 October 2025

One ticket gets you access to all sessions

Find out more www.waternzconference.org.nz www.iwaaspire2025.org

Time to rethink our training investment?

Water New Zealand is about to embark on a major survey aimed at ensuring research funding and effort is going in the right direction. Technical lead (drinking water quality and education) Dr Belinda Cridge outlines the new research roadmap and how we can focus on developing the right tools and workforce for the future.

Iwas in a meeting the other day discussing our research roadmap. This initiative, funded by the Water Services Managers Group, involves consulting across the sector to identify the research needed to drive progress, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. I’ll return to that topic later, but during our conversation about conferences and the ongoing lack of funding for training, a colleague made a comment that stuck with me: “We all want to be awesome, but I don’t know how we can aspire to that when we spend so little on training”.

It’s a striking observation. Too often, training sits at the bottom of the budget priority list. It’s common for employees to be allocated only a few hundred dollars each year for upskilling and development. Many organisations expect staff to proactively request, or even fight, for the chance to attend a conference or enrol in a course.

Did you know that globally, the recommended investment in training is three to five percent of an employee’s salary? Take a moment to consider what that level of commitment could mean for you.

I recently crunched the numbers and realised that, for the average water sector employee, this would easily cover health and safety compliance training, attendance at a conference, and participation in a training course every year. Depending on the course, there might even be funds left over –every year!

This wouldn’t be a special exception, or something reserved for those senior enough to build it into their budgets, but a standard opportunity for everyone, every year, yearon-year.

With this kind of investment, we could truly transform the industry.

We need to reflect on this, especially as our sector is not alone in facing significant challenges.

The International Labour Organization’s recent labour forecast revealed that only 47.7 percent of workers worldwide hold qualifications that appropriately match their job requirements.

The report also explored the impact of emerging technologies, noting that nearly one in four workers may see their jobs transformed by generative AI. While a larger share of medium-skilled roles face some exposure, a greater proportion of high-skilled jobs are at high risk of automation by AI.

Fortunately, the report offers a clear bestpractice response: “We can make a difference, and we can do so by strengthening social protection, investing in skills development, promoting social dialogue, and building inclusive labour markets to ensure that technological change benefits all.”

This recommendation highlights not only the need for investment in training, but also the importance of equity; ensuring everyone is included on the journey.

As we navigate change, we must consider all employees. What are we doing to support administration staff, technical personnel, financial teams, and others? Remember, digital badges are ideal for a wide range of water-related roles, not just those directly involved in water operations.

At the core of all this is innovation. We are only beginning to experience the impact of generative AI. It’s exciting, but like any new technology, it can be daunting until we fully

understand its strengths and limitations. On page 36, we talk about the need for more innovation in our sector – identifying where it can drive progress and where it might present new challenges.

I recently listened to a podcast exploring the potential of metering and how telecommunications companies worldwide are getting involved in providing IOT water meter services for rural communities. This is an exciting development: it reduces costs, increases data flow, and fundamentally changes the type of personnel needed on the ground and when they are required.

This is just one example, there are many challenges in our sector where innovation or targeted research could make a real difference.

That’s why we are currently conducting a consultation to determine which research areas we should collectively advocate for. Surveys will be coming your way soon. Please make sure to have your say.

We are at a pivotal intersection of technology, development, and workforce change. It may be time to rethink where we invest. The government is signalling that future research funding will need to be matched by industry demand and investment.

As we develop new innovations and automate or replace tasks, the skills we require from our workforce will also change. How will we ensure our organisations remain sustainable, with a secure and adaptable workforce? The answer is clear: we need to invest in training.

If we want to be the best, we must hire the best, and train the best.

Water New Zealand board nominations

Water New Zealand is seeking nominations for two new board positions to replace Lorraine Kendrick and Priyan Perera, who are retiring by rotation.

The call for nominations for one elected board officer and one appointed board officer will go out on Monday, July 21. Nominees, proposers and seconders must all be current voting (financial) members of Water New Zealand and nominations will close on Sunday, August 10 at 4pm.

Nomination forms and voting papers will be sent to all financial members.

The new board members will be announced at the AGM at 4:00pm on Monday, September 29 at the Te Pae Conference Centre, Christchurch. Members will also be able to join online and a link will be made available closer to the time.

BAU means busy as usual on the reform legislation front

This year many of us in the water sector returned from summer breaks only to dive straight into the details of the massive Local Government (Water Services) Bill – the legislation underpinning technical details of the Government’s Local Water Done Well. We’re expecting the report back from the Select Committee as this publication goes to print and that’s when we’ll know how much influence our 70-page submission has had on helping to ensure a workable outcome for the sector.

But we haven’t stopped there. So far this year, with input from our membership, we’ve consulted and submitted on:

• Options for future for work based learning;

• Economic regulation of water services –Information Disclosure;

• Proposed wastewater environmental performance standards;

• NEMA future emergency management discussion document;

• MfE waste legislation amendments;

• Public works (Critical Infrastructure) Amendment Bill;

• Proposed changes to drinking water acceptable solutions;

• Building and Construction (small stand-alone dwellings) ‘granny flats’.

Now we’re working on the proposals to change and inform development of National Direction under the RMA.

To keep our members and the wider sector up-to-date, we’ve also been running webinars on many of our other major challenges including valuing the benefits of water conservation, asset data standards and beneficial use of biosolids and other organic material on land.

If you’ve missed any of our webinars or want to find out more about our submissions you can find details in the resources area of our website www.waternz.org.nz and subscribe to our fortnightly Pipeline e-newsletter.

How we are transforming our water sector

Water New Zealand chief executive Gillian Blythe joins Jessica Bohorquez on “Our Water Connection”, a South Australian based podcast, to discuss the ambitious water reforms taking place across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Tune in to explore how drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater are managed, what’s driving these reforms, and how Māori water rights are being integrated into governance and decision-making. Find it at youtube.com/watch?v=mUsujlVv4Ho

E P I S O D E 3 1

Many suppliers and schools struggle with unsafe water

The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai recently released its two key documents on the quality of drinking water and state of our national water infrastructure.

The Drinking Water Regulation Report 2024 and Network Environmental Performance Report 2023/24 together highlight overall performance and the challenges faced by our drinking water and wastewater networks. They show the poor understanding many council suppliers have of their water networks, and the challenges facing many smaller, rural communities.

However, at the end of last year 119,000 more people were receiving publicly supplied water with critical safety barriers compared to the previous year. Nearly four million New Zealanders now receive water with treatment barriers that remove harmful contaminants.

Water New Zealand says this is a step in the right direction though it is concerning that many smaller suppliers still struggle to meet quality and safety requirements.

“This is a good trend and is a result of the regulator working with suppliers to lift performance, says Water New Zealand chief executive Gillian Blythe.

The report says that approximately 289,000 New Zealanders continue to be served by public suppliers that are lacking in at least one critical barrier.

"It is also concerning that some suppliers are still finding E-coli in their drinking water despite treatment barriers.

“This is an ongoing risk to public health.

“We know that some smaller suppliers

continue to struggle to meet the drinking water safety requirements and that there continues to be a need to lift capability and capacity across the sector.”

The drinking water report found that 20 council supplies serving 7,000 people have had long term advisories such as boil-water notices in place for three or more years.

“These long term advisories often reflect challenges around funding, technical capacity limitations and governance issues,” says Gillian.

“That’s why we note Local Government Minister Simon Watts is urging councils, through the government’s Local Water Done Well reforms, to create larger regional water groupings that can secure access to better financing and workforce capability.

“Larger regional entities can provide the economies of scale, affordability, better lending rates, and the level of skilled workforce required to ensure safe drinking water.

“It’s vital that, along with better infrastructure, we also have the framework and capacity to support a properly skilled and qualified workforce, that will help improve and ensure the ongoing quality and safety of drinking water.”

Report reveals water unsafe to drink at many schools

The report revealed that out of 418 schools that supply their own drinking water, 71 schools were found to have had E.coli in their water supply and 24 schools were found to have had repeated recurrences.

Water New Zealand says that children, their

teachers and school support staff must be able to drink school supplied water without the risk of serious illness.

More than half of self supplying schools don’t have an identified plan to meet compliance requirements.

“It’s clear that many rural schools have not had the training and support to manage their water supplies, says Gillian.

She says this has been an ongoing issue that is now recognised by the Ministry of Education and is in the process of being addressed.

“The Ministry of Education has been working with us to ensure that staff and trustees understand their obligations and have the skills required to provide safe drinking water.

“As a result, principals and trustees are now being encouraged to upskill through Water New Zealand training material such as digital badges, particularly aimed at rural schools.”

Schools are often used as community hubs or evacuation centres in emergencies.

“Ensuring schools are well equipped to supply safe water is crucial to minimise public health risk during an emergency.”

courses - August

1 August - 24 October 2025

This forward-thinking course empowers water management professionals with the skills to design and implement nature-based solutions for stormwater challenges unique to Aotearoa New Zealand Led by Sue Ira and Andrés Roa

Understanding chemical risk assessment isn' t just for toxicologists anymore, it 's becoming an essential skill for everyone working in water and food safety Water New Zealand’s technical leaddrinking water quality, Belinda Cridge, will be presenting at this course

2025 photo competition winner

A huge thank you to everyone who entered this year’s Photo Competition, We were blown away by the creativity, passion, and powerful storytelling behind each image.

Congratulations to our overall winner Aaron Green, from Gore District Council, for his winning photo titled, “Gore WWTP 2 – Sunny winter’s day overlooking the Gore WWTP oxidation ponds”.

Water New Zealand’s Backflow Group

Drinking Water Protection Conference 2025

27 - 28 August 2025 |Chateau on the Park, Ōtautahi Christchurch

Protecting the nation’s health, keeping our water safe

Sharpen Your Skills. Strengthen Our Supply.

Hands-On Backflow Training.

Backflow prevention is a critical line of defence in protecting Aotear New Zealand’s drinking water. At this year’s conference, join industry expert Jon Lewis for a practical, in-depth training session designed to build confidence, capability, and compliance. This session is ideal for those holding NZQA Unit Standards 23847 & 23848.

Best practices for installation – what good looks like vs common pitfalls

Maintenance breakdown and key considerations

How to correctly complete test certificates

Updates on current industry standards and knowledge

Whether you're refreshing your skills or looking to level up, this session is a must-attend for anyone working in backflow prevention, compliance and installation.

OUTLASTING CORROSION: WHY EPOXY ISN’T THE ANSWER

For over a century, reinforced concrete has been the foundation of critical infrastructure - strong, reliable, and widely used around the world. But in wastewater environments, reinforced concrete faces one of its most aggressive threats: biogenic corrosion.

Biogenic corrosion occurs when hydrogen sulphide gas (H2S), present in wastewater, is converted by bacteria into sulphuric acid on concrete surfaces. That acid eats away at the concrete, often rapidly. In some cases, up to 25mm of concrete can be lost each year.

Over time, industry awareness of biogenic corrosion has grown. Since the 1980s, designers have increasingly specified protective coatings for new and existing assets. Epoxy coatings have been a popular choice, known for their chemical resistance and strength; but they're not without issues.

In fact, epoxy failures have been well documented, both in New Zealand and internationally.

“We’ve seen structures where epoxy coatings failed within a year of application,” says Mark Kurtovich, Contech’s Business Development Manager. “Others lasted longer, but the story often ends the same way - expensive remediation, asset downtime, and disappointed clients.”

The problem lies in the real-world performance of epoxies in biogenic environments. Epoxy coatings are not completely impermeable. Moisture and corrosive gases like H₂S and CO₂ can pass through over time, breaking down the bond

between the coating and the concrete. Temperature swings and structural movement can cause cracks, which become entry points for bacteria and acid. Some bacteria can even metabolise additives in epoxy, causing blistering and softening.

And while epoxy coatings might seem like a low-cost option up front, they can become extremely costly if they fail. One example in New Zealand saw an epoxy system fail to protect key wastewater infrastructure, requiring over $1 million in repairs.

A DIFFERENT APPROACH: LONG-TERM PROTECTION WITH CALCIUM ALUMINATE

Since 2002, Contech has offered a different solution: SewperCoat®, a 100% calcium aluminate mortar designed specifically to protect concrete from biogenic corrosion. Applied at thicknesses between 12 and 50mm, it’s suitable for a range of remediation scenarios and can be used on damp surfaces – it can even be applied to structures while they’re still in service, reducing downtime and maintenance costs. SewperCoat hardens within hours and can be ready for exposure to wastewater within two hours.

“With over 150 installations across New Zealand - including pump stations, trunk sewers and manholes - SewperCoat has shown its durability and performance under some of the toughest conditions,” says Mark.

This sludge thickener tank had an epoxy coating applied which is now blistering and peeling due to biogenic corrosion.

Previously-damaged tanks after epoxy coatings were removed and the surface repaired with SewperCoat.

“If we know biogenic corrosion is likely, it makes sense to protect the structure up front,” says Mark. “We’ve seen too many cases where short-term thinking has led to long-term costs. With calcium aluminate, we have a proven, costeffective alternative that performs over time.”

To protect new infrastructure from day one, Imerys has developed Sewper Liner® using the same proven calcium aluminate technology. Sewper Liner is applied in thinner layers (typically 6mm) and doesn’t require the extensive surface preparation or strict environmental controls that epoxy needs. It can even be applied in the factory before precast elements are delivered to site.

Independent testing by the Fraunhofer Institute has shown that both SewperCoat and Sewper Liner deliver eight times the resistance to biogenic corrosion compared to ordinary OPC mortars.

As wastewater infrastructure continues to age, and councils seek smarter, more sustainable solutions, the conversation is shifting – from reactive fixes to proactive protection. It’s no longer just about repairing damage, but about building resilience from the start.

For more information or expert advice on your concrete projects visit Contech.co.nz

Another inspiring and energising Stormwater Conference & Expo

It was great to see so many committed and enthusiastic stormwater professionals in Rotorua last month – these photos give a glimpse into the event.

Over two and a half days, more than 500 delegates were spoilt for choice with keynote and technical presentations, workshops, around 50 expo stands, as well as plenty of networking opportunities and celebrating excellence, innovation and collaboration.

Sessions included future-focused thinking, and everything from wetland restoration and equity in stormwater outcomes to digital tools, rainfall rhythms, climate resilience, embedding te ao Māori, water sensitive urban design, and much more.

Again, we could not have had such a successful conference without the hard work of the Stormwater Group committee and the support of our partners and sponsors. Thank you to our premier partner Stormwater360; our conference partners, Dutton Stormwater and Prime Fluid Management; the conference dinner sponsor, Stantec; our coffee sponsor, Tuflow; and the chillout zone sponsor, Neura.

Our thanks also to our award sponsors, Morphum, Stormwater360, Aurecon, and Beca.

Gillian Blythe, chief executive

South Dunedin adaptation: shaping climate response

In a keynote address, the programme manager for South Dunedin Future, Jonathan Rowe, provided an update of the joint initiative between the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Regional Council to develop a climate change adaptation plan for the low lying and flood affected South Dunedin region.

South Dunedin joins the peninsula with the mainland, he explained to delegates. It’s an enormously modified area with reclaimed land, flat marshy wetlands with much below sea level, an effective basin with no outflow for water.

It was the 2015 flood event that sparked the programme South Dunedin Future. There were a lot of lessons learned which made more recent flood events not as bad. But the bad news, he pointed out, is that we’re going to get more water.

The latest science indicates that by the end of the century, all of South Dunedin will be below sea level.

“You’ll have ground water pooling at surface level, so essentially saturated land with all of the implications for underground structure, horizontal infrastructure, buildings, people.”

So South Dunedin Future is about how to tackle this.

He told the audience that the technology exists to manage it.

“We could build lots of pumps and pipes and water suppression systems, dykes and so on but the question is, should we? And what are the various trade-offs?”

The programme is about being a vehicle for having that discussion with policymakers, planners, the community and ultimately with decision-makers and funders.

It involves a partnership – the two councils, the local Te Rūnaka 0 Ōtākou, and the South Dunedin community are core partners, then there’s an enormous amount of technical policy with partners such as Otago University and commercial partners.

The spectrum, he said, ranges from fight to flight.

“We can fight the water and we can manage it, we can build pumps, pipes, sea walls…we can create spaces where water can go and create parks, wetlands, water detention basins, streams, daylighting. Or we could just move people out of harm’s way.”

So what are the options, the trade-offs, and what does that look like?

He said there was a remarkably muted response to the risk assessment report – something that he admitted he’d been nerve-wracked about.

“There’s a lot of talk in the local government space about the Kāpiti Coast example where they tried to put hazard lines and erosion lines on maps and ended up in court for the thick end of the decade.

Perhaps a reason is that low lying, flood issues in South Dunedin aren’t new so there is a very wide anecdotal knowledge and understanding of that.

“In some sense, it might just be that we’ve quantified a problem that people already knew was there.”

The second report, around implications of future scenarios – flight or fight or somewhere down the middle – did get more reaction.

The report listed six potential futures as well as the status quo, which came out as delivering the worst overall outcomes – more flooding, more losses, decrease in property values and a state of urban decay. In a previous edition of Water (issue 239), we looked at the seven potential futures.

In a nutshell, the options cover the range from, at one end, an engineering-heavy approach, to a mix of infrastructure, naturebased solutions and then managed retreat through to moving people and assets out of the way.

So what’s next?

Following consultation, the next job is to narrow the list of seven to around two or three options pointing to some sort of preferred pathway.

“It might be that on balance we think an infrastructure heavy approach is appropriate for the first 25 years.

“So you start planning for land use changes now that might not take effect for 25 years. For example, green nature-based solutions and start pulling people out of the highest risk areas, and eventually you’ve transitioned to a point where either everyone has retreated from lowest lying land, or you’ve raised the land, or transitioned a different land use.”

Jonathan said there is some catching up to do. There’s a need for more robust data and information along with standardisation of practice and legislation, and an end to political flip-flopping.

“These issues transcend each political cycle, so it doesn’t really matter what the decision is; what’s more important is that it holds, and then you might need central government support for speed and scale.

“You need to keep the lights on for 50 years so you can’t have any of these dominoes falling around insurance or finance.

“We need to figure out a way, not just to enable growth, but how do you enable degrowth where you might be servicing a community of 5000 people today, but in 20 years’ time you’re going to be servicing half that number.

“What size pipe do you put in the ground now and how do you make the economics of that stack up?”

Ultimately, the plan is to have an adaptation master plan for South Dunedin by the end of next year that will map out what changes need to occur, when and where, over different periods.

Time to start doing the do

In the closing keynote address, Local Government Minister Simon Watts told delegates at the Stormwater Conference that it’s time to stop talking and start doing the doing.

He acknowledged the work and input from the water sector in helping to improve the Local Government Water Services Bill, saying much of the feedback around the need for more consistency and certainty was “loud and clear”. As a result, the bill contains several changes to support the performance of the stormwater network particularly around the need for greater planning, regulation and tools.

Councils have been in the thick of developing their water service delivery plans. But Simon said we now need to move forward from planning and start hitting the ground running: We need to see infrastructure contracts signed and the money going out the door to contractors.

“Activity needs to pick up and we need to get away from a lot of talking and start doing a bit of do.”

He emphasised the need to retain our bright young people and, if we don’t get a pipeline of infrastructure and work underway, then the work will go somewhere else in Southeast Asia.

Aotearoa New Zealand is dealing with the impacts of climate change and increasing severe weather. Stormwater is front and centre, and councils are going to have to shift their focus towards mitigating and planning for the challenges of increased rainfall and storms.

Cyclone Gabrielle and Cyclone Tam have shown the vulnerability to our essential infrastructure, supply chains, and communities.

The minister told the conference that councils have the tools and have been provided with financially sustainable options, through the new water services delivery models, to meet their challenges. This includes the flexibility to consider how they want to provide stormwater services as part of their future water services delivery arrangements.

Whether stormwater stays in the council or goes to the new entity is a decision for councils and communities and there will be different models but that, he said, was a decision for communities and councils.

Keynote speaker, Local Government Minister Simon Watts addresses the conference.

Insurance Council urges tough calls to prevent uninsurable future

Insurance Council CEO Kris Faafoi put New Zealand Inc and our financial risks in perspective when he shared some stark numbers around the fiscal risk we face from climate change and extreme weather.

The insurance sector, he said, aims to become more proactive in protecting communities and increasing resilience while having the difficult conversations that we must have in order to reduce risk.

Conservatively, he said, insurance operators in Aotearoa New Zealand protect around $2 trillion worth of assets.

In 2023, insurers paid out $3.8 billion in settlements for just two events around the Auckland anniversary weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. Last year, there were $3.6 billion of claims and settlements.

To put that in perspective, he outlined the huge jump in claims in the past two years: Until 2023, the industry paid out between $250 and $350 million in settlement claims, inflation adjusted, per year for weather events. Then came along 2023 and that figure shot up to close to $4 billion in the space of a month.

“So as you can imagine, that was a shock to not just our members, but to their reinsurers based predominantly in Europe,” he said.“We needed to give them confidence that we are still a good place to send their reinsurance.

“So our story about what New Zealand is doing to reduce risk around the country, not just from flood activity, but also seismic activity, is really important for them to continue to have that confidence in our market.”

As part of that story, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts joined an insurance industry delegation to the UK explaining the adaptation framework under development and reassure them that Aotearoa New Zealand was safe for reinsurance.

Back here, Chris Faafoi stressed the importance of the conversations around flood mitigation work and ensuring that communities are protected, so that insurance can be affordable and available in the future.

“Extreme events seem to be happening more often and affecting a wider range of people and yes, from an insurance perspective, we want

to make sure our product is still available, but also in the best interests of New Zealand long-term”

He told the audience that the Insurance Council has been working with regulators, as well as submitting on the RMA reforms to try to put an end to building in stupid places.

The audience was shown a video taken at a recent insurance council conference where President Amanda Whiting responded to the question about what it would take to stop houses being built on floodplains?

“The simplest answer, and this is I think where we will be heading is that insurance won’t be available.

“And I think that is the first place that we could start as an industry because, if you think about it, there’s not someone already there. We just need to get in really early before development actually starts and make very public statements that this is not an insurable piece of land if you build.”

Kris says the insurance sector doesn’t want to be the bad guy but if it has to happen, “then we’ll be part of that conversation”.

The private sector keeps paying out for what is happening and the future insurability is going to be a real challenge if we don’t actually do something.

However, he pointed out that the insurance industry is happy with the current progress being made around the proposed adaptation framework and said that the industry is working with the government behind the scenes.

“And I think the first initial steps are the important steps in order for all the stakeholders that are involved in this – whether it be insurers, local government, central government, banks, communities, infrastructure providers – to understand the big challenges and then actually start eating parts of the elephant a bit at a time.”

Implementing Local Water Done Well what you need to know

Preconference symposium, Monday 29 September 2025

Are you a Council CEO or chief financial officer? Are you a potential director of a Water Services CCO? Or do you have a role in the water supply chain?

If so, this is a must-attend event

We’ll be shining a light on the decisions and issues that will need to be addressed in the implementation phase.

Key topics

Process of Water Services Delivery Plan reviews and acceptance

The new governance path

• competency-based appointments

• what are the roles and lines of responsibility within the organisations?

• how will you demonstrate transparency and accountability to councils, regulators and the public?

Good governance, and regulatory scrutiny

Regulatory scrutiny

What does ring-fencing mean for the internal business unit and the rest of council? Who signs off Information Disclosure? Ensuring compliance with Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules and what is the regional council role under Local Water done Well?

Building the Council Controlled Organisation – legal, financing, and funding

Establishing financing lines – Onboarding a CCO within LGFA, infrastructure funding and finance

Modelling for revenue sufficiency

Building the CCO – IT and Asset Management

Sharing lived experiences as from Urban Utilities, Queensland

• early lessons from establishment and implementation

Christchurch Ōtautahi 29 September – 3 October 2025

Ensuring a good relationship between WSOs and shareholding councils

• What partnership principles are needed?

Ring-fenced business unit

• Is it business as usual?

• What new activities do I need to do?

Moving towards lifting capability and increasing investment

Workforce – Organisation build – staff transfer and recruitment, continuing role for territorial authorities in water, critical people/teams for Day One, building a new and united culture

Customer and stakeholder engagement

Unlocking growth: Overcoming stormwater barriers to intensification

Josh Hodson and Wouter Woortman of Tonkin+Taylor, and Neil Blazey from Tauranga City Council give a report on the Stormwater Conference workshop session that discussed the challenges and possible solutions to stormwater discharge as a result of the intensification of housing.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the rate of population growth in many of our main cities, and with that growth comes a rising demand for housing.

With recent legislation like the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) and the government’s ‘Going for Housing Growth’ programme, many tier 1 and tier 2 local authorities are increasingly beginning to focus on the provision of new housing within existing urban areas (i.e. intensification) as opposed to a predominant focus on greenfield development.

While intensification helps address the housing shortage, it also creates stormwater challenges. Many older neighbourhoods already struggle with flooding due to a combination of undersized pipe networks, a knowledge gap around flood extents, historical infill development and the impacts of climate change.

Intensification is typically associated with the creation of new impervious areas, which reduces the land’s ability to absorb rainwater, increasing runoff and the risk of flooding. Intensification can also contribute to increased flood risks because more properties and people become exposed to existing flood hazards.

Other effects from urban stormwater discharges include degradation of stream health and water quality.

To explore these issues, a group of about 30 experts from councils and consulting firms gathered at the Stormwater Conference as part of a workshop session. They discussed how to support housing growth while managing stormwater effectively. The workshop focused on technical solutions, planning rules, funding options, and maintenance strategies.

Council-led vs developer-led approaches

There are a variety of approaches that can be taken to manage stormwater effects from intensification, with various advantages and trade-offs.

Traditionally, councils have managed stormwater effects from intensification by upgrading public infrastructure. This has typically been in the form of installing larger or more stormwater pipes. It could also include upgrading roads or other areas of publicly owned land to act as overland flowpaths.

These approaches are straightforward in that the infrastructure’s ownership and maintenance responsibilities clearly sit with local authorities. It is also an opportunity to integrate water quality treatment and recreational spaces while addressing flood risk.

However, they are expensive, disruptive, and limited by the availability of public land. They also carry the risk of simply moving flooding problems further downstream.

Furthermore, there is uncertainty as to where and when intensification will happen. This may lead to investment in some areas not being utilised, whereas other areas may not be able to intensify until funding is found for these projects.

An alternative approach is to have developers manage stormwater on their own sites.

One method of onsite management is the provision of stormwater devices that provide stormwater detention (temporary storage of additional runoff). This has the advantage that it can be implemented on a site-by-site basis where and when it is needed and can reduce the need for expensive, centralised downstream solutions.

When developers are responsible for directly funding and constructing stormwater mitigation onsite, it can incentivise more innovative development approaches to limit stormwater effects.

However, on-site detention devices are typically not able to provide sufficient mitigation on their own in really large storm events and there are some barriers which have limited their uptake. Above-ground devices take up valuable space on site, and commonly-owned devices present ownership challenges.

There is also a risk that they may not function as intended during large storm events, causing cumulative effects, and they require ongoing maintenance and compliance monitoring, creating additional resource demands for local authorities.

Another strategy is source control, which can include using ‘water sensitive’ alternatives to impervious surfaces such as pervious paving/ gobi blocks for driveways and green roofs for large roof areas or limiting building/site coverage through planning rules. This approach has the advantage of limiting the creation of effects that then need to be managed through onsite detention or downstream conveyance upgrades.

Non-structural approaches, such as reducing the impervious area, also don’t have a capital cost or ongoing maintenance requirements and an increase in green space and urban trees has multiple environmental and human health benefits.

The impacts of source control, on the other hand, are diffuse and harder to quantify compared to engineered solutions. Implementation requires early-stage planning as water-sensitive alternatives are difficult to retrofit. It needs regulation, clear incentives and education to change developer and homeowner behaviour.

Workshop outputs

As this high-level review of the problem shows, there is no simple solution that doesn’t require trade-offs. Rather, we are likely going to need a suite of different approaches, both structural and non-structural, with input from a variety of stakeholders.

During the conference workshop, participants were divided into five groups to brainstorm innovative ways to support new housing within existing urban areas while still achieving positive stormwater outcomes. To guide the discussion, a series of key questions were posed, covering technical solutions, planning and policy frameworks, funding strategies, and maintenance and compliance.

As we got the groups to report back at the end of the workshop session it was clear that there were some common themes in the proposed approaches.

There was a clear consensus around the idea of ‘purposeful intensification’ rather than allowing intensification everywhere.

Some groups proposed that intensification be targeted around urban nodes and public transport hubs where the ratepayer base can justify spending on large, centralised upgrades and treatment devices. This can also limit the number of cars associated with new development, which can also influence water quality outcomes.

Other groups highlighted the need to intensify where centralised upgrades are the most viable and focus on areas that are quick wins as proof of concept.

Almost all participants thought we should avoid areas of existing flood risk if it cannot be mitigated, but that we should also see intensification as an opportunity for urban regeneration.

In terms of the mitigation approaches that the groups proposed to adopt, most opted for a combination of onsite/distributed and offsite/centralised approaches.

One group proposed that developers should be responsible for targeting small events on site, while the council should be responsible for managing flood risk in larger events with centralised upgrades. Most groups highlighted that we need to incentivise or regulate to increase the uptake of more onsite devices like pervious paving and green roofs.

On the topic of funding approaches, most groups proposed additional funding mechanisms that had built-in incentives for good stormwater and economic outcomes. Ideas included development contributions being discounted for positive outcomes, subsidies for developers, and putting more of a price on stormwater, either through impervious area fees or rebates for water reuse.

For changes to planning and policy, almost all groups agreed that

larger-scale intensification that has been master planned (as opposed to small scale ad-hoc intensification) would lead to better outcomes and that the involvement of a variety of stakeholders to develop that community vision should be a key part of the process.

Most groups thought a mix of regulation and incentives was the way to achieve behaviour change, but that rules around things like hydraulic neutrality must be clear. Ideas for additional regulation, included things like green area ratios or stricter maximum impervious area/site coverage rules.

Unsurprisingly, maintenance was raised as a barrier to some of these more innovative approaches, but some groups also highlighted that it’s not an insurmountable one, as shown by programmes like those required for septic tanks. In terms of ensuring compliance, the use of technology like satellite imagery was discussed as a potential option and is currently used in Germany for compliance monitoring for their impervious area rules.

This workshop highlighted that this is a very complex issue, and while there is no one-size-fits-all solution, there are viable ways of navigating the various trade-offs involved to achieve good stormwater outcomes.

For the foreseeable future, there will be pressure to provide more housing in our larger urban centres, and the onus will be on stormwater professionals to find ways of overcoming the stormwater barriers to intensification to prevent repeating historical patterns of urban sprawl.

A combination of different management approaches, tailored to local conditions and supported by integrated urban planning and collaboration, will be needed to ensure that our cities can grow in a way that is both liveable and resilient.

Restoring waterways through western science and mātauranga Māori – film and panel discussion

A short video showcasing how local iwi, landowners, and Auckland Council have been working successfully to restore one of the country’s most damaged waterways was launched to an audience of water professionals on the closing day of the Water New Zealand Stormwater Conference and Expo 2025.

The Hōteo Sediment Reduction Project focused on the work to reduce erosion and restore biodiversity in the Hōteo River catchment as part of an ambitious project to restore the health of the Kaipara harbour, Produced by Water New Zealand and Auckland Council, the film highlighted the partnership between three iwi (Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara, Te Uri o Hau, and Ngāti Manuhiri) along with the council and landowners, through a unique integration of western science and matauranga Māori.

Based on GEMS (Geomorphically Effective Management Solutions), the project uses

an internationally established concept that responds to the natural environment using different mitigations and working with the natural processes of the waterway rather than trying to control it.

Following the screening, members of

NZ Diploma in Infrastructure Asset Management

Build on your knowledge and skills to create asset, risk and lifecycle management plans to enhance outcomes for infrastructure organisations and projects. Skill-up with New Zealand’s leading provider of infrastructure industry training.

the project team spoke as part of a panel discussion delving into the challenges and wider benefits of working in collaboration with communities, landowners and iwi Māori to restore our water environment.

The Hōteo Sediment Reduction Project panel.

Auckland flood project a stormwater winner

A project that’s transforming how Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland deals with flooding took home one of the top awards at this year’s Water New Zealand Stormwater Conference and Expo Gala. The Ports of Auckland Outfall Project was named Stormwater Project of the Year, a big win for the team behind it.

The project, a collaboration between Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters, McConnell Dowell, and GHD, tackled a serious problem: regular flooding in Auckland’s Eastern CBD and Stanley Street area. This flooding threatened key infrastructure assets like Britomart Station, Spark Arena, and the Ports of Auckland.

The project involved constructing a new stormwater pipeline across Quay Street and under the Ports of Auckland to improve capacity and help prevent flooding. New infrastructure had been built upstream in the network, so the new pipe would also provide an alternative outfall for these flows. Once the new outfall was operational, the team could assess and repair the ageing existing stormwater culvert.

The design challenge was to install a new pipeline in a dense

urban environment, adjacent to a major arterial access road, the main trunk rail line, and across the Port’s rail lines and high-risk operational areas. It was also critical that disruption to the multiple stakeholders involved, including mana whenua landowners, local businesses and the port, could be minimised.

The logical choice was tunnelling, but investigations identified challenging ground conditions and a high-water table. The area was reclaimed land, including low-strength hydraulic fill and the remains of old basalt sea walls, making it a risk to tunnel through.

To solve it, the team pulled off a New Zealand first. They used a trenchless underground tunnelling technique combined with a deep ‘inverted siphon’ to build a new stormwater outfall.

GHD’s water engineer, Simon Wang, says the team’s innovative

The design challenge was to install a new pipeline in a dense urban environment, adjacent to a major arterial, the main trunk rail line, and across the Port’s rail lines and high-risk operational areas.

The climate change impact of flooding to the Auckland region has caused unprecedented disruption.

design made it possible to use a slurry tunnel boring machine (TBM) to tunnel along a deeper alignment, up to 20 metres below ground, safely beneath existing utilities and challenging ground conditions. To support the TBM, two shafts were designed with a minimal footprint, reducing disruption while still meeting technical needs.

The inlet shaft was designed to fit within the small triangle of land available (belonging to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei), bordered by Quay Street, the North Island Main Trunk Rail Line and a service station. This clever configuration kept traffic management to a minimum, with a simple shoulder closure, rather than a lane closure along Quay Street, a busy arterial access road.

The piled temporary outlet shaft was also designed to save space, and the TBM was dismantled into two sections so it could be lifted out of the shaft after tunnelling. Both shafts were secant piled to provide an effective seal from groundwater and the adjacent harbour, using overlapping concrete piles drilled side by side to form a continuous, watertight wall.

The pipeline alignment was difficult, but the new culvert was installed with a precise 0.5 percent slope.

In addition to the tunnelled section that connected the two shafts, there was a 25-metre-long, five-metre-deep trenched section to connect the outlet shaft with the outfall and the Waitematā Harbour.

This system runs deep below Quay Street and through the Port area, and the twin pipes (new and existing) now carry stormwater safely into the harbour.

Working under active train lines, historic sea walls, and a live port environment was no easy feat. But with close cooperation from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and local businesses, the team made it happen without major disruption.

The team also faced unforeseen challenges: adverse weather conditions, flooding over Auckland Anniversary Weekend and

during Cyclone Gabrielle, as well as the collapse of the Orakei Sewer Main. The damaged sewer pipeline released wastewater into the stormwater system and the culvert where the team were working. The wastewater posed a significant health and safety risk to the workers connecting to the existing network, but the risk was well managed with immunisations, specialised PPE, and hygiene stations.

“Collaboration and transparent communication is how the ECI team came up with such clever solutions to the project’s challenges – and it played a big part in its success,” says Simon. “Getting stakeholders involved early on also helped us spot risks early, plan more efficiently and keep disruption to a minimum.”

Deep, large diameter inverted siphon solutions are often used overseas but are not very common here. With the inverted siphon – the largest of its kind constructed in the southern hemisphere – the project team developed an innovative way to avoid the challenges that the shallower proposed alignment presented.

“I want to congratulate everyone in the team on this welldeserved award,” says Craig McIlroy, Auckland Council’s general manager healthy waters & flood resilience.

“As we have seen through various extreme rain events, the climate change impact of flooding to the Auckland region has caused unprecedented disruption. The dedication and mahi that went into the project shows the strength of their collaborative approach in preparing for the future.”

Combining the deep culvert alignment with the inverted siphon was an ingenious way to solve the project’s many risks.

The council says this isn’t just a win for the project team, it’s a big step forward for Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland: The new outfall significantly reduces the risk of flooding downtown, making the city more resilient as extreme weather events become more common. It also sets the stage for future growth, capping off nearly two decades of careful planning.

Content provided by Auckland Council and GHD

Working under active train lines, historic sea walls, and a live port environment was no easy feat.

Congratulations to the 2025 award winners

Stormwater Innovation of the Year Award, sponsored by Morphum Environmental, was won by Watersmart NZ for ‘Porous Lane – A sustainable new standard in permeable paving’. Claudia Clark accepted the trophy on behalf of Watersmart.

The Stormwater Presentation of the Year, sponsored by Water New Zealand, went to ‘Fitting human stories into a matric: Auckland flood recovery’ by  Thomas

Tauranga City Council Emergency Management won a merit award in the Stormwater Innovation of the Year, sponsored by Morphum Environmental, for its virtual reality/extended reality flood module: enhancing community engagement in flood preparedness. Neil Blazey accepted the award on behalf of the council.

The winning Stormwater Paper of the Year, sponsored by Water New Zealand, was ‘Multi-substrate green roof systems for urban stormwater management in the Auckland region’, by Aung Naing Soe (pictured), Asaad Shamseldin, Kilisimasi Latu, Conrad Zorn, S. Dong, and Z Avery of University of Auckland; Robyn Simcock of Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research; and Rachel Devine of Auckland Council.

Nikkel of WSP and Gina Nicholas of Woods.

The Beca Young Stormwater Professional of the Year is Sarah Nolan from Auckland Council.

The Aurecon Stormwater Professional of the Year is Sue Ira of Koru Environmental. Read her profile on page 28.

The Stormwater Project of the Year Award , sponsored by Stormwater360, went to the team at McConnell Dowell for the Ports of Auckland Stormwater Upgrade. Read about the project on page 22. From left to right: Gavin Mecchia, Daenah Costales, Dean Carter, Grant Maclean.

Raingardens for high rainfall areas, by Beca and Buller District Council, won the Water New Zealand Stormwater Poster of the Year. Pictured are Ben Melvin and Emma Content of Beca.

Integrated Ultrasonic Water Meters

Changing the course: Rethinking stormwater

A specialist in water sensitive design and the economic valuation of naturebased solutions, Sue is quietly reshaping the way Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and other towns and cities think about their stormwater solutions, showing that green practices, at a similar cost or with a little more spend, can provide far wider benefits to communities than conventional practices.

Uncertain what to study when she enrolled at the University of Cape Town back in 1992, Sue was advised to study subjects she enjoyed so, being from a family of geographers, it was unsurprising she chose to study environmental and geographical science, with a second major in archeology.

“I followed this with a master’s degree, where I analysed sediment cores from sand dunes to reconstruct past climates and project future climate patterns in arid regions. I spent about two years based in the Kalahari Desert, so coming here to New Zealand, which has so much water, was quite the contrast.”

While studying for her master’s, Sue had a student job which entailed her helping engineers understand the technical ins and outs of environmental impact assessment, and this is where she discovered a love of teaching.

These days she indulges this love by working with schools, helping develop their environmental programmes and clubs.

“I’m quietly proud of this work. I give

Sue Ira had her years of hard work and dedication to the water industry recognised when she was named as Stormwater Professional of the Year at the recent Stormwater Conference. When Mary Searle Bell asked Sue about her career, she was quick to downplay it, professing she didn’t have much to say. Fortunately for Water, and more importantly for the industry and wider community, her wealth of work does the talking for her.

lessons on stormwater management to classes of all years, from Year 1 to Year 13. It’s so cool.

“I also think it is one of the best ways to transform how people think about the environment; by learning about it from their children. I do hands-on experiments with the kids so they can really see how stormwater impacts the environment – for instance, things involving buckets of dirt with oils and rubbish mixed with the water, and then trying to clean the water.

“The kids soon see how hard it is. They can really see the problem, and then they go home and tell their parents all about it.”

In 1998, Sue got her first full-time job, joining a large engineering firm in Cape Town, where she worked on catchment management strategies for urban streams.

“I did a lot of work with disadvantaged communities, stopping people who had virtually nothing from being flooded, and ensuring their streams were clean enough so they could be used for bathing or watering the community gardens.”

In 2003, Sue and her husband decided to “go to New Zealand and see what it’s like”.

She got a job as a technical officer with the Auckland Regional Council, where she did stormwater consenting and catchment planning. After two years she was promoted to the role of stormwater consents and compliance team manager.

In 2007 she decided to go it alone, setting up as Koru Environmental Consultants, doing work around catchment management

planning and life cycle costing for green practices.

“When I was with the council I got into water-sensitive design. Then, along with Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, I developed COSTnz, a tool to estimate the life cycle costs of various stormwater treatment devices. Using data collected from around the country, it would give construction costs when design details of a project were entered. We also developed maintenance protocols so long-term costs could be worked out.

“COSTnz is no longer around, but new iterations of the models have been developed and are in use .”

More recently, as part of the Building Better Homes, Towns & Cities National Science Challenge, Sue and her colleagues at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Batstone Associates, and NIWA undertook a 15-month project in 2017-18 investigating ways to enhance Aotearoa New Zealand’s water sensitive urban design capability. They looked at the barriers, such as cost, and ways to overcome them, and the wider benefits to communities of water sensitive design.

“We also have built a benefit assessment tool called ‘More Than Water’ that, at a glance, can tell you how much better your water sensitive project can be compared to taking a conventional approach.

“It’s a simple visual tool, which belies the massive process behind it. But it has people talking, they can see by spending a similar

amount or a little more, they can get all these extra benefits for their communities – not necessarily water benefits, but things like trees and green spaces, which still need to be considered.

“I really enjoyed working on this. I have a real passion for helping people look after the environment, to ensure the communities we’re working with are happier and healthier.”

An outcome from this is Sue has now started working on a Ph.D. Entitled “Beyond Water: A Holistic Decision Support Framework for Evaluating Nature-Based Urban Stormwater Solutions”. She expects to have it completed in three years.

“Although I only formally started this in June, I’ve really been working on it since 2007. But the reason for doing a Ph.D. is that things often get overlooked until a paper has been published about it. This will give the subject academic standing that people can rely on.”

Meanwhile, Sue will keep working closely with Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters team, and she says her research will feed

directly into her work with them.

“Until we can demonstrate the viability of water sensitive design in terms that align with business case frameworks, we’ll be struggling. Councils need to be able to support the decisions they make in a rigorous way.”

Sue’s dedication and passion for what she does is an inspiration to those who work with her. When nominating Sue for the Stormwater Professional of the Year,

Clare Feeney, director of Environmental Communications, writes, “It is no exaggeration to say that Sue has pioneered the use of lifecycle cost assessments and cost benefit analysis in the stormwater field in New Zealand… several of the practical tools she has developed are now standard practice in the industry toolbox.”

Nick Brown, head of intelligence, healthy waters & flood resilience at the Auckland Council, writes in support of Clare’s nomination: “Sue is one of those rare individuals whose skills span several scales; conceptual to detailed; central

government to contractors; individuals to groups; policy to programme and project; and multidisciplinary across science, engineering, ecology and economics. Her communication skills span a similar breadth.

“Sue is constantly refining her thinking, her research and her consulting work for the greater benefit of the environment, communities and the whole stormwater sector with its many participants and stakeholders.”

Sue says she found it amazing that someone thought she deserved the award enough to nominate her, and is quick to share her win with those she works with.

“As a sole trader, I know I couldn’t have done this on my own. I’ve been lucky to work with some brilliant people, and therefore this recognition is not just mine –it’s a testament to the power of collaboration.

“The success we create in stormwater is always greater than the sum of its parts. Every breakthrough, every challenge met, has come from working together.”

Steel storage tanks for speed and simplicity.

Steel tanks are a proven alternative to concrete for potable water and wastewater storage. They are quick and easy to erect, more cost effective, and have real design flexibility.

As the regional agent for Tank Connection – premium, bolted steel storage tanks and aluminium domes –we design solutions for even the largest applications.

A new chief for Watercare

As the water sector reshapes itself, the country’s biggest water provider has a new CEO to lead it as it transitions into an independent and fully regulated utility. Jamie Sinclair took the reins at Watercare in June and is very positive about the future of the organisation.

By Mary Searle Bell

In announcing the appointment, Watercare Board chair Geoff Hunt said they undertook a comprehensive market search to find a new CEO, but decided the ideal candidate was already within its own ranks: “While quality of the candidates was exceptionally high, Jamie Sinclair emerged as the standout choice.”

At the time, Jamie was deputy chief executive and has a history of senior roles in both Aotearoa New Zealand and the UK.

“Jamie brings extensive experience in accounting and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management, uniquely preparing him for this role. His broad understanding of the business and his exemplary leadership through the current major regulatory change and related financial separation process have demonstrated his exceptional capabilities.”

When, Water spoke to Jamie his enthusiasm for both Watercare and the sector shone.

“I’ve had an eclectic career, but the theme of it shows I’m open to change and embrace new experiences. My first task is always to get to grips with what’s important, and that’s always the people.

“It’s a big job, but I’m coming at it with openness and a learning mindset.”

Jamie describes himself as a “proud accountant”. His career started with a management studies degree, majoring in accounting, from the University of Waikato. From there, he says, he began working in the audit space with KPMG.

“I loved getting involved in business –finding out what makes it work and seeing how it ticks.”

After four years he headed to the UK on his OE and there his work moved into change process but still around finance.

“In the typical Kiwi way, I fell into a few big projects, where I managed to keep my head above water.”

After two and a half years, he returned to Aotearoa New Zealand and KPMG where he was “helping businesses understand the impacts of their decisions”.

However, he says he was missing the finance side of things, so when Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei approached him about a role, he leapt at the opportunity.

“I had very little exposure to te ao Māori or the Māori economy, but I was very curious. I ended up spending nearly seven years with the iwi and the experience was transformational, both personally and how I think about my work.

“I have a much greater appreciation of where New Zealand has come from.”

He spent the last three years of his time with the iwi as CEO of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust, representing 5500 tribal members and managing a $1.3 billion asset base, and says he loved it.

“It was a big family business, and I felt I could really do some good for people in that role.

“I was very proud to have played a part in Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei’s journey, but I needed a new challenge, and the iwi needed to go on a new path, led by one of their own.”

Jamie joined the team at Watercare as chief corporate services officer in late 2021, looking after the finance, people and culture, legal, and health and safety teams, something he describes as a great introduction to the organisation.

“The past three and a half years have gone by in a blink.”

Now in the CEO role, he says his limited experience in the water sector is not an issue, and in fact allows him to bring a fresh perspective to the organisation.

“Watercare has a huge amount of technical skill. I love being out with teams on site – it is very interesting. Our people are very passionate about what they’re doing, and I feed off that.

“I feel very privileged to be part of the sector.”

Jamie says he was hugely excited when the new water reform was put together, providing a solution to unlock more capital for necessary investment.

“It’s been hard work and very intense for us with our initial capital raise process, but the result is very positive for Auckland and our customers.”

Watercare became financially independent of the Auckland Council on July 1, and its business plan for the next 10 years, unveiled earlier in March, details a $13.8 billion investment in more than 1000 projects over that time.

About half of this will go to replacements and upgrades on the network, while the other half will be spent on expanding the network to accommodate expected population growth.

Jamie Sinclair: “I’ve had an eclectic career, but the theme of it shows I’m open to change and embrace new experiences."

“We’ve now got our own financial mandate and our own plan to get on and deliver what Auckland needs.”

Jamie is very aware that Watercare’s new financial independence will mean increased scrutiny and more focus on performance, but he says the organisation’s main priority remains delivering fresh drinking water to the city and safely and responsibly disposing of its wastewater.

“Lots of exciting things are happening; we have a fresh new board and a great team are starting to lay the groundwork to deliver on a large pipeline of work.

“Our annual capex spend has gone from $400 million to $1 billion in a short space of time, which means we need to look at how we do business with others and ourselves. We need to identify room for improvement and get closer to the industry and stakeholders – we need the right partners who share our vision.

“I am very aware that Watercare has an important role in the sector. Our size alone makes us a leader that others will look up to. And while we have the advantage of size and scale, we won’t pretend we know everything.

“Relationships are important – within the industry, with mana whenua, our partners and financiers.

“We have incredible skills in-house, but can’t deliver our projects by ourselves, and that’s where our partners will come in, so building relationships is vital.”

Jamie says he has concerns around skills in the sector – the sheer volume of work ahead needs people to help deliver it.

“The industry needs to stand up and demonstrate what an exciting and rewarding industry this is. Watercare will work with Water New Zealand and the government to advocate more for the sector and developing skills.

“We will also partner with overseas experts and get talent as needed. Hence, the importance of having a clear pipeline of work, so people and businesses have certainty to invest in New Zealand.”

Another big challenge Jamie sees is making the most of the vast quantities of data the sector has at its fingertips.

“The water industry is data heavy – we monitor all sorts of things and have all sorts of information to hand. How can

we turn this into a useful resource for customers and for network maintenance and upgrades?

“I want us to be a very smart utility. AI is going to be a big part of the future, but we can’t afford to lose our Kiwi ingenuity.”

Finally, there’s getting the balance between the environment and growth right.

“This is a challenge we see around the world. We don’t want it to be a blocker for growth, but need to recognise and manage our impact on the environment.

“We also have some significant strategic challenges. We need to identify Auckland’s next source of water. And we need to start looking at the future of our biosolids management – Puketutu Island still has capacity, but once it is filled, where will our biosolids go?”

These big questions, and the responsibility to deliver reliable services to Auckland, are what makes this role so interesting for Jamie: “It’s an incredible time for the sector and Watercare plays an important role.

“There’s lots to do but I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Tough outside. Smart inside.

AmaRex Pro

Our new submersible motor pump can be used more flexibly, is smart, cleans itself and saves energy at the same time. Curious? Find out more about the new AmaRex Pro.

Future scientist with her eye on water

Te Puiaki Kaipūtaiao Ānamata the Prime Minister’s Future Scientist is Rena Misra, a Year 13 student at Epsom Girls’ Grammar School in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Rena was awarded this prize for her research on removing pollutants from stormwater, using fungi to enhance the efficiency of filtration by plants.

Her project details how plants inoculated with vascular mycorrhizal fungi have an enhanced ability to take up copper, and reduce contamination in water. Rena’s system has the potential to be scaled up for use in water-treatment plants and in rural waterways where stormwater often isn’t treated.

Rena says she was inspired to pursue this project after she learned about the growing issue of stormwater runoff.

“With every rainfall and storm event, particles like copper make their way from car brakes and metal roofing and flow into our waterways, which is compromising the health of our aquatic ecosystems,” she explains.

Rena Misra

How could it be used?

Thinking of scaling up her project, Rena explains that there is scope for fungiinoculated plants to be placed on rafts, which float in wastewater treatment plants and rural waterways, where they would suck heavy metals like copper out of the water.

“It’s a self-sustaining system, so [the plants] can be taken out and replaced to filter contaminants from our ecosystem.”

While Rena focused on copper, she says that with further investigation, this system could be used to remove other heavy metals like zinc and organic pollutants like pesticides.

Rena wanted to create an affordable solution to combat this problem.

Using a test system growing salad plants hydroponically, and water contaminated with copper, Rena proved that when the fungi was applied to the plant’s roots, it greatly expanded the root surface area through the establishment of fungal threads called hyphae.

“This allowed the plants to absorb more nutrients to grow larger and stronger, but it also meant that they were able to uptake more copper to reduce this contamination significantly better than plants that weren’t inoculated with the fungi.”

Her experimental set-up

For her project, Rena learned how to set up hydroponic systems, how to monitor plant growth and nutrient levels, and how to perform a staining procedure to microscopically view the ectomycorrhizal fungi in her plant roots.

Rena says that one of the most challenging aspects of her project was setting up and running hydroponic systems to hold her fungiinoculated plants.

“It definitely took a lot of fine-tuning to get the balance right in terms of the nutrient and pH levels, but it also was the most rewarding as I saw my plants thrive and grow throughout my experiment.”

The staining helped her determine if the fungi had colonised the plant roots.

“And then that led me to the third stage of my project, where I spiked copper into my system.”

Rena used copper test strips and colorimetric analysis to see how well her plants were able to take up the copper.

Rena says that despite their promise, fungi-inoculated plants haven’t been widely recognised as a solution to treat urban water contamination.

“I hope that this project paves the way for further advancements and development in scaling up this remediation process, especially in low-resource communities where extensive infrastructure may not be feasible.”

A love of science

Rena says that this project has developed her love for discovering new things and investigating new solutions for some of the most pressing issues that the world faces.

“I think that I’d really like to go into medical research or environmental science.”

She says this project built her ability to overcome challenges and seek new solutions.

Epsom Girls’ Grammar School principal Brenda McNaughton says she and the school community are proud that Rena has won this award.

“She’s so well deserving.”

Brenda says that Rena is part of a group of students at her school who support each other with science endeavours.

“We’re delighted at the impact that this can have for our students, not just now, but in the future.”

She says her students are often looking to leave a legacy for others to think “I can learn that”.

“We’d love to also acknowledge Mrs Mayada Ghanim, one of our science teachers here, who really fosters that love of learning.”

Article provided by Royal Society Te Apārangi.

ifm offers a comprehensive range of industrial network and control instruments, including: IO-Link masters, HMI PLC controllers, ASi masters, safety controllers, plant condition monitoring systems, plant monitoring (MONEO) software, Cloud interfacing controllers (Edge gateways), and more. Available today - ex-stock NZ! ifm control products come with all the right approvals, required by the most advanced WT & WWT plants, globally. German quality - supported by local engineers.

Innovation crossroads: Our water sector in a global context

Water New Zealand’s technical lead (drinking water quality and education), Dr Belinda Cridge with colleagues Dr Heather Kerr and Arash Farjood, say the water sector needs to embrace data-sharing, continuous learning, and collaboration to ensure we position ourselves alongside global best practice and meet the demands of the future.

Much of the focus on infrastructure in Aotearoa New Zealand has been on investing billions to repair neglected, aging pipes and address leaking systems. Yet, to improve long-term resilience and future-proof our networks, we must also invest in innovation and new technologies such as smart water metering and real-time data systems. Innovation can help us address not only engineering challenges but also financial constraints.

The state of play: Water sector in context

Our water networks face a triple crisis. Twenty percent of drinking water is lost to leaks, 50 percent of use remains unmetered, and 90 percent of pipes lack reliable condition data. If the current Local Water Done Well reforms are to be a success, then robust financial innovation needs to be at the heart of the reforms.

Unless that happens, the current model risks perpetuating underinvestment.

Looking overseas, as an example, Spain’s Valencia transformed its operations through a 15-year digital overhaul, achieving a 30 percent reduction in water leakage and a 60 percent increase in customer satisfaction by using real-time network simulators.

Here, we’re lacking an equivalent long-term technological roadmap. Incremental upgrades, like Hamilton’s successful Pukete Wastewater Plant implementation, won’t get us to where we need to get to on a national basis as articulated in the 2050 transformation work.

While regional collaborations like Canterbury’s Clean Water Technology Project blend mātauranga Māori with 3D-printed treatment solutions, many councils and suppliers still treat iwiengagement as a compliance exercise rather than a transformative operational philosophy. Contrast this with Singapore’s holistic PUB model, where cultural narratives help drive both public behaviour and technological ambition.

Global Omnium’s GoAigua platform in Valencia exemplifies innovation scalability. By creating a digital twin of Valencia’s

200-kilometre network, fed by 20,000 daily sensor inputs, the utility simulates scenarios, predicts pipe failures, and optimises maintenance, saving nearly four billion litres of water annually. Critically, this required sustained investment since 2009, including €90 million in startup partnerships through GOHub Ventures.

Similar digital twin initiatives are being explored by larger utilities in Aotearoa New Zealand but the sector urgently needs regional partnerships to move beyond pilot stages and ensure wide adoption. Singapore, facing existential water scarcity, has taken a missiondriven approach to innovation. The city-state’s PUB deploys advanced technology, with NEWater recycling now meeting 40 percent of demand and desalination plants using 25 percent less energy than global averages. Governance is tightly aligned with innovation, as seen in the Global Innovation Challenge, which incentivises solutions for leakage detection and smart metering, directly linking R&D with operational needs.

Public engagement is equally robust, with ‘Water Efficient Homes’ programmes reducing consumption through real-time usage dashboards – a stark contrast to many regions here, where households remain unmetered.

Innovation culture: Opportunities and gaps

A growing majority of business leaders now see innovation as essential for resilience and economic performance, particularly in digitalisation and technology adoption. However, despite this progress, we still lag leading innovation nations in investment intensity and the ability to scale transformative ideas across sectors.

In the water sector, this gap is acute. Financially, the country has a $200 billion sovereign wealth pool spread across the NZ Super Fund, KiwiSaver, and ACC, yet less than one percent targets water infrastructure. Green bond investment remains negligible compared to the United States, where the sector raises $81 billion annually.

Councils continue to rely on ratepayer funding, despite proven models elsewhere, such as Catalonia’s catastrophe bonds for flood

To fully leverage these reforms, Water New Zealand is looking to build strong partnerships with the new PROs, advocate for long-term, coordinated research funding, and support the development of national data standards and collaborative research platforms.

resilience. It is unlikely that access to an increased debt cap through LGFA funding will be sufficient to make up the shortfall in required spend unless a concerted effort is made to incorporate innovation in spending decisions.

A risk-averse culture further slows progress. For example, WaterSmart’s Hydraloop rollout, which can reduce household demand by 45 percent through greywater recycling, faces slower uptake here than in Europe.

Utilities often prioritise legacy systems over decentralised alternatives like Localised On-Lot Infrastructure.

Data fragmentation is another challenge. Unlike Valencia’s integrated digital platform, our water data remains siloed.

The National Policy Statement on Freshwater’s monitoring requirements lack the kind of standardisation that enables predictive analytics and system-wide optimisation that would prevent duplication in water monitoring across environmental and infrastructure requirements.

Leveraging science reform: A unique window for water innovation

The ongoing science system reform in Aotearoa New Zealand presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the water sector to address these innovation gaps. The consolidation of the seven Crown Research Institutes into three Public Research Organisations (PROs) promises to foster greater collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and alignment of scientific priorities with national needs.

To fully leverage these reforms, Water New Zealand is looking to build strong partnerships with the new PROs, advocate for long-term, coordinated research funding, and support the development of national data standards and collaborative research platforms.

This will enable the sector to move beyond siloed, shortterm projects and instead pursue integrated, evidence-based solutions to complex challenges such as infrastructure renewal, emerging contaminants, and climate adaptation.

By embedding a culture of innovation that values collaboration, data-sharing, and continuous learning, our water services can position themselves at the forefront of global best practice and ensure they are equipped to meet the demands of the coming decades.

Mechanisms for improvement: Learning from excellence

To move forward, we need to embrace a more innovative financial toolkit. Redirecting even a small portion of the country’s sovereign wealth funds toward water infrastructure could unlock billions annually.

On the technology front, mandating smart metering nationwide would be a game-changer, replicating Valencia’s network, which reduced tampering by 40 percent through real-time alerts.

Aggregating council data into a national digital twin would enable predictive maintenance and prioritise investment in regions most at risk.

Strategic incentives for decentralised solutions, such as offering rebates for Localised On-Lot Infrastructure, would encourage innovation at the community level.

Brown Brothers Engineers we have extensive capabilities with a wide range of quality pump manufacturers including:

the QR Code to find out how we can assist with all your water requirements.

Cross-council procurement of new technologies, such as IoT sensors and AI analytics, could deliver economies of scale and the kind of maintenance cost savings seen in Spain.

Mechanisms for improvement: Targeted innovation funding

Our water sector sits at a crossroads. The imperative to innovate is clear, but the mechanisms to enable it remain outdated.

While councils and utilities face mounting pressures to adopt smarter, more resilient technologies, the current funding environment does little to support early-stage implementation or derisk technology adoption. Funding remains fragmented, risk-averse, and often tied to long-term capital projects, leaving little room for trialing disruptive or decentralised solutions in real-world settings. Utilities are expected to modernise yet lack dedicated pathways to safely experiment with new tools or systems. This disconnect between ambition and funding creates a persistent innovation gap.

To bridge this gap, we should look to emerging global models that better match the realities of innovation. One such model is Isle Utilities’ Trial Reservoir, a not-for profit innovation fund which offers a novel approach: performance-based 100 percent funding for technology trials, with an agnostic mediator that provides assistance to both parties. Utilities can test new solutions without bearing the financial risk, while technology providers gain access critical funding to real-world validation.

This funding mechanism moves away from the requirement for potentially game changing technologies to raise capital across funds that provide only a proportion of the trial cost, and removes the excessive workload for utilities in searching for the appropriate technology.

If the trial succeeds according to predefined KPIs, the technology is adopted, and the funding is repaid into the evergreen fund. If unsuccessful, both the utility and the technology walk away with no repayment required.

This kind of platform offers exactly what’s missing from the current system: a safe space to trial, fail fast, learn quickly, and scale what works. With more than 15 successful implementations of technology around the globe from the USA to Botswana, this sort of funding mechanism could catalyse the step-change in innovation the sector urgently needs.

Building an innovation ecosystem: Collaboration as a catalyst

Internationally, innovation ecosystems – collaborative networks that include utilities, government, academia, and the private sector – are driving transformation in water. Platforms such as Water Services Association Australia’s (WSAA) Technology Scanning and Webinar programme (formerly W-Lab), Victoria’s Intelligent Water Network, the UK’s SWAN Forum, GHD’s AquaLAB and Isle’s Technology Approval Group (TAG) demonstrate the value of shared knowledge, reduced duplication, and collective problem solving.

Our water sector can benefit from these models by fostering open collaboration, adopting global data standards, and building centres of excellence that are cloud-hosted and unconstrained by geography.

The science reforms provide a timely platform to map our unique innovation landscape, capturing the interdependencies between utilities, companies, government, incubators, academia, and industry bodies.

Getting behind innovative thinking

In 2022, the Water New Zealand Technical Committee launched the inaugural Innovation Forum at the Water New Zealand Annual Conference.

The conference traditionally featured peer-reviewed papers and formal presentations and there were limited opportunities for early-stage ideas to be seen and heard. The Innovation Forum was established to close this gap, by providing a platform to showcase emerging ideas, technologies, and solutions that have the potential to positively impact the water industry.

The Innovation Forum encourages out-of-the-box thinking and gives visibility to innovators who may not yet have the data, funding, or partnerships to present through conventional channels.

From cutting-edge digital tools and nature-based solutions to community-led initiatives and circular economy concepts, the forum highlights the breadth of innovation occurring across the water sector.

We also need a shift in our thinking. For too long, the water sector has operated with a cautious, risk-averse mindset, understandable given the essential nature of our work. The Innovation Forum is helping to shift that narrative.

By creating a dedicated space for early-stage ideas and unconventional thinking, it encourages a more open, forwardlooking culture. It has now become an essential feature of the conference providing a platform for innovators to be heard and supported by the industry leaders, and a catalyst for the kinds of bold thinking our sector urgently needs to increase efficiency.

Don’t forget to come along to the innovation forum at the 10th IWA-ASPIRE Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2025 in Ōtautahi Christchurch (29 Sept – 3 Oct), and check out our previous winners on our website www.waternz.org.nz.

By setting clear and ambitious shared goals, such as resilience, climate adaptation, and talent development, and engaging in global innovation scans, the sector can identify and adapt proven solutions to local conditions.

Central government can further accelerate this by providing targeted intervention, contestable funding, and support for open collaboration.

Conclusion: From thinking to doing

The path forward requires water professionals to reframe water as a national security issue, demand interoperability standards to break down data silos, and champion pilot projects that prove return on investment.

By leveraging the momentum of science reform and global best practice, Aotearoa New Zealand’s water sector can move beyond incrementalism and risk aversion to become a leader in sustainable, innovative water management.

As Sir Ernest Rutherford quipped, “We haven’t got the money, so we’ve got to think.” Perhaps our greatest challenge now is finding ways to fund the thinking that will turn ideas into tangible solutions.

Navigating water reform: Consistent data for future decisions

This article is a call to action. As councils consider major changes to how water services are delivered under Local Water Done Well, many are overlooking critical groundwork needed to make these new structures effective. Among these is the standardisation of asset data, a ‘no regrets’ move that would support better decision-making, lower costs, and enable seamless service integration. With renewal costs rising and quality data in short supply, Rob Blakemore and Greg Preston say now is the time to invest in improving asset information.

We are at a critical period in the timing of replacement of our water infrastructure. This is largely a product of fragmented approaches to decision-making and historical decisions on urban development and network material selection.

As our communities embrace economic growth, there is also a need to address growing pressures to maintain and renew existing assets that are ending their useful life. Unsurprisingly these pressures have forced regulatory reform of the water sector by Central Government.

Regardless of the detail of reform, the improvement in water services will only be achieved by developing asset management maturity in the organisations that will provide these services.

In many parts of the country, aging networks are placing increased costs and financial demands on a finite rating base. Communities face difficult challenges in being able to afford the scale of renewals and maintenance that will achieve levels of service that they demand.

Enforcement by the Commerce Commission should drive continued improvement. The need for proof of service delivery efficiency and appropriate stewardship of the assets by water service providers will become a key driver. Effective and efficient financial management (opex and capex) will need to be demonstrated. This will support service delivery and will inevitably mean that sound risk assessment will be needed to underpin investment decisions.

Asset data, the foundation of improvement

The decisions made by water asset owners will need to be evidence-based and able to be scrutinised by the regulator. A new Three Waters utility will find it very difficult to move forward unless it has complete asset inventories that are compiled in consistent and nationally comparable formats.

Asset data validation and standardisation is a task that should be undertaken prior to Day One of a new water organisation.

Looking forward with the benefit of hindsight

Water reform has happened before. The creation of Watercare, Wellington Water, and experiences from the now defunct Three Waters/Affordable Waters process provide valuable lessons that we must learn from as we continue on the path to Local Water Done Well.

Water asset data will be used by network planners and operators to develop forward expenditure programmes and to optimise asset life and performance. In moving to a new entity, significant time will be lost, costs accrued, and confusion will reign unless time is taken between now and Day One to:

• Review, clean and standardise asset inventories that includes assessment of data completeness and identifies gaps for full asset descriptions, asset condition and life, replacement value, maintenance history, and development of asset deterioration curves.

• Be able to turn asset inventories into long term renewals profile options.

• Be able to document the impact of different renewal funding regimes on network service performance and advise risks to service from renewal delays.

• Develop criticality frameworks and assign criticalities to assets.

• Analyse unplanned maintenance history and costs to plan future budgets.

• Provide predicted asset failure dates with assigned confidence.

• Prioritise specific asset renewals within long term budgets.

• Identify and resource recommended preventative and programmed maintenance that includes ongoing condition assessment programmes.

Data standards provide the springboard

The transition to specific entities from councils is one of the most significant for water services in the past 100 years. The transition will need to address work culture as well as financial change. It will require crisp business processes and definition of accountabilities for everyone involved. This includes the approaches to working with key external stakeholders.

All this takes time and should be able to occur with the knowledge that fundamental information is available to make decisions on Day One of transition.

Effort should be devoted now to having complete asset data that is readily accessible for use in the sort of work we’ve listed.

Experience tells us that multiple data management systems with inconsistent data standards within the one organisation is a recipe for confusion and proliferation of personal spreadsheets. In turn, confusion proliferates within the organisation about basic information. External reporting to regulators, Boards and other governance groups and committees becomes frustrating and unnecessarily time consuming.

Which standards?

Currently a national 3 Waters Asset Data Standard (3W ADS) is being developed by a coalition of the willing with the co-

ordination support of Water New Zealand. Read ‘What’s happening with Three Waters Asset Data Standards’ on page 42. At the same time, the National Engineering Design Standards (NEDS) are expected to be rolled out by Taumata Arowai. Implementation of the 3W ADS in conjunction with NEDS will be transformative to the way that waters services are planned and delivered.

Our plea: Act now

Our plea is for water operators, asset managers, and information teams to act now.

Data standards are an important foundation in the decisionmaking process. They provide the basis for data confidence and quality improvement.

History tells us that assumptions, in the absence of data, waste time and money and frequently create long-term problems. Investing in the resources and time needed standardise your data is time and money well spent. Benefits will accrue in the short, medium and long-term through better insights and informed decision-making.

Rob Blakemore is from Project Max and Greg Preston is the building innovation partnership manager at the University of Canterbury.

ENGINEERED PUMPING SOLUTIONS

What’s happening with Three Waters Asset Data Standards

By Lesley Smith, technical lead (projects & sustainability), Water New Zealand, and Greg Preston, manager, building innovation partnership, University of Canterbury

Standardising asset data across the country has many advantages. These include a significant reduction in costs across the supply chain, better tools and processes for decisionmaking, and easier and more robust reporting. Despite these benefits, the implementation of National Asset Data Standards (3W ADS) for Three Waters has a long and chequered history, but work is underway to change this.

Two recently established groups have been set up by Water New Zealand, with two distinct focuses: The Asset Data Governance Group is to ensure the integrity, consistency, and continual improvement of the national asset data standard; and the Implementation Group is there to support the broad and practical adoption of the asset data standard across the sector.

Volunteers in both these group come from across the supply chain, with representatives from council, analytic providers, consultancies and regulatory bodies.

Born out of the Smart Water Infrastructure Group, it is envisaged the groups will maintain close links to the SIG, particularly with their focus on digital engineering – that examines the tools, data processes, and possibilities unleashed by Asset Data Standards.

The working group has been looking at the legacy standard developed by the National Transition Unit (NTU) as part of the previous reform process. At the end of that process Version 3.6 of the NTU standard had been developed.

This standard was based on a Watercare standard and was licensed using a

creative commons licence. While this was a useful start, this standard was not suitable for widespread implementation in a range of different asset management systems.

To address this, Wellington Water has restructured V3.6 to be more readily implementable and have shared their revisions with the sector.

At the same time, some aspects of the NTU backlog have also been implemented. These were updates to V3.6 which were approved but not implemented before the NTU was disbanded. V3.7 is now available for adoption in the technical resources section of the Water New Zealand website resource hub.

The major change from V3.6 to V3.7 is structural. The standard has been redesigned with a number of features. These include making the standard easily machine readable; scalable, so that the structure is stable whilst new features and attributes can be added over time; modular, so that the standard can be adapted by organisations at different data maturity levels whilst remaining nationally consistent; and as simple as possible so that it is easy to understand and familiar.

The Asset Data Working Group has run workshops around the country to review this standard and to begin to build a coalition of the willing, representing councils who are contemplating moving to the standard as they restructure their water services.

The first workshop, hosted by Wellington Water, occurred in February with several councils from the lower

North Island. A further workshop was run in Tauranga in early May with representative from several councils across the region. Future workshops are planned in the South Island in July. It is hoped that, after these workshops, we will be able to publish V4.0 of the Standard, ready for implementation by those water entities ready to adopt it.

The goal for V4.0 is that it has been tested by a range of organisations and that it remains stable for a reasonable length of time to allow systems and processes to develop.

In the meantime, members of the group are advocating for the completion and rollout of the National Engineering Design Standards (NEDS). It has been identified that the NEDS and the 3W ADS need to be developed together to ensure that the assets designed and built are properly described and managed in the relevant asset management systems.

There are also important implications for economic regulation. Standardised data will improve the consistency of information reported to the regulator and will also drive system improvements.

It is the confluence of all these factors that create the driver for the continued development and implementation of the 3W ADS. Review and comment of V3.7 is encouraged.

To view the standard, or request changes, visit the Asset Data Standards in the Water New Zealand technical library: waternz.org.nz/technicaldocuments. For more information, email Lesley at technical@waternz.org.nz or Greg at greg.preston@canterbury.ac.nz.

MORE FLUID THINKING

The world of water is evolving faster than ever, and every challenge is unique.

We are a fluid-thinking team of engineers, scientists, project designers, and sustainability specialists, committed to protecting our most valuable resources. We deliver tailored flexibility with innovative agility across the ANZ-Pacific water sector.

Whether you’re a local municipality or a global manufacturer, think of us as your performance partner. Here to help you maximise project lifecycle value and drive sustainable change. Our in-depth hydro expertise, world-leading technology, and carbon-neutral services enable us to achieve exactly this—together.

Discover what more fluid thinking can do for you | hydroflux.nz

WATER WASTEWATER RENEWABLE ENERGY HYDROGEN TRANSITION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

One council’s evidence-based renewals programme sets it apart

By Hugh Blake Manson, wai lead, IDS

Water infrastructure asset management practices have to improve. This has been stated by the Office of The Auditor-General (OAG) from 2020 and the Government (Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop), as well as recognised by many councils. One council has taken this to heart.

“Evidence-based demonstration of efficient and effective spend of limited public funds has always been a priority of council,’ says Craig Thew, group manager infrastructure, Heretaunga Hastings District Council (HDC).

For context, HDC 3Waters asset base is valued at approximately $2.1 billion, of which about 67 percent is made up of drinking water and wastewater assets. Of that, water supply and wastewater piped networks – including reticulation network valves and chambers – make up around 70 percent. This equates to around $0.960 billion of below-ground assets, including 723 kilometres of water mains and laterals and 618 kilometres of sewers and service connections.

Overall, there is national evidence of a substantial backlog in water infrastructure investment, and an improved, targeted and auditable renewal planning process is needed or may be demanded by regulators such as the Commerce Commission in future years.

“In response, HDC is one of a handful of [councils] that have acted to complete an evidence-based wai (drinking water and wastewater) networks renewals model.”

HDC’s suite of strategic drivers for undertaking this evidence-based water supply and wastewater network renewals modelling were aimed at optimising the spend of their limited funds, reducing wastewater overflows resulting from aged, defective pipes, as well as reducing potential drinking water contamination events and reduce leakage/water loss.

Daylighted stream in Oslo

HDC realised a decade ago that progressive steps towards robust evidential

IDS

based renewals were required. While this was interrupted with a high priority water supply capital programme, it continued to methodically and consistently improve its underlying datasets, including pipe materials, age, condition rating, and valuation.

In 2024, HDC engaged IDS and Harmonic Analytics to jointly undertake and apply two methodologies which profiled 10, 30, and 50 year renewals programmes for its water supply and wastewater networks.

The IDS Wai scenario model (drinking water and wastewater networks) and Harmonics Asset Pulse visual tool have now enabled HDC to present a waters investment programme which meets international best practice levels. This is particularly important leading into

the water services reform, where ringfenced delivery and price-quality pathway performance will be spotlighted.

The IDS process is outlined in Figure 1.

The Modelling Process

The IDS model applied three scenarios using the high quality data provided by HDC. Each of the three scenarios (see Figure 2) enabled HDC to consider ‘what if’ benefits and impacts of investment early or late in their 10 and 30 year programmes. For example, considering the consequential impact of delaying renewals on drinking water quality was a key function of the project. Risk of pipe failures and costs can be controlled and reduced when sustained investment is made year on year.

Figure 1. IDS wai model.

Figure 2. HDC model scenario results – water supply.

Wai - Drinking Water and Wastewater Asset Renewals Model

Their investment in the joint IDS model and Harmonic assessment has allowed staff to present and, over time, monitor improved, evidence-based pipe renewals programmes.

Annual spend projections can now be rapidly assessed between the current and

alternative scenario programmes (see Figure 3), with the ability to ‘slice’ the network renewal by criticality and other factors as a rapid decision-making tool.

“The tools (both) can then monitor the proportion of the assets in different risk profiles to ensure the network risk is

managed alongside the asset risks,” says Craig.

Article Supplied by Heretaunga Hastings District Council, IDS, and Harmonic Analytics. IDS is a charitable organisation wholly owned by Āpōpō for the benefit of Aotearoa New Zealand

Figure 3. Annual spend assessment.

The boring bit is over

On Watercare’s flagship Central Interceptor project the tunnel boring machine has completed its job, the tunnel is partially up and running, and it’s far from boring.

It’s an eerie feeling taking the lift down the 70-metre shaft at Watercare’s Central Interceptor tunnelling base at May Road, Mount Roskill these days because it’s so quiet.

There are no ratting chains as the gantry crane lifts muck bins full of tunnel spoil to the surface. No beeping locomotives as they move off with another load of tunnel segments. No cheery spotters as the lift gates are thrown open and you step into the giant wastewater tunnel, deep underground.

Four years after beginning her journey from a site next to Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) has finished tunnelling a 16.2-kilometre giant wastewater tunnel running under Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

The 5.4-metre diameter cutterhead broke through into a shaft at Point Erin Reserve, Herne Bay for the last time in March. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland mayor Wayne Brown plus 200 project staff watched the historic moment as the country’s largest wastewater tunnel was completed. Opera singers, and special effects smoke and flames added to the spectacle.

Once the official photographs and media interviews were over, and confetti brushed away, the cutterhead received a thorough clean so that crews could begin the complicated task of disassembling and removing the TBM from the 30-metre-deep shaft.

The giant cutterhead was first to go. Large hydraulic torque wrenches unclenched 100mm-long bolts. Hydraulics and long trails of electrical wiring were separated, before it finally came away from the shield and was hitched to a crane for the short ride to the surface.

It took three weeks to take away all 18 gantries that make up the

almost 200-metre-long TBM before she was trucked away to a storage yard in East Tamaki, to await the next assignment.

“She’s good to go again right away,” says Michele Petris, Ghella Abergeldie Joint Venture’s tunnel construction manager. “It’s the first time Hiwa-i-te-Rangi has seen daylight since starting her journey across the other side of the city in August 2021.

“She completed the tunnel operation very well and is in very good condition. We are very pleased the regular maintenance programme has ensured she has travelled all this way in such great shape.”

And it is a long way. Ghella, the Italian tunnelling arm of the joint venture recently celebrated 130 years. The 16.2-kilometre tunnel, containing more than 10,000 rings is the longest single drive ever completed in the company’s history.

Now tunnel cleaning and stripping is underway. More than 100 staff are dotted throughout the tunnel, removing ventilation systems, high voltage cables, locomotive tracks and other services, so the tunnel can be water blasted. The last traces of tunnel spoil must be removed so thermal welding of the yellow plastic tunnel segment joints can take place. This will ensure the tunnel is airtight.

It’s a long, careful process. Six segments make up a single ring. That’s more than 100,000 linear metres for the northern section of the tunnel alone.

Watercare’s acting chief programme delivery officer, David White, says the successful completion of tunnelling is particularly impressive given the major difficulties the project faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aerial views reveal there's still much to do at northern Central Interceptor sites, like Rawalpindi Reserve, Mount Albert.

Inside a giant new pump station at Mangere to send flows from the tunnel to the treatment plant.

New Central Interceptor Pump Station is one of the largest in the country.

“It’s hard to look back and remember how nightmarish those early days were. We went into a national level four lockdown just days after we had launched our main TBM. There was constant RAT testing and social distancing. All this when the tunnellers were trying to establish a rhythm and get to know each other.

“We had to get special permission from the Government to keep tunnelling, to prevent it from getting stuck. And in the background, there was huge financial pressure and need to stick to the programme.”

It was the first time Ghella had worked in Aotearoa New Zealand. Project director Francesco Saibene says the success of the Central Interceptor project plus the Government’s recent Infrastructure Investment Summit has given the company reason to stay in the country: “We are very pleased with the way the tunnelling operation has gone.

“It was great to be part of the summit and to see firsthand how much work is happening behind the scenes. The Government’s commitment to attracting investment should lead to more projects coming to market and we’re keen to remain and get involved.”

Hiwa-i-te-Rangi’s launch shaft is now a gleaming pump station in Māngere. Five German-made pumps each send combined wastewater/ stormwater flows from the first half of the tunnel (from May Road, Mount Roskill south), to the nearby treatment plant at 1200 litres per second. The remnants of Cyclone Tam and other heavy downpours have put the new infrastructure to the test, and it’s performing brilliantly.

Top: TBM cutterhead is removed from Point Erin shaft after 16.2km journey under Auckland. Left: Hiwa-i-te-Rangi's launch shaft converted into a pump station, which is operating successfully. Opposite left: Central Interceptor screw conveyor is removed from the TBM after tunnelling. Opposite right: Gantry number 18 is removed from the shaft.

Watercare Central Interceptor commissioning manager Axel Dumont says in just four months of operation, around 93,000 cubic metres (equating to 37 Olympic swimming pools) of combined wastewater/stormwater have been saved from spilling into the environment.

“When we first switched the pump station on in January, we had nothing but blue skies for weeks. Typical! But then the first time it rained heavily, we were delighted to see that the tunnel and the pump station transported the flows perfectly and in manageable quantities for the treatment plant to handle the new increased volumes.

“Previously, the aging Pump Station 23 at Hillsborough would overflow into the Manukau Harbour almost every time it rained. Likewise, Pump Station P25, Avondale, would discharge into the local streams in Blockhouse Bay. We’ve had seven significant rain events and the tunnel, and pump station has worked really well.  A huge win.”

At its height, around 600 staff worked on 17 Central Interceptor sites across Auckland. Gradually, fences are coming down, grass is being sown as sites are reinstated and returned to the community.

There’s still plenty of activity at the northern sites however. At Keith Hay Park, Mount Roskill, new hydraulic gates have passed commissioning tests inside a new plant room. This will allow transmission network operators, based across town in Newmarket to control flows from the local wastewater system into the new Central Interceptor tunnel.

Shafts are still to be connected. Concrete cutters recently sliced through tunnel segments to connect the Walmsley Avenue shaft, in Sandringham to the tunnel. All the work was done from inside of the tunnel.

Construction is still going on in Grey Lynn, Sandringham, Western Springs, Herne Bay and three sites in Mount Albert. The presence of basalt makes any excavation activity harder.

At Point Erin Reserve work has started on the ‘Herne Bay Collector’, a new 1.5-kilometre tunnel which will pick up combined stormwater and wastewater flows from lower Herne Bay and transport them to the Central Interceptor tunnel lying below the park and away to the treatment plant.

The $1.6b Central Interceptor is on track for completion in 2026. The new infrastructure will see an 80 percent reduction of wet weather overflows into streams in central Auckland. Water quality at beaches will also improve as flows from the old combined stormwater/wastewater network are carried away by the new Central Interceptor tunnel to the treatment plant for safe processing.

“It’s one of those rare beasts,” says David White, “A major infrastructure project that is being delivered safely, on time and almost to budget. If you look around the world, or within New Zealand, you’ll know how unusual and impressive that is.

“We’re not finished yet, but the end is in sight, we’re due to finish mid next year and we couldn’t be prouder of the entire team.”

Article provided by Watercare

Newmarket, Auckland – 400mm UV Liner

The intersection of Great South Road and Broadway in Newmarket, Auckland is one of the busier in a very busy city. It’s chic. With a large Westfield mall on one side and high-end car dealerships on others, and a very steady traffic flow in between.

The pipework below, however, was not so glossy.

Step-up NZ Lining and Director – Operations Manager Ammar Ahmed, and his team to find ways to extend the life of the cracked and failing pipes for another 100 or so years. Additionally, there were bends – as pipes were laid to accommodate other services.

Traffic management was always a potential issue with its location so close to the motorway. Hold-ups, risks, and cost had to be factored in to how to do the job to achieve the best outcome. Work also had to be tackled at night and, quickly, with the least disruption possible.

Ammar says the 450 diameter line also had a couple of significant bends, a challenge for conventional liners. He looked at the options and decided on a UV Liner from BurrowTech produced by Brandenburger Liner from Germany. A felt liner would have been another option but the decision was in favour of fiberglass epoxy from cured CIPP within the host pipe.

“The UV Liner was more flexible, and we didn’t want any creases or wrinkles. We agreed on the BB 2.5 Flex 400 diameter as it could expand.

“It was perfect! And so much quicker It was the optimal solution.”

“The UV liner expanded to the additional space and it easily managed the bends.”

The project took around 3-4 hours, with pneumatic robotic cutters used the following day for reopening laterals connecting into the mainline pipe.

Hayden Powell from BurrowTech says the UV Liners offer major benefits. The high strength liner is fully structural – meaning it has created a new pipe within the existing and is designed to last a minimum of a further 50 years.

The liner is cured using UV light curing technology and has proven to be the safest, fastest and most cost-effective rehabilitation option.

Since the early 1990s Brandenburger Liner, a member of the Brandenburger group, has been working with UV curing technology and glass fibres as reinforcement and carrier material. Both the UV curing technology and the quality of the materials used have been continuously developed in-house. The Brandenburger Liner can be engineered to cope with site specific requirements such as traffic or rail loading providing a versatile product that can be adapted to individual pipe requirements.

Hayden says the pipe liner products are made from carrier materials whose chemical and mechanical properties meet the highest standards, this provides clients and asset owners with an economic solution to renewing aged infrastructure.

“The major advantages are that there’s no excavation above ground, so hardly any disruption for business or residents. And you’ve got immediate commissioning after completion which speeds things up a heap and saves money.”

L: Pipe prior to relining.

R: Pipe after relining.

He Oranga Wai ki ro Pā –A water sovereignty project

When Cyclone Gabrielle barrelled through the East Coast in early 2023, just weeks after Cyclone Hale and on the back of months of minor flooding, it wasn’t just the roads that were cut off — it was the people. Power down. Water was unsafe or unavailable. The pā, often relied on as emergency centres, were themselves in crisis.

“We saw the writing on the wall,” says Ngarangi Walker. “The pattern of weather events wasn’t slowing down, and our people couldn’t afford to be left waiting for central systems to catch up. That’s where the kaupapa came from: our whānau, our pā, our solutions.”

As the then kaihautū taiao general manager at Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, Ngarangi led the push to secure MPI funding for He Oranga Wai ki ro Pā — a project grounded in tino rangatiratanga and whakapapa, with a clear goal: ensuring every pā had access to clean, safe, and secure drinking water during times of weather hardship. Whether drought or flood or no power.

“It had to be practical. It had to be portable. And it had to be easy for our whanau from day one.”

Prototype on the back of a trailer

In the thick of the cyclone response, an unexpected call came through.

“Aubrey from Solar Sense – we went to uni together – rings me up and goes, ‘Miss Nga, can I send you this prototype trailer we’ve been working on?’ I think all I heard was Starlink and solar and the next thing you know, the Ngāti Porou Taiao team is hauling around this solar-powered unit to test drive.”

Solar Sense, a clean-tech company based in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, became a key part of the solution. Its prototype became the first working model for the portable mahini-wai units deployed across Ngati Porou marae.

“It took more than a few goes,” Ngarangi admits. “Plenty of back and forth with the Solar Sense crew. But we got there. By the time we landed on the final design, the units looked like they do now, and they actually worked for our people, our roads, our way of doing things.”

To complement the solar trailers, the

Aubrey Te Kanawa training whanau on the mahini wai and solar panels at Mangahanea Marae, Ruatoria.

team also sourced compact desalination technology through a surprising source; an Australian one-man-band engineering firm, Liddicot Engineering, run by a former air force technician.

“We got onto him through our whānau at Tairāwhiti CDEM, they’d found him online. It was classic East Coast ingenuity. We didn’t care where the solution came from as long as it worked – and it did.”

Collaboration at the heart

The project was co-designed with whanau in mind. Kayla Koia joined the team as project coordinator, and she worked to identify marae leaders, haapu representatives, and local experts to develop transparent allocation criteria.

The marae received solar-powered filtration units. Coastal marae were kitted out with desalination capability.

Training was delivered in marae clusters, reinforcing collaboration while tailoring to whanau needs.

“These weren’t just drop-offs. Each marae had to step into the responsibility of it. We trained their kaitiaki and gave them the knowledge to manage the kit after we left. That was always the measure of success; that they didn’t need us hovering around. Nor would they need us to help them fix it.”

Upon completion, each kaitiaki was acknowledged with a certificate and a tohu symbolising their responsibility and readiness.

As one marae trustee put it: “This equipment is a significant addition to our pā, especially in light of the increasing frequency of adverse weather events. We appreciate [the runanganui] commitment to supporting our hapori, hapū, and marae.”

Designed for the East Coast

The final mahini-wai units were shaped by lessons and the lived experiences of the team and whanau on the ground. Ngarangi had a prototype project in mind over 10 years earlier. Back then though, the hardware was not as readily available and costs quite prohibitive. Also, the kits had to be light enough to move, simple enough to manage, and rugged enough for State Highway 35 and the off roads of Ngati Porou.

“I kept saying to the team, if you’re not there, can your Mum or Aunty or even Dad use this without calling the mokos in? If the answer was no, we weren’t finished.”

Each unit was designed for minimal parts, easy cleaning, and practical longevity – no frills, just functionality.

“It’s one thing to deliver tech. It’s another to deliver it in a way that makes sense for the whenua and for the people who live on it every day.”

Real outcomes

Feedback from marae has been overwhelmingly positive. One whānau said, “It’s easy to use and, most importantly, portable. The mahini-wai is an effective tool in ensuring our whānau can access clean drinking water in a range of scenarios, including disaster.”

That’s the kind of impact the project set out to achieve — empowering, not just equipping.

“The most satisfying part was seeing whānau realise, ‘We’ve got this.’ That confidence can’t be underestimated. It changes how communities face the next event.”

What we learned

The team faced its share of challenges, from unpredictable weather to supply chain tangles and the logistics of remote training delivery.

“We learned to plan for the plan to change. But the key was holding firm to our kaupapa. We weren’t going to compromise on usability, ownership, or dignity.”

Looking ahead

He Oranga Wai ki ro Pā proves what’s possible when whānau are resourced properly. The project isn’t just a blueprint for emergency response, it’s a model for water sovereignty as well as energy sovereignty.

Gathering data from whanau at Uepohatu Marae ‘Rohenga 4’ alongside the Taumata Arowai Roadshow.

None of it would have been possible without the kaupapa’s key partners and supporters. The project was funded through the Ministry for Primary Industries under their time-sensitive North Island Weather Events response – a critical enabler for turning urgency into action.

“We were fortunate to work alongside innovative partners like Solar Sense, who helped us bring the solar-powered filtration units to life, and Liddicot Engineering who crafted the desalination units for our coastal marae. Also, our whanau at Taumata Arowai supporting increased education for the whanau around wai supply and infrastructure care.

“There’s no way we’d have landed this without good people in the right places backing us at speed. We had relationships, we had a good kaupapa – we just needed the right people at that time to help us get things right.”

Special thanks go to the Ngāti Porou Tīma Taiao at TRONP, who drove this kaupapa through every obstacle, and to Te Arawhiti, who backed our wider response initiatives from the outset.

“We’ve always known our people have the solutions. This kaupapa just reminded everyone what happens when you back them with the right tools and trust.”

Article supplied by Kapuarangi Associates. Ngarangi Walker presented at the Water New Zealand Modelling Symposium 2025 on building off-grid emergency resilience for marae and isolated communities.

ROHENGA MARAE

1 Potikirua ki Whangaokeno

1. Potaka 2. Hinemaurea 3. Punaruku 4. Paerauta (Tutua) 5. Hinerupe 6. Matahi o te Tau 7. Awatere

8. Te Kahika (Hurae)

Whangaokeno ki Waiapu

Onepoto

Approved and successfully used by councils across New Zealand

9. Putaanga 10. Kaiwaka 11. Rahui 12. Taumata o Tapuhi 13. Hinepare 14. Ohine Waiapu 15. Karuai

Tikapa

Tinatoka 3

Te Onepoto ki Rahuimanuka

Te Poho o Rawiri 2 4 5 6 7

Waiomatatini

Kakariki

21. Reporua 22. Umuariki 23. Ruataupare 24. Mangahanea 25. Uepohatu 26. Rauru (Taumata o Mihi) 27. Te Heapera (Mangarua)

Rahuimanuka ki Mataahu

Mataahu ki Kokoronui

Kokoronui ki Te Toka a Taiau

28. Kariaka 29. Hiruharama 30. Te Aowera 31. Whareponga 32. Rongohaere (Pahou) 33. Rongoitekai (Penu) 34. Te Ariuru 35. Waiparapara 36. Pakirikiri 37. Tuatini 38. Iritekura

Taharora

Te Kiekie

41. Anaura

Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna

Okuri

Puketawai

Hauiti

Te Poho o Rawheoro

Whangara

Worlds

Safe Passage For New Zealand Size Breeding Tuna Ref Nov 2024 Report Ngā Rerenga ki te Moana

Pathways To The Sea Strategy: Fish Passage Through Pump Stations

Map of all Ngati Porou marae.

AGRUSAFE Concrete Protection

AGRU-Ultra Grip concrete protective liners for the ultimate grip in concrete

HIGHEST PULL-OUT STRENGTH

50 % higher pull-out strength than conventional concrete protective liners

RESISTANT TO BACKPRESSURE

Water backpressures of up to 1.75 bar are permanently withstood

HIGH NUMBER OF STUDS

420 anchor studs per m² are an integral part of the liner

DURABLY SEALED SURFACES

>2200 N/stud shear resistance and 82 t/m² pull-out resistance for maximum safety

WIDE PRODUCT RANGE

Available in PE and PP in widths up to 5000 mm

AGRU New Zealand Ltd | 12 Croskery Road, Papakura, Auckland 2110, New Zealand | Phone (09) 299 3640

Email admin@agru.co.nz | admin@huerner.co.nz

www.agru.at

Managing the risks of lead in drinking water

Water New Zealand’s technical lead (drinking water quality and education), Dr Belinda Cridge says new tighter restrictions on lead in taps coming into effect next year are a big step in the right direction but many New Zealanders will remain at risk of drinking lead-contaminated water.

Plumbosolvency – the ability of water to dissolve lead from plumbing materials –is still an issue for water professionals in Aotearoa New Zealand. While not a new concern, the sector needs to continue to raise awareness and manage the corrosion potential of the drinking water they provide to homes.

While lead is the highest concern from a public health perspective, corrosive waters can also result in contamination of the water from a range of metals including cadmium, copper and nickel.

Why our water is prone to plumbosolvency

Our source waters are typically slightly acidic, with moderate to low alkalinity. This combination increases the likelihood of plumbosolvency, meaning the water is more prone to leaching lead from plumbing materials. Without sufficient alkalinity or buffering capacity, the water cannot effectively form stable protective scales inside pipes and fixtures, increasing the risk of lead contamination.

Figure 1 and Figure 2 come from a study conducted from 1983-1989 which surveyed all drinking water supplies across the country at that time. The data highlights the lower pH and low alkalinity that is common across the country.

Understanding the causes of lead leaching

One of the primary sources of lead in drinking water is leaching from brass fittings and tapware. Factors such as pH, alkalinity, chloride levels, and dissolved inorganic carbon influence lead solubility. Even in systems without lead pipes (which

Figure 1. pH of Aotaroa New Zealand water supplies.

Figure 2. Alkalinity of Aotearoa New Zealand water supplies.

are less common here), fittings, valves, and tapware containing leaded brass can contribute to contamination, particularly in stagnation conditions.

In 2018, Master Plumbers commissioned an independent test of five tapware products sold in this country. It found that the level of lead leaching from one product purchased online to be 70 percent higher than the allowable limit.

A follow-up study in 2020 showed that both certified basin and non-certified kitchen taps leached zinc in excess of the guideline limit in the drinking water standards. Longer water stagnation increases lead leaching due to prolonged interaction with pipe surfaces.

Figure 3 shows the combined effect of stagnant water (e.g. in a tap or pipe) and pH. During the first five hours the rate of lead leaching is at its highest.

The chemistry behind lead leaching involves complex interactions between water and lead-containing materials. Lead dissolution is highly dependent on the water’s pH, alkalinity, and the chloride to sulfate ratio. Calcium carbonate results in water with a higher pH and high alkalinity which is less likely to leach lead. Higher chloride levels can increase the corrosivity of water, leading to more significant lead leaching whereas sulfate is protective.

Additionally, road disturbances and vibrations can dislodge lead particles from fixtures, while biofilms can harbour lead, releasing it intermittently into the water supply.

Public health risks of lead exposure

Lead is a potent neurotoxin, and even low levels of exposure can cause serious health issues. Children are particularly vulnerable, as lead can impair brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioural and learning difficulties. Pregnant women exposed to lead may experience complications, including premature birth and developmental issues for the foetus.

In adults, prolonged exposure has been linked to hypertension, kidney damage, and cognitive decline.

The risk is especially high in schools and early childhood centres, where young children consume water from taps that

mg:L as

From doi.org:10.1080:10934520903140009.

may contain lead components. Regular testing, flushing stagnant water, and replacing older fixtures are critical steps in reducing exposure.

Upcoming standards and their limitations

Aotearoa New Zealand is moving towards tighter regulations for tapware under 2022 changes to the Building Code update. These standards mandate that all copper alloy plumbing products in contact with drinking water must be ‘lead-free,’ defined as containing no more than 0.25 percent lead by weighted average. The new requirements will come into effect in May 2026.

This is a positive step, but significant limitations remain. The new rules only apply to new products, meaning older, non-compliant tapware will still be in use for many years.

Additionally, there are concerns about enforcement, as some low-cost products could be labelled as compliant without meeting the necessary standards.

Communicating the risks to the public

Public awareness of lead in drinking water is often low, making effective communication crucial. Health New Zealand recommends flushing a cup of water from household taps each morning to reduce lead exposure. Schools and early

childhood centres especially should be encouraged to implement daily flushing of taps, with an extended flush after holiday periods to clear stagnant water.

Simple measures such as selecting certified low-lead fixtures and replacing aging tapware can further reduce exposure. Water professionals play a vital role in educating users on safe water practices and advocating for proactive lead management.

Staying informed and taking action

Understanding plumbosolvency is essential for ensuring safe drinking water. Understanding the water chemistry, monitoring techniques, and mitigation strategies is vital.

As the 2026 tapware regulations approach, the sector should be looking to promote the lead-free options and compliance with the new standard. We need to start to think about how to raise awareness of selecting certified tapware and how to detect fraudulent products.

Taking a proactive approach to managing lead in drinking water will help protect public health and maintain trust in water services.

To learn more about plumbolsovlency in Aotearoa New Zealand, its causes and management, take a look at our new digital badge, available in the training section on our website.

Figure 3. Effect of pH and stagnation time on total lead dissolution at an alkalinity of 100

CaCO3.

Fog harvesting could yield water for drinking and agriculture in the world’s driest regions

In regions where it hardly ever rains, water is valuable, and access to it is unequal. One such place is Alto Hospicio in Chile, located in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert region. Now, researchers have tested if making water from fog could be a solution to the city’s troubled water supply.

Using fog collectors, they found that up to 10 litres per square metre each day could be collected; enough to supplement water needed for drinking, irrigation, and agriculture.

With less than 1 mm annual rainfall, Chile’s Atacama Desert is one of the driest places in the world. The main water source of cities in the region are underground rock layers that contain water-filled pore spaces which last recharged between 17,000 and 10,000 years ago.

Now, local researchers have assessed if ‘fog harvesting,’ a method where fog water is collected and saved, is a feasible way to provide the residents of informal settlements with much needed water.

“This research represents a notable shift in the perception of fog water use – from a rural, rather small-scale solution to a practical water resource for cities,” says Dr Virginia Carter Gamberini, an assistant professor at Universidad Mayor and first co-author of the Frontiers in Environmental Science study. “Our findings demonstrate that fog can serve as a complementary urban water supply in drylands where climate change exacerbates water shortages.”

Catching moisture

Fog collectors typically consist of a mesh suspended between two posts. The mesh serves as an interception surface to catch moisture. Droplets collate on the mesh and fall into a gutter leading to water storage tanks. It’s a passive system that requires no external energy.

The researchers conducted a year-long field study in Alto Hospicio, a fast-growing municipality located in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert. Because of the city’s rapid growth, approximately 10,000 people live in informal settlements. Only 1.6 percent of these settlements are connected to water distribution networks and most inhabitants receive water via trucks.

“The collection and use of water, especially from non-conventional sources such as fog water, represents a key opportunity to improve the quality of life of inhabitants,” Virginia says.

The researchers found that in a 100 square kilometre area surrounding Alto Hospicio, between 0.2 and five litres of fog water could be harvested per square metre each day. This potential, however, is confined to the higher lying altitudes outside of the city’s limits.

During the study’s peak season, in August and September of 2024, collection potential reached up to 10 litres per square metre per day.

“By showcasing its potential in Alto Hospicio, one of Chile’s most stigmatised yet rapidly urbanising cities, this study lays the groundwork for broader adoption in other water-scarce urban areas,” says Nathalie Verbrugghe, a researcher at Université libre de Bruxelles and first co-author of the article.

Fog harvesting, however, should not be seen as the sole solution to water scarcity but as part of a broader urban water management strategy, the researchers said.

Easing water shortages in urban areas

The collected water could be used for drinking, irrigation of green spaces, and local food production. However, large storage systems, piping infrastructure, and ways of distribution would be necessary, the researchers say.

Based on an annual average water collection rate of 2.5 litres per square metre per day, 17,000 square metres of mesh could produce enough water to meet the weekly water demand (300,000 litres) for urban slums. One hundred and 10 square metres could meet the annual demand for the irrigation of the city’s green spaces (100,000 litres).

Similarly, fog water could be used for soil-free agriculture, with yields of 15 to 20kg of leafy green vegetables in a month.

For the same to work in other places, the geographic and atmospheric conditions need to be just right.

“Key prerequisites include fog density, suitable wind patterns, and well-oriented elevated landforms. Additionally, since fog is seasonal in many regions, this variability should be considered,” said Nathalie.

Future research will also need to evaluate the feasibility of fog harvesting in larger settlements.

“We hope to encourage policymakers to integrate this renewable source into national water strategies,” concluded Virginia. “This could enhance urban resilience to climate change and rapid urbanisation while improving access to clean water.”

This article was originally published on Frontiers, frontiersin.org/news

Alto Hospicio receives less than 1mm of rainfall per year.

Make sustainable

iwith EcoStruxure™ solutions for water and wastewater

Transform Water & Wastewater Operations with EcoStruxure Automation Expert

Unlock smarter, more efficient water management with Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Automation Expert. This next-generation automation platform delivers real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and seamless system integration—empowering operators with actionable insights and greater control.

Designed to support operations of any scale, EcoStruxure Automation Expert provides the flexibility and performance needed to meet evolving industry demands—enhancing efficiency, reducing downtime, and improving service delivery.

Future-proof your operations — start your digital transformation today.

Discover our EcoStruxure Automation Expert

Discover our EcoStruxure solutions for Water and Wastewater

Water, the foundational material of life, and its treatment using regenerative materials.

By Aisling O’Sullivan, professor of ecological engineering, University of Canterbury, and Kim Pickering, professor of materials engineering, University of Waikato

The precise origin of water on Earth remains an unsolved mystery but is most believed to originate from two processes. Firstly, from impacts with comets and asteroids named carbonaceous chondrites (which have similar isotopes of hydrogen to water). Secondly, as primordial water from the solar nebula – that is, water present in the gas and dust cloud (solar nebula) from which our planet Earth and other planets formed. Hydrogen from the solar nebula could then have combined with oxygen in the early stages of Earth to form water.

This water formation was the precursor to life. Every living thing comprises between around 60 percent (humans) to 90 percent (plants) freshwater. Collectively, all these living things constitute ecosystems, whose materials (e.g. soil, metals, water), members (e.g. bacteria, birds, giraffes), and services (e.g. air purification, material cycling) support life on Earth as we know it.

Water, like other materials (elements or compounds) transgresses geographical and political boundaries, but is the most essential material required for survival. Also, like all other materials on Earth, the amount of water remains constant (excluding miniscule material quantities randomly dropping onto Earth from outer space) but changes form through the hydrological cycle.

Yet less than one percent of freshwater globally is accessible, of which 65 percent has been polluted by humans. Clean water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, is a main underlying cause of the major existential threats to humanity.

In a global agreement to shift humanity from a dystopian situation to a pathway that can sustain humanity, and by default the ecosystems services on which humans depend, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emerged in 2012 and were officially adopted in 2015 as part of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Although water-specific goals are explicitly stated – Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6) and Life Below Water (SDG 14), all the SGDs intrinsically rely on clean water to eventuate because of its fundamental requirement for survival for all living things, not only humans, but the other ecosystem members, on which humanity depends.

Mass and energy; other essentials of life

Everything humans use can be distilled down to mass (e.g. materials) and energy. Earth’s materials are fundamentally derived from either biological origin (products of photosynthesis) or nonbiological sources (inorganic materials) resulting from geological processes occurring over millions of years. In the case of metals, it’s nuclear reactions with stars, and for natural ceramics, it’s from geological weathering.

Energy can be derived from finite non-renewable sources (fossil fuels, like coal, oil and gas; chemicals typically metals, acid and alkaline, as well as hydrogen and nuclear e.g. uranium). However, renewable energy power from solar, wind, gravity, and water (including tidal, geothermal, and hydropower) can be infinite. Energy has also been derived from renewable materials (e.g. biofuels).

So, water (H and O) in its most fundamental elements, is critical for producing biological materials (via photosynthesis) that provide us with food and for producing key renewable energies: tidal, geothermal, hydropower, and green hydrogen that drive economies.

Clean water is also used in generating non-renewable fuels (coal, lignite) during fossil fuel extraction and burning power stations, as well as nuclear.

Conservation of mass

A fundamental law of nature governs material balances and therefore how much of any material we have for supporting civilisations, be it building systems, generating energy or providing clean water.

The Law of Mass Conservation, discovered in 1789 by Antoine Lavoisier, states that mass (i.e. material) is neither created nor destroyed but only changes from one form to another. In other words, there is a finite amount of each material on planet Earth which we have available for us to consume and/or modify.

This is the impetus for material circularity in solving existential threats to humanity, such as ensuring clean water, by treating a legacy of polluted freshwater and ongoing generation of wastewater, through using renewable materials and renewable processes (see Figure 1).

Water pollutants

In water, pollutants can be in a physical form (e.g. suspended solids, pathogens) or in dissolved forms (e.g. nutrients, metals). They can be organic (e.g. oils and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)) or inorganic (metals, acids). Pollutant concentrations are typically represented as concentration of their mass in a volume of water, in mg/L (or g/m3).

It is well documented how excess nutrients have impaired freshwater ecosystems globally. Furthermore, consumption of nitrate-contaminated water can lead to methemoglobinemia, or ’blue baby syndrome’, where oxygen transport in the blood is impaired. Other health problems, including certain cancers (especially colorectal) and fertility problems in Aotearoa New Zealand, have recently been linked to long-term exposure to elevated nitrate levels.

In the past decade, a new classification of pollutants that have been recognised as significant environmental threats, are emerging contaminants (ECs). ECs include those from personal care products (PCPs) and Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), which are globally pervasive, from every home and are not easily or cheaply removed from water.

Water pollution solutions

Avoiding future freshwater water quality pollution is critical and could help be achieved by reducing our water consumption

through mandated water savings devices, source-separating black and greywater and its on-site wastewater treatment and reuse. Some of that happens nationally but is very limited compared to globally.

Given the scarcity of clean freshwater (as mentioned above less than one percent of freshwater globally is accessible, of which 65 percent has been polluted), it is imperative that water is also reused following its appropriate treatment to meet the growing needs (and demands) by people.

We must change humanity’s mindset on water reuse in how and where we adequately treat water. However, a legacy of current water quality pollution still needs to be treated.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) like green walls, raingardens and constructed wetlands are inherently sustainable water treatment systems; they are driven by photosynthesis, the most fundamental renewable process (see Equation 1). This superpower of nature converts carbon dioxide and water (mass), along with solar light (energy) from the sun, to create fresh oxygen and sugars – the source of energy (ATP) used by everything to survive and thrive.

Photosynthesis (Equation 1)

Mass (C, H, O) + Energy → Mass (O) + Mass (sugars) with embodied energy

6CO2 (gas) +6H2O (liquid) + ~ 8 photons of light energy → + 6O2 (gas) + C6H12O6 (solid)

Figure 1. Mass (materials) and energy are used in water and wastewater treatment, producing clean water on which humans and their ecosystems depend.

Decentralised systems are usually NBS which can treat polluted water, decrease reliance on aging, centralised infrastructure systems, and can help regenerate nature.

These living systems we might think of, that successfully treat water pollutants and which have also repurposed (waste) materials in the process, include horizontal flow-based systems including constructed wetlands and green walls and, vertical flow systems including green roofs and raingardens.

Many of these NBS are very effective at removing pollutants such as sediments and some nutrients but others sometime require a boost. This is where engineered materials can help enhance the removal of water pollutants and thus supercharge wastewater treatment.

Engineered materials are those which have been transformed from a previous form (raw or waste) and designed (and manufactured) with specific properties for targeted applications. Manipulation of the material(s) intentionally provides specific physical, chemical and sometime biological properties that collectively meet the needs of the target application.

For instance, in water treatment filters, the physical properties are likely to include specific porosity, durability, density and particle sizes, while the chemical properties are likely to consider the material’s charge, pH and reactivity to specific water pollutants.

Biological properties can include functional groups (hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino groups). So, to remove selective pollutants from water, a material is purposely modified (engineered) with a specific combination of these properties. Then, it is integrated into water/wastewater treatment systems, such as NBS.

Regenerative materials for treating water pollutants

Petroleum-based (non-renewable) materials in filters, such as plastics and polystyrene, have dominated globally in treating water, but there is a transition towards using bioderived materials like biochar – organic material heated (pyrolyzed) to a very high temperature without oxygen.

Some of these bioderived materials origin was wastes and can be biodegradable – the utopia of materials circularity, which respect Lavoisier’s Law of Mass Conservation. Most materials used to treat water and wastewater pollutants to a high level are engineered products.

When those engineered materials originate from the end of their design life from one activity, and are now repurposed with a new function, they enhance the circularity of water treatment. In fact, by using solid wastes to treat liquid wastewater, waste liabilities are converted into new (sometimes high value) commodities. Examples include the Kiwi-designed and manufactured (and internationally patented) Storminator™ systems (www.storminator.co.nz) that repurpose waste seashells and waste glass to remove metals from stormwater runoff.

There is a plethora of repurposed waste materials that can treat different water pollutants, albeit not usually one material can treat all pollutants in one go.

Depending on the water pollutant, some wastes require a small level of modification to boost target pollutant removal rates but that can be achieved without creating negative environmental impacts.

Any situation where a waste material has been repurposed, once, twice or more, effectively extends its lifespan and so diverts it from landfill with a concomitant avoidance of incurring extra energy and mass extracted raw from Planet Earth. This supports circular economy aspirations of the wastewater treatment industry.

Furthermore, to reduce environmental impacts from longdistance transport emissions and to help mitigate geopolitical risks and associated uncertainties with supply chain imports and increasing tariffs, sourcing local bioderived materials is optimal. These approaches align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), good health and well-being (SDG 3), and sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).

Respecting the planetary boundary of material limits by extending their use in NBS wastewater treatment and transitioning to biobased materials is not rocket science, nor technical any more – it’s Eco-logical.

The most challenging aspect of implementing solutions already established is transitioning mindsets and teaching leaders who make policy decisions, about the fundamental laws of mass and energy conservation and the appreciating assets of nature-based solutions.

Detail on regenerative materials and their application to solving specific water quality problems in Aotearoa New Zealand, is available in a forthcoming book on sustainable materials edited by Kim Pickering, with contributions from Aisling O’Sullivan.

Ensuring customer engagement is done well

By Richard Tooth, Sapere

An increased focus on customer and community engagement appears an inevitable outcome of the introduction of economic regulation in our water sector. In the past two decades regulators in Australia and the UK have increasingly required and/or incentivised utilities to have a greater customer focus, and this provides a great opportunity to learn from and improve upon their approaches to customer engagement.

This increased focus on engagement has led to significantly more customer engagement, but is there quality?

On the surface it seems positive. For the most part the key stakeholders seem happy. The customers appear to appreciate being consulted and the utilities are happy to engage (so long as they can recover their engagement costs). Furthermore, shifting the focus of utilities to answering to their customers may have reduced the tensions between utilities and their economic regulators.

However, a deeper look reveals issues. Much of the engagement undertaken by water utilities in the UK and Australia does not appear meaningful.

This was tested in the UK by recruiting customers to assess anonymised real examples of customer engagement. Most participants struggled with the research questions or concluded that, because they were unqualified, the questions were best answered by experts. These findings are sobering but not surprising.

A challenge to engagement is that people will dutifully offer an opinion, even when they are not sufficiently informed – an issue known as the uninformed response bias. This bias has been demonstrated in decades of research that finds people provide opinions on fictitious things (brands, people and institutions), and do so even when they have opportunity to respond ‘don’t know’.

Furthermore, these uninformed responses are not just random noise but are biased – influenced by related knowledge and cues that are available to the respondent. This bias helps to explain why in multiple surveys people have supported a ban of ‘dihydrogen monoxide’ (more commonly known as water) from the water supply.

It appears a lack of appreciation of this bias has led to water utilities, and even regulators, asking questions that consumers cannot meaningfully answer, and collecting responses that cannot be meaningfully interpreted. Economic regulators – who tend not to have customer engagement expertise – have provided little guidance to utilities.

There also appears to be a lack of discipline over the techniques that are used. It appears that some customer engagement is being conducted to meet the objective of ‘ticking the box’ for the regulator.

A risk is that utilities misinterpret the information obtained from customer research to justify decisions that are not in the customer interests.

This concern became prominent in a dispute between Ofwat (the economic regulator of water companies in England and Wales) and some water companies it regulates. The companies argued that Ofwat had ‘not adopted preferences indicated by their customers’. However, Ofwat responded by emphasising that customer and community

support for a project is not enough to justify the project.

Ofwat noted that ‘customer engagement was not intended to replace either the role or judgement of Ofwat’, that ‘there are areas where customers are not best-placed to determine whether a company’s business plan is appropriate’ and that ‘customer research varies in quality and can only ever imperfectly capture customers’ actual preferences’.

So, what should utilities do and what should regulators look for?

The first step for utilities is to be clear as to the purpose of engagement. In most industries a key purpose is to get feedback on products and services. By engaging with people with different experiences and perspectives, organisations can gain greater understanding and insights into issues and opportunities to improve services.

While this is also the case in the water sector, the opportunities are more limited as services are tightly regulated. Input is primarily needed on the value of avoiding disruptions to service such as those caused by physical breaks or by restrictions and the environmental impacts (both good and bad) in providing services. In undertaking such engagement, it is important to consider the uninformed response bias and ensure there is sufficient engagement with those who have experienced such disruptions.

On some other issues, utilities should be engaging relatively more than other sectors. For example, utilities should engage with customers on opportunities to improve their price structures as any reform results in a redistribution in how revenue is collected and, ultimately, the customers are best placed to assess what is fair and reasonable.

Another key purpose is for stakeholder management. Utilities need the trust and cooperation of their customers and community to deliver many of their services. It is critical that the community trusts their utility to provide quality drinking water and to dispose of wastewater appropriately.

The water utility also needs the community’s cooperation in reducing consumption during drought and will need the community’s acceptance for purified recycled water for drinking should it be introduced.

Engagement can also be valuable to improve decision-making by using customer representative groups (commonly in the form of citizen juries, or customer challenge panels). Such groups can address selected questions, independently review and challenge utility proposals and provide an independent perspective to the utility who may be blindsided by their groupthink.

Using customers for this purpose can be relatively cost-effective, ensures a customer focus and can enhance trust in the utility. However, as with other forms of engagement, there is a risk that such engagement is used inappropriately.

There can be great value in an increased focus on customer engagement but there are also risks. Utilities and regulators need to be clear on the purpose of the engagement and ensure that the engagement is both needed and meaningful.

Reliable Tanks, Effortless Service

Legal update

This article provides a brief update on where applications are up to under the Fast-Track Approvals Act 2024 since the April article. It also looks at the National Direction announcement from the Government and provides commentary on a recent report on wetlands. By Helen Atkins

Fast-Track Approvals Act 2024

At the time of writing this article, there are a number of listed projects that are in the process of having panels set up to consider the applications under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2025 (FTAA), as follows:

• Milldale: A continuation of a development in Wainui near Orewa in the Auckland region.

• Sunfield: A large development in the Papakura area of Auckland that comprises residential dwellings, a town centre, retail and healthcare buildings, retirement villages, open spaces, green links, recreation parks and reserves, and the potential development of a school.

• Drury Metropolitan Centre: A continuation of the development in Drury, Auckland, into a new town.

• Waihi North is the staged expansion of the

existing gold and silver mining operations in Waihi.

• Tekapo Power Scheme relates to the renewal of consents to continue to use, operate, and maintain the power scheme of Tekapo A and B power stations and substations.

Readers may have noted that it is not only listed matters that are covered by the Act. The Act also covers referred projects that must be approved by the Minister.

In a recent press release Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones noted that a number of referred applications had been made and were in the process of being determined. If favourable decisions about those projects are made then they will then follow the process in the Act as though they were listed projects.

More updates on the progress of projects under the FTAA will be included in future articles.

National Direction announcement

At the end of May submissions were invited on:

• Proposals to change or create various National Direction instruments for infrastructure, development and the primary sector;

• Options to amend freshwater National Direction; and

• How housing proposals could fit into the new resource management system.

Once finalised, these National Direction instruments will set resource management policy and rules for regional and district plans, policy statements and resource consent decisions.

The consultation for these runs until July 27. This article provides a brief summary but for more information, please visit the website of the Ministry for the Environment.

The intention of the Government is to make it easier for councils to plan and deliver infrastructure by making four new National Direction instruments (for infrastructure, granny flats (minor residential units), papakāinga, and natural hazards) and amending four existing National Direction instruments (for renewable electricity generation, electricity transmission, distribution and associated activities, and telecommunication facilities).

The aim for the primary sector is to enable growth by making changes to eight National Direction instruments (for marine aquaculture, commercial forestry, highly productive land, stock exclusion regulations, New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement) and the quarrying and mining provisions in

Helen Atkins, barrister/commissioner

National Direction for freshwater, indigenous biodiversity, and highly productive land.

In relation to freshwater, the Government is seeking feedback on options to amend freshwater National Direction to better reflect the interests of all water users, and on whether changes should be implemented under the RMA or new resource management legislation.

This feedback and further consultation will enable the development of a more detailed exposure draft of the proposed National Direction.

The Government is also seeking feedback on how the proposals in the first pillar of the Going for Housing Growth programme could fit into the new resource management system. This pillar aims to free up land for development and remove unnecessary planning barriers.

This package is a joint consultation run by the Ministry for Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry for the Environment.

The slippery question of how to define a wetland

In an article by Fox Meyer in Newsroom on June 6, the Government’s National Direction and the debate that took place in Parliament was explored. The article focussed on the somewhat vexed question of what is a wetland?

As noted in the article, our original wetlands are few and far between, with 90 percent of them being “swallowed up by development – mostly farming”.

As it currently stands, wetlands are defined by the Resource Management Act as land that is wet. The actual definition is: “Wetland includes permanently or intermittently wet areas, shallow water, and

land water margins that support a natural ecosystem of plants and animals that are adapted to wet conditions.”

This definition was expanded considerably in the 2020 National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) which particularly defines natural inland wetlands. This definition includes not only what a natural inland wetland is but also what it is not.

A natural inland wetland is not:

• In the coastal marine area; or

• A deliberately constructed wetland, other than a wetland constructed to offset impacts on, or to restore, an existing or former natural inland wetland; or

• A wetland that has developed in or around a deliberately constructed water body, since the construction of the water body; or

• A geothermal wetland; or

• A wetland that:

• Is within an area of pasture used for grazing; and

• Has vegetation cover comprising more than 50 percent exotic pasture species; unless

• the wetland is a location of a habitat of a threatened species as identified in the NPS-FM.

As the Newsroom article notes, this definition excludes pasture land. A wetland is not eligible for protection if it was in pasture grazing land and features more exotic plants than native ones – unless it was home to a threatened native species.

These restrictions in the NPS-FM mean farmers could not graze stock on certain areas of land but is largely an exclusion allowing grazing if the exclusions do not apply.

The solution that has been proposed by the Government in its National Direction

(Package 3) announcements is to axe the pasture-based exclusion but permit farming activities on or near all wetlands, thereby allowing grazing to resume in areas even where there are nationally threatened species.

With this change, those narrowly defined ‘maybe-wetlands’ were now to be considered genuine wetlands. With wetland grazing protections removed, as the article notes, “for a farmer, things do look set to get simpler.”

This ‘simpler’ approach is not proposed to apply for infrastructure developers and inadvertently (perhaps) creates a potential hurdle for that sector. The Newsroom article ask the question, for large infrastructure projects, such as highways, that may have no other choice than to run through a pasture wetland, does a similar exception that farmers have need to be made?

This issue, like many others, is under consideration by the Government and is part of the matters that they will inevitably hear from submitters and commentators on towards the end of July.

In the next article a few recent cases of interest will be reported on.

RMA legislation

The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill has been reported back from the Select Committee. Of concern to the water sector is that the definition of long-lived infrastructure does not include water. The Report will be considered by the House in due course.

We recognise the RMA will be replaced at the end of 2026 and that there will be other opportunities to address this oversight.

I will discuss this further in my next column.

Using AI/machine learning to enhance wastewater network operations and planning

By Steve Carne, director/principal of Taonga Water Advisory

The evolving wastewater discharge standards, being introduced by Taumata Arowai, are setting new requirements for all councils and council-controlled organisations (CCOs) to step up in their monitoring, management, and reporting of network overflows.

Aside from requiring a Wastewater Risk Management Plan, these draft standards mandate real-time monitoring and reporting of network overflows, compelling councils and CCOs to adopt new approaches for compliance monitoring and reporting.

Use of reliable and detailed SCADA records for pump stations and calibrated and verified network hydraulic models will become essential tools in order to meet these impending overflow monitoring and reporting requirements. Whether just these tools are completely sufficient for the required purposes remain to be seen.

As an example, in larger networks, on-going monitoring of a large number of overflow points may challenge available resources. In significant events, ‘alarm overload’ is a foreseeable outcome which will not advance operational outcomes.

The emphasis from Taumata Arowai is on proactive management, necessitating the adoption of technologies that can provide accurate, timely data on network performance. These standards will potentially require councils and CCOs to monitor and report network overflows in real-time, ensuring prompt response to potential pollution events.

Operational issues such as inflow and infiltration (I&I) and both dry and wet weather blockages continue to challenge the operability, efficiency and reliability of wastewater networks.

I&I refers to the unwanted entry of stormwater and groundwater into the wastewater system. This excess water can overwhelm treatment facilities, leading to overflows and increased operational costs. Identifying and mitigating I&I is crucial for maintaining system integrity.

Blockages in the sewer network can cause localised overflows, leading to environmental pollution and service disruptions. Blockages due to accumulation of fats, oils and greases (e.g. ‘fatbergs’) or tree roots or other debris are usually the main cause of dry weather overflows. Traditional methods of detecting blockages are often reactive, addressing issues only after they have caused overflows or other significant problems.

Advances in new IoT-based technologies for water level sensors in manholes have seen the costs for such monitors reduce significantly. Over the past seven years all of the 12 UK-based water companies

have deployed large-scale network manhole water level monitoring sensors in the tens of thousands across their networks.

Currently there are an estimated 130,000 level sensors deployed across networks operated by the water companies in the UK. Large programmes exist or are being considered closely in eastern Australia and here Watercare in Auckland is currently embarking on such similar undertaking.

Advances in mobile phone cellular technology and also in LoWaRan technologies have made such sensor programmes possible. (LoRaWAN is a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) protocol built upon the LoRa modulation technique, designed to enable long-range communication for battery-powered devices in IoT applications. It essentially provides a way for sensors and other IoT devices to connect to the internet over long distances while using minimal power.)

There are a number of sensors suitable for such applications. They all rely on a low-power battery power source for continuous operation. Brands that exist include HWM, Kallipr, Metasphere and Detectronics. Many use radar technologies to sense flow depth in the manholes. The University of Auckland’s engineering faculty has been carrying out significant research in relation to improved sensor technologies.

Most of these sensors are capable of recording sewer levels, to within a few mm accuracy, every 15 minutes (or less), and transmitting this data to a central system for viewing at least once a day.

Lessons learned from the UK indicates that the success of such programmes relies on the following four ‘pillars’:

1. Sensor suitability and reliability. Sensors are typically designed for minimal maintenance and opex requirements over a typical lifetime of five years.

2. Adequacy of sensor installation, including time to install (ideally less than 20 minutes per site).

3. Data connectivity and reliability, with some trunk sewers in remote and difficult-to-reach stream gullies where phone reception may not be adequate.

4. Analytics ability to ensure useability and dissemination of such huge quantities of data that are generated, including the ability to avoid ‘alarm fatigue’.

This data analytics ability is a relatively new but rapidly evolving technology. At its core is machine learning and AI capability that can readily make sense of so much data.

The AI needs to have the capability to report and alarm only data that is useful or critical in the operations and planning of the network performance. Operational reporting when sewer depth performance is outside machine-learned normal upper and lower bounds is a useful feature and the basis of alarm systems.

By providing real-time monitoring and predictive analytics, their solutions can enable councils and CCOs to meet reporting requirements and proactively manage network performance.

StormHarvester, a UK-based AI analytics company, is one of a very limited number of companies that offer solutions that address these analytics challenges. It leverages AI and machine learning to provide real-time insights into wastewater network performance.

Their software is in use by 11 of the 12 UK water companies. At these companies, it is utilised daily in control rooms as a single portal for proactive management of network and pump station operations performance. It is also a useful indicator of I&I performance in the network for planning functions within the companies.

As examples, it has been trialled and implemented with Southern Water and Wessex Water in England, with particular emphasis on addressing each of I&I and blockage challenges respectively for these water companies.

Southern Water – addressing inflow and infiltration

Southern Water serves over 4.7 million people across the UK, managing a vast wastewater network. I&I poses a significant challenge, leading to increased treatment costs and potential overflows into watercourses.

This technology has been instrumental in identifying areas with high I&I, enabling targeted interventions and significantly impacting planned capital spend.

The approach used individually trained machine learning algorithms for all network sensors in Southern Water, combined with hyperlocal rainfall, tidal, and groundwater data. The programme has highlighted a small number of I&I affected sites contributing to the majority of overflows.

Wessex Water – detecting and preventing blockages

Wessex Water, covering a population of 2.8 million, faced challenges with sewer blockages leading to service disruptions.

In a three-month trial, the AI system detected over 60 early blockage formations with 92 percent accuracy. This proactive approach allowed maintenance teams to address issues before they escalated, reducing control room alarms by 97 percent and preventing potential pollution incidents.

Based on the success of this trial, the project has now been scaled up to cover 1500 sensor signals across their network. The accuracy of alerts is largely due to the machine learnt real-time dynamic thresholds modelled for each individual site, which act as a trigger point for alert generation. These moving thresholds account for expected level changes during rainfall (reducing false positive alerts), as well as detecting ‘low flows’ indicating a potential blockage upstream.

As well as accuracy, dynamic threshold alerting is triggered significantly earlier in blockage formation when compared with traditional SCADA, which is typically based on percentage fill height.

In Figure 1, the upper dynamic alarming threshold adjusting to local rainfall is shown, based on this site’s historic reaction to rain events – avoiding triggering a false alert or ‘alarm fatigue’ at this site during a rainfall event.

As Taumata Arowai’s Wastewater Discharge Standards are further developed and then implemented, councils and CCOs will need to adopt new solutions to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.

AI-driven technology offers a now-proven approach to managing I&I and preventing blockages, as evidenced by their successful implementations with Southern Water and Wessex Water. Embracing such technologies will be important in meeting likely requirements contained in the Wastewater Discharge Standards.

Figure 1.

The waste hidden in our waste

Dr Helena Ruffell provides a brief overview of her MSc and PhD research undertaken at the University of Canterbury, tackling the issue of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants.

Plastic pollution is a pervasive problem worldwide, intensified by the exponential rise of plastic production. With time and exposure to environmental processes – chemical, microbial, ultraviolet (UV), and mechanical (wear and tear) – plastics fragment into microplastics. These are plastic particles less than 5mm in size, and include plastic purposely produced to be small, such as microbeads used as abrasives in personal cleansers and commercial cleaning products, glitter, and pre-production pellets.

As a result, microplastics are an emerging contaminant of concern, found in all environments on Earth, including the most remote locations such as Antarctica, and are ingested or taken up by virtually all living organisms.

While litter and mis-managed plastic waste are often regarded as major contributors to environmental microplastic pollution, a sneaky, unintentional pathway lies in our wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Many household plastic products, such as utensils, containers, drink bottles, sponges, brushes, carpets, blankets, and clothing, release microplastics during regular use and laundering into sewage networks. Wastewater treatment plants are not able to remove microplastics.

Master’s research undertaken at the University of Canterbury, confirmed the presence of microplastics in both the influent and effluent from four WWTPs in Canterbury. Microplastics were present at an average concentration of 2.4 particles/L in influent and 1.3 particles/L in effluent.

The most common shape of microplastic were fragments (53%), followed by fibres (40%), films (6%), and microbeads (1%). Polyester was the most predominant polymer type (46% in influent and 47% in effluent), followed by acrylic (10% in influent, 16% in effluent), polyethylene (15% in influent, 8% in effluent) and polypropylene (10% in influent, 7% in effluent).

While microplastics reduced in abundance by 47-72% from influent to effluent, more than 240 million microplastic particles exit these WWTPs daily and enter the Canterbury coastline with the discharged effluent.

These findings raised concerns about the fate of microplastics throughout wastewater treatment, including microplastics retention in the separated solid fraction/biosolids.

Few studies overseas had investigated microplastics in biosolids, with other organic matrices including soil and composts completely lacking. Around five to seven percent of all microplastics-related scientific literature published is dedicated to the terrestrial environment, with only a small portion of those being quantification studies.

The reasons soon became apparent as to why – how do you analyse microplastics (a solid) in solid organic matrices? With wastewater and other liquids, microplastics can be sieved or directly filtered for analysis.

However solid organic matrices presented a more challenging ‘needle in the haystack’ problem. Quantifying and characterising the microplastics in solid organic wastes and understanding the impact of microplastics in productive soil systems became the basis of this PhD research and will be discussed herein.

First, a method was developed to extract microplastics accurately and carefully from solid organic matrices. This involved chemically digesting the organic material and performing density separations to isolate the microplastics from the sample and onto a membrane filter. This membrane was then first visually inspected under stereomicroscope, where suspected microplastics were photographed and transferred with tweezers for spectroscopic analysis by micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to determine their unique plastic polymer type.

Biosolids and other organic wastes (including vermicompost, bulk compost, and bagged compost) were collected from five facilities of each sample type across the country and were analysed for microplastics. Microplastics were detected in every sample.

Biosolids and vermicompost contained the highest concentrations of microplastics (2.7 particles/g), followed by bulk compost (1.9 particles/g), and bagged compost (1.1 particles/g).

Across all organic waste sample types, fragments (63%) were the most common shape of microplastics, followed by films (25%), fibres (12%) and beads (0.4%).

Despite being banned in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2018, polyethylene microbeads were present in biosolids, vermicompost and bagged compost. Polyester glitter, of a range of sizes and colours, comprised 2.3 percent of all microplastics detected, and were present in all sample types. Polyurethane foam fragments, likely from cleaning sponges, comprised 1.8 percent of all microplastics and were the most prevalent in biosolids.

Of interest, acrylic multicoloured films, comprised 8.2 percent of all microplastics. These likely originated from printed patterns on ice cream containers, lunch boxes, egg cartons, loyalty cards, and mugs for example. Polypropylene and polyethylene were the most frequently detected polymer types (38% and 27%, respectively), followed by acrylic (12%) and polyester (7%).

Polymers considered to be biodegradable including polybutylene adipate phthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA) which are often

From Water New Zealand

In a recent Tawara o te Wai podcast, Helena discussed the impact of microplastic contamination in biosolids with host Jon Reed and David Romilly, an associate engineer at Aurecon and chair of the Water New Zealand biosolids subgroup of the wastewater special interest group.

Australian-based chemical engineer Deric Dignon, who’s been involved in the development of Australia’s first carbonisation facility for biosolids, also joined the discussion. You can listen on Spotify or by going to our website.

Water New Zealand has recently finalised the re-issue of Good Practice Guide for Beneficial Use of Organic Materials on Land You can find the guide in the resources page of our website.

used as waste bin liners and coffee cup lining and lids were detected in mature compost, suggesting these polymers were not able to be biodegraded during the composting process.

Approximately 1100-2700 microplastic particles will be introduced with every kilogram of organic waste applied onto land. Whilst the fate and behaviour of microplastics in soil is generally unknown, there is no evidence that any plastic (conventional or biodegradable) will ever biodegrade in soil. Over time they will accumulate with repeat applications of organic wastes.

Microplastics impact soil health by altering soil physical and chemical properties, along with changes in microbial community structure and function, and inhibition of plant processes such as germination, photosynthesis, growth, and reproduction.

Are there solutions?

Currently, there are no effective, scalable solutions for removing microplastics from soils. While fine filters (in homes/businesses or WWTPs) are sometimes proposed, they are not viable solutions due to clogging and failure to capture micro- and nanoplastics.

Examples of microplastic types. A. fragment, B. fibre, C. film, D. microbead, E. glitter, F. foam sponge, G and H. multicoloured film.

Microplastics smaller than 20 µm are the most abundant size fraction by mass and are the most difficult to detect. These particles are particularly concerning as they are the most toxic due to their bioavailability, where they can be taken up/ingested by a wider range of organisms and can cross biological barriers.

Reducing the use of unnecessary plastic products is the key to preventing microplastic contamination of the environment.

What you can do: small steps matter

• Wash synthetic (e.g. nylon, polyester, polypropylene, acrylic) clothing and textiles, like fluffy blankets and dressing gowns, less;

• Avoid wearing and washing makeup, glitter, and nail polish down the drain;

• Ditch the plastic in the kitchen (sponges, brush, utensils);

• Avoid products with printed plastic labels/motifs that shed from ice cream and yoghurt containers, lunch boxes, mugs, and also printed clothing;

• Choose products made of natural fibres like wool, cotton, linen, and hemp;

• Support policies and companies working to reduce plastic reuse and investing in reuse initiatives.

Helena completed her PhD last year and was supervised by Professor Sally Gaw and Professor Brett Robinson (both of the University of Canterbury) and Dr Olga Pantos (Institute of Environmental Science and Research).

Plastic-like materials that dissolve in the sea

Researchers in Japan are working on the development of new supramolecular materials that biodegrade in saltwater and could help address the microplastic pollution crises.

Microplastics now infiltrate every corner of our planet, from remote regions of the deep ocean and the Arctic, to the very air we breathe.

While the impact on the environment and human health is still not fully understood, these contaminants are known to cause a range of problems in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including slowing the growth of animals, which impacts fertility and causes organ dysfunction.

Seawater solution

At Riken, a research institute in Japan, scientists are aiming to tackle the problem of microplastics in the ocean with a new material that biodegrades in saltwater.

Similar in weight and strength to conventional plastics, the new material could chart a new path to reducing plastics pollution, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with burning plastics, says Takuzo Aida, a materials scientist who heads Riken’s Emergent Soft Matter Function Research Group.

This new plastic is a culmination of his three decades of pioneering work as an expert in materials called supramolecular polymers. Plastics are a type of polymer, which are comprised of small molecules bound into long chains by strong covalent bonds that require extensive energy to break.

In contrast, supramolecular polymers have weaker, reversible bonds “like sticky notes that you can attach and peel off,” explains Takuzo.

This gives supramolecular polymers unique properties, such as the ability to ‘self-heal’ when broken and then pressed back together. They are also easy to recycle, by using specific solvents to break down the materials’ bonds at the molecular level, meaning that supramolecular polymers can be easily reused and repurposed.

Unlocking bonds

Plastic products are everywhere for a reason, says Takuzo.

“Plastics, especially polyethylene terephthalate, which is used in bottles, are incredibly versatile. They are flexible but strong, durable and recyclable. It’s hard to beat that convenience.”

Biodegradable plastics have been touted as an alternative, but Takuzo says the speed and conditions at which they degrade have been a major challenge. For instance, he says, significant amounts of polylactic acid (PLA), a plastic that biodegrades in soil, have been found intact in the ocean because it takes too long to break down under standard environmental conditions. As a result, it eventually ends up intact in the ocean. Since plastics such as PLA are not water-soluble, they slowly break up over time into microplastics that cannot be broken down by bacteria, fungi and enzymes.

Driven by a sense of urgency for the planet’s future, Takuzo began seeking ways for supramolecular materials to overcome these challenges.

“But the reversible nature of the supramolecular polymer bonds are also their weakness, since the materials disintegrate too easily. This had limited their applications.”

His team set out to discover a combination of compounds that would create a supramolecular material with good mechanical strength, but

that can break down quickly under the right conditions into non-toxic compounds and elements. Takuzo had a specific reaction in mind, one that would lock the material’s molecular bonds and could only be reversed with a specific ‘key’: salt.

After screening various molecules, the team found that a combination of sodium hexametaphosphate (a common food additive) and guanidinium ion-based monomers (used for fertilisers and soil conditioners) formed ‘salt bridges’ that bind the compounds together with strong cross-linked bonds. These types of bonds serve as the ‘lock’, providing the material with strength and flexibility, explains Takuzo.

In their study, the team produced a small sheet of this supramolecular material by mixing the compounds in water. The solution separated into two layers, the bottom viscous and the top watery, a spontaneous reaction that surprised the team. The viscous bottom layer contained the compounds bound with salt bridges. This layer was extracted and dried to create a plastic-like sheet.

The sheet was not only as strong as conventional plastics, but also non-flammable, colourless and transparent, giving it great versatility. Importantly, the sheets degraded back into raw materials when soaked in salt water, as the electrolytes in the salt water opened the salt bridge ‘locks’.

The team’s experiments showed that their sheets disintegrated in salt water after eight and a half hours.

The sheet can also be made waterproof with a hydrophobic coating. Even when waterproofed, the team found that the material can dissolve just as quickly as non-coated sheets if its surface is scratched to allow the salt to penetrate.

Driving change

Not only is the supramolecular material degradable, but Takuzo hopes what is left after it breaks down could be usefully re-used. When broken down, his team’s new material leaves behind nitrogen and phosphorus, which microbes can metabolise and plants can absorb, he explains.

However, he cautions that this also requires careful management: while these elements can enrich soil, they could also overload coastal ecosystems with nutrients, which are associated with algal blooms that disrupt entire ecosystems.

The best approach may be to largely recycle the material in a controlled treatment facility using seawater. This way the raw materials could be recovered to produce supramolecular plastics again, he says.

In addition to developing alternatives to fossil fuel-derived plastic, Takuzo argues that governments, industries and researchers must also act decisively to drive change. Without more aggressive measures, the world’s plastics production, and corresponding carbon emissions, could more than double by 2050.

“With established infrastructures and factory lines, it’s extremely challenging for the plastics industry to change. But I believe there will come a tipping point where we have to power through change. And a technology like this will be needed when that time comes.”

Article provided by Riken

Tell us about your role at GHD I lead multidisciplinary teams across a wide range of three waters projects –from supply networks and treatment plants to stormwater systems and major roading. I’m involved from early concept through to construction and commissioning

I’ve worked across Alliance, ECI and design and construct contracts and often act as Engineer to Contract or Engineer’s Rep on big infrastructure builds

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering and how has that passion evolved over time?

I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do at school, but engineering’s versatility drew me in and that variety still keeps me hooked! I started out with a contractor in Scotland, then moved into consulting in New Zealand That site experience still shapes my approach, especially on complex projects

A career highlight was leading the design team during the ECI phase of the Ports of Auckland Stormwater Outfall project –now an award-winning collaboration between McConnell Dowell, Auckland Council and GHD. Projects like that remind me why I love engineering which is solving tough problems and turning big challenges into real outcomes

What do you love about working on community projects?

Since 2015, I’ve worked on infrastructure upgrades in the Cook Islands – including Te Mato Vai, the largest project ever undertaken there Seeing the difference clean, reliable water makes to communities is hugely rewarding. These days, my focus is on flood management, water security and sanitation – helping build resilience to climate change and disasters I love working closely with communities and seeing the direct, lasting impact of what we do

Get to know

David Sloan

As one of GHD’s Project Managers in the water space, David keeps things flowing, from concept to completion

He thrives on turning tricky challenges into clear, practical solutions. With a career that’s anything but dry, he’s passionate about delivering real benefits for communities and building climate resilience through smart, sustainable innovation

What are clients prioritising in todays projects?

Honesty and efficiency. Clients know things don’t always go to plan and value a no-surprises, solutions-focused approach

Progress matters, but it has to be balanced with managing budgets that are often tight Clients want to see every dollar spent wisely, and they expect us to get the fundamentals right For me it’s about delivering added value and innovation on top of that strong foundation.

From there, it’s about building trust, delivering what we collectively set out to achieve, and treating their budget like it’s our own

What future trends or innovations are you excited about?

Collaborative models like ECI and alliances are continuing to change the game – bringing everyone together early means better, more buildable solutions. It means we can spot constructability and operational challenges upfront and start building in solutions from day one.

I’m also excited by the focus on climate resilience and the smart tools now supporting that. It’s about staying practical, solving real problems and delivering outcomes that genuinely benefit communities

Connect with David

Scan the QR code to find him on LinkedIn

AI technology research to revolutionise aquaculture sector

Automating the aquaculture sector using University of Canterbury-designed AI and 3D technology has the potential to grow the industry, improve biosecurity management, and create new export opportunities.

The world-leading research shows immediate benefits to the Aotearoa New Zealand mussel industry alone could be worth up to NZ$80 million per year.

The programme involves using AI to accurately navigate autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) close to moving surfaces to take high quality images, collect samples, and reconstruct 3D images of species in fast moving water currents. The technology has the potential to go global by helping to improve access to food around the world.

Led by Professor Richard Green, from the Computer Science and Software Engineering department, the research programme focuses on using the technology to improve efficiencies in farming shellfish, ocean caged fin fish (salmon), and seaweed. It could also improve biosecurity monitoring, for instance wharf pylons could be checked for invasive species more frequently at less cost.

Richard says the work could transform the country’s future high-tech aquaculture sector.

“We are leading the world in this. To enable the expansion of our aquaculture sector, we need this technology. The natural progression is to figure out how we can improve world food security. By enabling more automation of the farming we are already doing, we could expand farming without it being prohibitively expensive.”

The Government’s aquaculture strategy set the goal of a $3 billion dollar aquaculture industry by 2035, with a $1 billion target for the Greenshell mussel industry. To achieve this, Richard says our aquaculture must increase innovation, sustainability and technological capability.

However, the sector has faced challenges collecting accurate data and samples due to the difficulty of capturing images of moving species in ocean currents.

Ten years of research has gone into Professor Green’s solution to these problems, including developing and testing AUV prototypes with visual recognition systems that can operate in changing underwater environments. The work means accurate digital 3D images can be taken of underwater species to monitor growth, and if marine pests and diseases are detected, they can be instantly removed.

“Our system will help to drastically improve yield prediction and accuracy and save operating costs for aquaculture industries. Removing invasive marine organisms will not only save costs but support adaptation to climate change by supporting our battle against the growing influx of invasive species driven by climate change.”

If adopted by the aquaculture sector, the technology could, within 10 years, lead to high-value manufacturing exports. It is predicted export revenue and savings from the sectors could reach more than NZ$100 million per year, he says.

A particular challenge has been adding AI into the navigation system to capture high-quality images of mussel ropes that are constantly moving in swells and currents. The team’s solution has been to predict

the 3D location of movement about a second into the future. They also propose the technology could be used with GPS to scan scallop beds, providing surveys of the seabed as an alternative to net dragging.

“Mechanical engineers have done wonderful work over the last century, but we have hit a level we can’t just automate with mechanical engineering; we now need AI and algorithms as well. I have been working in computer vision for 20 years, and in the last seven years we have seen an explosion of AI capability. This work all came together at the right time because we needed high-quality AI algorithms; really fast processing to make it faster and cheaper; improved camera technology; and LED lighting.

“All this technology has come together to enable this work. It couldn’t have been done 10 years ago.

“We’ve been working with a good cross section of representatives from the aquaculture industry, which has been really helpful to understand their needs and collect a lot more data.

“Our commitment to supporting Māori growth and interests is also long term and multi-faceted. We aim to provide collaboration, codesign, support, opportunity and adaptation at many levels to promote social welfare through high-tech career paths and increased profitability in the Māori economy.”

Article provided by University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Dropper with a developing crop of mussels.

‘Social housing underwater’ to restore marine life

A pioneering artificial reef initiative blends mātauranga Māori and science to regenerate biodiversity and protect taonga in Tauranga harbour.

A new initiative to enhance the resilience of marine life to the effects of climate change and human impact has launched in Tauranga Harbour.

Nine regenerative artificial reef systems have been deployed in the water to biomimic the habitats of our natural marine ecosystems in a bid to restore and protect biodiverse native marine life.

The project is a consultation between Deep Dive Division, the University of Waikato, local iwi, Hynds Pipe Systems and the Port of Tauranga.

The reefs, named Peara, meaning ‘pearl’ in te reo Māori and symbolising the nucleus of change, growth and life, were developed by Deep Dive Division co-founder Tua Karalus in response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, which wiped out a significant amount of marine life along the East Coast.

“It was devastating for local iwi and communities,” says Tua. “That was the motivation for me to create a solution that helps restore and protect this taonga.”

Deep Dive Division is the country’s only Māori and Pacific-owned commercial and scientific dive company. Tua says the team is committed to developing solutions that protect freshwater and marine environments, with a strong focus on regenerative outcomes.

“Being able to deliver this innovative solution is a huge milestone for us.

“Working with the Port of Tauranga has been a positive and collaborative experience. Rowan Johnstone, Pat Barrow, and Fenna Beets (from the Port’s engineering, civil works and environmental teams) have been incredibly supportive of our vision for regeneration in the harbour. Their backing has created a meaningful opportunity to enhance marine ecosystems.”

Peara marks the first time these reef systems are being tested in a live marine environment. Tauranga Harbour was

The team at Deep Dive Division.

Getting ready to send the artificial reef to the ocean floor.

chosen for its accessibility and suitability for close monitoring by Deep Dive Division’s commercial divers, alongside marine science researchers and students from the University of Waikato.

University of Waikato Professor Chris Battershill and Professor David Schiel from the University of Canterbury have been leading Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)-funded research to assess marine life loss in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Chris has worked closely with Tua on the development of Peara, providing scientific guidance on the conditions needed for marine ecosystems to regenerate. The Peara reefs are designed to support the growth of seaweed and shellfish, act as a wave break, and attract marine life. Inbuilt harmonics also help deter whales and reduce the risk of beaching.

By introducing hard substrates, such as natural marine rock or engineered structures like Peara, the reefs provide essential footholds for marine life to grow in sandy or silty environments that typically lack structure.

“The physical design of the reef structures, including their acoustic attributes, is informed by mātauranga Māori to encourage colonisation by native marine plant and animal species suited to harbour environments,” says Chris.

“These native colonisers help resist the spread of invasive species. Specifically, native kelps such as Ecklonia and Carpophyllum forest species, along with mats of turfing red seaweeds, provide habitat for important taonga like crayfish, kina and other invertebrates that also serve as food for fish. These reef outcrops offer refuge for marine biodiversity that is now rare or absent in the harbour.”

Tua says it was this understanding of how structure can restore and regenerate marine life that sparked the collaboration.

“Chris was the catalyst for my passion in marine science when I was at the University of Waikato, especially his knowledge of sponges. Our shared knowledge has created something uniquely suited to New Zealand’s marine heritage.”

The reef systems are the first of their kind in the country. Six of the structures were manufactured at Hynds Pipe

Systems under the leadership of Hynds Holdings director and R&D director Aaron Hynds, while the remaining three were constructed using a unique 3D concrete printing technique.

Incorporating both function and cultural meaning, the tailored reef designs support marine life while reflecting mātauranga Māori and Pacific iconography such as the koru, in line with the kaupapa of Deep Dive Division. Tua and coowner Courtney Karalus (Ngati Haaua) describe them as “social housing underwater”.

Monitoring will be carried out by researchers and students through dive surveys, underwater cameras and hydrophones. Data from the hydrophones will be analysed by Dr Jenni Stanley, an international marine acoustics expert from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (USA), now back home working at the University of Waikato in Tauranga.

PhD candidate Kia Maia Ellis (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Ruanui) will monitor the reefs for pēpi kōura (baby crayfish) as part of her research project, “Pēpi Kōura: A transdisciplinary mātauranga Māori and science approach to enhancement and resilience of puerulus kōura in a changing climate”. The research will explore whether these crayfish can be nurtured to adulthood in captivity then returned to the ‘safe haven’ nursery of Peara Reefs, to safeguard the species’ future.

Deep Dive Division will also install AI-enabled cameras to capture and analyse real-time data, tracking species growth, behaviour and environmental factors such as water salinity and temperature. Over time, this data will inform future reef placement and biodiversity strategies.

The trial is scheduled to run for an initial period of 24 to 36 months.

Article courtesy of the University of Waikato

Advanced radar tracks groundwater in California

Where California’s towering Sierra Nevada surrender to the sprawling San Joaquin Valley, a high-stakes detective story is unfolding. The culprit isn’t a person but a process: the mysterious journey of snowmelt as it travels underground to replenish depleted groundwater reserves. By

The investigator is a NASA jet equipped with radar technology so sensitive it can detect ground movements thinner than a coin. The work could unlock solutions to one of the American West’s most pressing water challenges – preventing groundwater supplies from running dry.

“NASA’s technology has the potential to give us unprecedented precision in measuring where snowmelt is recharging groundwater,” says Erin Urquhart, programme manager for NASA’s Earth Action Water Resources programme at NASA headquarters in Washington. “This information is vital for farmers, water managers, and policymakers trying to make the best possible decisions to protect water supplies for agriculture and communities.”

Tracking water beneath the surface

In late February, a NASA aircraft equipped with Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) conducted the first of six flights planned for this year, passing over a roughly 25-mile stretch of the Tulare Basin in the San Joaquin Valley, where foothills meet farmland. It’s a zone experts think holds a key to maintaining water supplies for one of America’s most productive agricultural regions.

Much of the San Joaquin Valley’s groundwater comes from the melting of Sierra Nevada snow.

“For generations, we’ve been managing water in California without truly knowing where that meltwater seeps underground and replenishes groundwater,” says Stanford University geophysicist and professor Rosemary Knight, who is leading the research.

The process is largely invisible – moisture filtering through rock and sediment, and vanishing beneath orchards and fields. But as the liquid moves downhill, it follows a pattern. Water flows into rivers and streams, some of it eventually seeping underground at the valley’s edge or as the waterways spread into the valley.

As the water moves through the ground, it can create slight pressure that in turn pushes the surface upward. The movement is imperceptible to the human eye, but NASA’s advanced radar technology can detect it.

“Synthetic aperture radar doesn’t directly see water,” explains Yunling Lou, who leads the UAVSAR programme at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “We’re measuring changes in surface elevation – smaller than a centimetre – that tell us where the water is.”

These surface bulges create what Rosemary calls an “InSAR recharge signature”. By tracking how these surface bulges migrate from the mountains into the valley, the team hopes to pinpoint where groundwater replenishment occurs and, ultimately, quantify the amount of water naturally recharging the system.

Previous research using satellite-based InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) has shown that land in the San Joaquin Valley uplifts and subsides with the seasons, as the groundwater is replenished

Emily DeMarco, NASA

This image from the MODIS instrument on NASA’s Terra satellite, captured on March 8, 2025, shows the Tulare Basin area in Southern California, where foothills meet farmlands. The region is a crucial area for groundwater recharge efforts aimed at making the most of the state’s water resources. Credits: NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview.

In 2025, NASA’s UAVSAR system on a Gulfstream-III jet (shown over a desert landscape) is conducting six planned advanced radar surveys to map how and where groundwater is recharging parts of California’s southern San Joaquin Valley.

by Sierra snowmelt. But the satellite radar couldn’t uniquely identify the recharge paths.

Rosemary’s team combined the satellite data with images of underground sediments, acquired using an airborne electromagnetic system, and was able to map the major hidden subsurface water pathways responsible for aquifer recharge.

NASA’s airborne UAVSAR system will provide even more detailed data, potentially allowing researchers to have a clearer view of where and how fast water is soaking back into the ground and recharging the depleted aquifers.

Supporting farmers and communities

California’s Central Valley produces over a third of America’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. The southern portion of this

PHOTO COURTESY OF: NASA

agricultural powerhouse is the San Joaquin Valley, where most farming operations rely heavily on groundwater, especially during drought years.

Water managers have occasionally been forced to impose restrictions on groundwater pumping as aquifer levels drop. Some farmers now drill increasingly deeper wells, driving up costs and depleting reserves.

“Knowing where recharge is happening is vital for smart water management,” said Aaron Fukuda, general manager of the Tulare Irrigation District, a water management agency in Tulare County that oversees irrigation and groundwater recharge projects.

“In dry years, when we get limited opportunities, we can direct flood releases to areas that recharge efficiently, avoiding places where water would just evaporate or take too long to soak in,” Aaron says. “In wetter years, like 2023, it’s even more crucial – we need to move water into the ground as quickly as possible to prevent flooding and maximise the amount absorbed.”

NASA’s expanding role in water monitoring

NASA’s ongoing work to monitor and manage Earth’s water combines a range of cutting-edge technologies that complement one another, each contributing unique insights into the challenges of groundwater management.

The upcoming NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission, a joint project between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) that was set to launch in June, will

provide global-scale radar data to track land and ice surface changes – including signatures of groundwater movement – every 12 days.

In parallel, the GRACE satellites – operated by the German Aerospace Center, German Research Centre for Geosciences, and NASA – have transformed global groundwater monitoring by detecting tiny variations in Earth’s gravity, offering a broad view of monthly water storage changes across large regions.

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment and Follow-On (GRACE and GRACE-FO) missions have helped expose major declines in aquifers, including in California’s Central Valley. But their coarser resolution calls for complementary tools that can, for example, pinpoint recharge hotspots with greater precision.

Together, these technologies form a powerful suite of tools that bridge the gap between regional-scale monitoring and localised water management. NASA’s Western Water Applications Office (WWAO) also plays a key role in ensuring that this wealth of data is accessible to water managers and others, offering platforms like the Visualization of In-situ and Remotely-Sensed Groundwater Observation (VIRGO) dashboard to facilitate informed decision-making.

“Airborne campaigns like this one in the San Joaquin test how our technology can deliver tangible benefits to American communities,” says Stephanie Granger, WWAO’s director at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “We partner with local water managers to evaluate tools that have the potential to strengthen water supplies across the Western United States.”

Water sector solutions to the biodiversity crisis

How water utilities, scientists and engineers in Australia are working to restore ecosystems, protect species and drive towards a nature-positive future. By Jen Walker.

Ten years ago, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity highlighted a crucial intersection between water management and biodiversity. Its Water and Biodiversity report called on the sector, including potable water supply, wastewater treatment and stormwater management, to not only mitigate its impact on ecosystems, but also harness the benefits biodiversity provides.

The message was clear: water security and conservation could –and should – go hand in hand.

In 2025, this principle is no longer a lofty ambition, but the starting point. In Australia, the water sector has moved well beyond regulatory obligations, embracing bold innovations to reverse species loss and regenerate ecosystems. From rewilding waterways to integrating nature-based solutions, areas of the water sector are actively shaping a future where water management drives environmental renewal.

Water professionals are driving biodiversity conservation through habitat creation, endangered species protection, and collaborative strategies for ecological resilience. With biodiversity loss accelerating under climate change, the challenge is clear: how can the sector lead the charge toward a nature-positive future?

Different reasons, same goal

Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are critical to the water sector’s ability to deliver safe and affordable services. As some of Australia’s largest landholders, water utilities manage vast areas of biodiverse land – including protected catchments, treatment wetlands and riparian zones.

These natural systems are essential for water extraction, treatment and discharge, making utilities both stewards of and stakeholders in environmental health.

Yarra Valley Water senior engineer Natalie Hackett says water utilities collectively manage over a million hectares in Australia, including protected catchments that safeguard drinking water quality, riparian corridors and land surrounding treatment plants. This gives the sector a unique opportunity to enhance biodiversity at scale. “Unfortunately, the World Economic Forum lists water management and its use as one of the top 10 threats to biodiversity, so we’re also part of the problem. But we have an opportunity with the available land at

many of our facilities, and the availability of recycled water, to create climate resilience,” she says.

Urban Utilities principal environmental scientist Cameron Jackson agrees. He believes it was about 10 years ago that his organisation realised how dependent it was on healthy ecosystems to keep their services affordable.

“We essentially extract all of our fresh water from Mother Nature, which drives very low-cost drinking water, and then at the other end, we put most of our treated effluent into the waterways, and rely on those waterways to safely process that residual pollution,” he says.

“If we have to look at other methods, it’s going to be a lot more expensive. That’s why we have to have a role in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection.”

For Natalie, the drive to halt biodiversity loss goes beyond wishful thinking – healthy ecosystems are fundamental to sustainable water management, and restoring them supports environmental and cultural outcomes.

“In 2024, I presented a paper at the International Water Association Congress in Canada, highlighting the opportunities and benefits for water utilities in prioritising biodiversity,” she says.

“There’s still work to be done to shift the perception of biodiversity from a ‘nice-to-have’ or co-benefit to a key priority with tangible advantages. Endemic species are part of a nation’s culture, but there’s little distinction made between a nation’s loss of biodiversity and the impact it is having on traditional custodians. We have a great opportunity here. Part of enabling caring for country is to help restore that country, so the traditional custodians can then manage that land on everyone’s behalf.”

Water in all its forms

While the water sector’s role in providing drinking water and wastewater services is well known, its impact on biodiversity extends beyond these to include the management of stormwater, which directly affects the health of waterways and the species that depend on them.

Professor Tim Fletcher, part of the Waterway Ecosystem Research Group at the University of Melbourne, says it wasn’t until the 1990s that the link was made between runoff from urban areas and the degradation of streams, and even longer before the significance of the problem was realised.

“It’s been shown in research, here and in the US, that if even just half a percent of a catchment is an impervious area directly connected into the stream, there will be substantial

Left: The Upper Yarra River Reserve.

Below left: Helmeted Honeyeaters are being bred under a captive breeding programme for reintroduction into the wild over time, in hopes to increase their population and save the endangered species from extinction in the wild.

Below right: Platypus in the Yarra River.

degradation and loss of many of the species,” he says.

“One of the delays in tackling the issue has been that we initially thought, ‘Oh, it’s just a pollution problem’. Yes, there is pollution generated on these impervious surfaces, but even if that water was clean, you’re still getting degradation, because the amount and the timing of that water is completely changed.”

Tim says there was research that showed how the water in many streams is decades old; the natural environment acts as a sponge and releases water gradually. Urbanisation removed this process, creating peak flows that can wash away species in the waterway, as well as erode their habitat.

Regenerating ecosystems

Natalie’s project involves using recycled water to create more than 35 hectares of woodland and wetlands around the Upper Yarra Sewage Treatment Plant, aimed especially at creating habitat for endangered helmeted honeyeaters and Leadbeater’s possums. Recycled water from the plants will support swamp forest habitat.

Working with Traditional Custodians, Greening Australia and Zoos Victoria, the site will become not only a rewilding site, but also contribute to wildlife corridors that give nature space to adjust to climate change.

“We are evolving in our thinking, and our action on climate change cannot be uncoupled from biodiversity loss. They are deeply intertwined,” she says.

“This project is a great example of where we are not only enhancing biodiversity, but we’re sequestering carbon and mitigating the effects of climate change, as well as supporting endangered species.”

Urban Utilities bought a farm adjoining its Helidon Sewage Treatment Plant that was a repository for its recycled water and is turning it into a blue gum forest. Almost 3000 seedlings have been planted on seven hectares in the first phase of the project.

“We can irrigate that sustainably for 25 years, and we have enough land to be able to replicate the forest up to about 33 hectares, which gives us about 60 to 80 years of servicing,” Cameron says.

The property adjoins 100 hectares of existing, conserved koala habitat.

“It’s operationally cheap; after the first five years, the trees tend to look after themselves. It is a great biodiversity outcome.”

Large-scale examples of biodiversity-focused wastewater management also exist, such as Melbourne Water’s Western Treatment Plant, where treatment wetlands now provide critical habitat for thousands of waterbirds.

Beyond gumboots and spades

Biodiversity projects don’t all involve planting trees. Many reflect innovative uses of technology to save our natural environment. Tim is working on a system of smart water tanks and urban lakes to protect platypus habitat in Monbulk Creek in Victoria.

“We’re building a network similar to that of solar energy, where you give excess energy back to the grid,” he says.

“Our software will control hundreds of water tanks so that when enough rain is predicted to make tanks overflow, it will start a controlled release, reducing the risk of flooding and subsequent erosion of waterways. And when there is very little water in the creek, we will take a pre-agreed amount out of those tanks to provide enough water to support platypus habitat.”

The aim is to have 300 households connected, as well as three

to four large urban lakes, to provide a greater ability to regulate the flows provided to the creek. In Queensland, Urban Utilities wanted to learn more about its receiving environment as part of its environment strategy.

“Previously, we’ve relied on the regulator to tell us what to do. Now we have a digital twin of the whole Brisbane River and Moreton Bay which we use to do all of our environmental planning.”

“It is helping us to better understand the impacts our sewerage assets might have on local biodiversity and guides us on the best use of our dollar for environmental improvement. It’s taken us five years to build, but now it gives us a science-based platform to make investment decisions that benefit the environment.”

A holistic approach

Cameron believes one of the main challenges for the water sector is rethinking the role of wastewater treatment plants – not just as infrastructure for waste processing, but as active contributors to local ecosystems.

“The light on top of the hill is urban ecological mutualism. How do we use a wastewater treatment plant to enhance local aquatic ecosystem services?

“Maybe it’s releasing selected nutrients into the natural system at the right time to stimulate phytoplankton growth and the higher food chain. It’s about how we can fine-tune and optimise existing water sector infrastructure in a nature-positive way.”

In Tim’s ideal world, developers would be incentivised to use nature-based solutions to support biodiversity.

“My dream would be for all stormwater to be used as much as makes sense at the source, so people are harvesting it, using it and integrating it into their water supply system,” he says.

“We’d be able to manage flows into streams so they’re close to natural, and that harvested stormwater is transported back up to a treatment plant and into one of the existing reservoirs and be treated to potable. And in the streetscapes, water is filtered back into the ground at the natural rate to support vegetation.

“If you think about it, why does a water utility exist? The boringly obvious answer is to supply water and water services, but actually it’s more profound than that.

“They are there to improve the life of society in their area; to provide health, to provide recreation, and if you can do so in a way that’s preserving a really nice environment, you’re not just protecting biodiversity, you’re protecting the community.”

This article first appeared in Current and is reprinted here with permission of the Australian Water Association.

A lowland Leadbeaters possum. Known as forest fairies, this small possum was once thought to be extinct and is only found in Victoria.

PHOTO COURTESY OF: ZOOS VICTORIA.

Antarctic footprint clean-up challenges

How a remote Antarctic base clean-up protected one of Earth’s clearest lakes.

The clean-up and site restoration of a New Zealand research station in Antarctica has provided valuable lessons on the challenges of contaminated sites, according to a study in the journal Polar Record, recently published by Cambridge University Press.

The study found that while tonnes of contaminated materials were removed from the former Vanda field station, some residual contamination still remained. However, the remediation of the site in Antarctica’s Dry Valleys, which had served as a research base for a quarter of a century, didn’t affect measurably the water quality of the area’s largest and deepest lake or the biological communities that colonised the station footprint.

There was no detectable human-induced environmental change to the pristine Lake Vanda following the decommissioning of the research station, conclude researchers from NIWA, Waikato and Canterbury universities, and Antarctica New Zealand.

The successful site rehabilitation shows that in a harsh environment, amongst delicate ecosystems, it is possible to ensure minimal impact from the restoration of a contaminated site, says NIWA aquatic scientist Dr Clive Howard-Williams.

“Located in Antarctica’s largest ice-free area, the arid Dry Valleys, Vanda Station is one of the few research stations that have been decommissioned under more stringent Antarctic environmental standards.

“Neither minimising human impact nor climate change may have been top-of-mind when construction commenced in 1968. The eight-building complex was built on a ridge 200 metres away from Lake Vanda, which has a depth of 78 metres and some of the clearest water on earth, with a unique warm bottom layer that is more saline than the Dead Sea.”

The station facilities included a workshop, lab, generator room, huts for a dozen people, and a toilet above a removable drum, with a tractor hauling supplies and fuel from three helicopter landing areas to the station.

The station was occupied every summer from 1968 (and even had staff year-round for three winters), hosting scientists, surveyors, maintenance staff, aircraft crews and VIPs.

By the time it was closed in 1992, the site had hosted nearly 17,000 person-days – the equivalent of nearly 46 years. For a polar desert site, this is a substantial human footprint, says Antarctic inland water expert and veteran of more than three decades in the Dry Valleys, Dr Ian Hawes of Waikato University.

It wasn’t the cumulative human impact that prompted the decision to close the research station, but the consequences of changes in climate.

“While the station was located 15 metres above the level of the large, ice-covered Lake Vanda, over time more glacial meltwater flowed from Antarctica’s longest waterway, the Onyx River, into the closed-

basin lake. So by 1991, it was just 2.5 metres below the site. The threat of inundation meant removing the buildings and structures became critically important.

“In 1991, the Antarctic Treaty Parties had just agreed on the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, which provides for the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment. Its Annex III on waste management and disposal outlines the requirements for the management of wastes associated with present and future activities.

“Annex III called for programmes to clean up existing waste disposal sites and abandoned work sites so long as their removal didn’t result in a greater environmental impact than leaving the structure in its existing location.

“It was decided that decommissions of the station would be compliant with the Protocol even though New Zealand did not implement the Protocol into domestic legislation until 1994 as the Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act.”

One concern was that compounds not normally found in the lake, such as organic phosphates, hydrocarbons, fats and soot, might contaminate Lake Vanda, says Ian.

“A site survey found soil contamination around the station and other locations with hydrocarbons and domestic waste, including high metal concentrations, and contamination associated with detergents, food scraps, packaging and fuels, particularly in the area known as Greywater Gully.

“If contaminants or nutrients were released into the lake, it could affect the unique microbial mat communities that grow on the floor of Lake Vanda. So, a great deal of effort was put into removing the most contaminated soils and groundwater before the site was flooded.

“To assess the effectiveness of the rehabilitation, these microbial mats have been monitored, along with levels of trace metals and nutrients in the lake water at the station site.”

Rather than return the site to a pristine state, the plan focused on ensuring minimum impact on the lake ecosystem, ensuring that benefits outweighed the damage of remediation activities, says Clive.

“The plan included excavating and removing the soils and contaminated groundwater, including lead-based painted rocks and fuel-splattered dirt, and returning the terrain to a more natural, prehuman appearance.

“Around 400kg of contaminated groundwater from the gully along with 7000kg of soil were shipped back to Scott Base for treatment and disposal.”

Results showed that while initial research suggested contaminants from the gully could potentially impact the lake’s ecosystem, 20 years after decommissioning and the complete flooding of the site, there was no evidence of contaminants entering the lake water. Additionally, the microbial communities colonising the station site were not

significantly different from those developing in uncontaminated areas.

Clive says while recent guidelines on cleaning up contaminated sites in Antarctica outlined in the Antarctic Clean Up Manual are useful, challenges remain particularly when not much is known about the consequences of contamination of Antarctic ecosystems.

“It has been estimated that across Antarctica there may be around two million cubic metres of abandoned waste materials and hydro-carbon contaminated sediment. Effective remediation in Antarctica requires early planning, robust environmental baselines,

and adaptive strategies grounded in research – recognising that full decontamination is rarely possible and must be balanced against the risk of further environmental harm.

“Despite the lack of comparable data, detailed clean-up guidelines, and contaminant baselines, Vanda’s clean up not only demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to good environmental management, but it will also serve as an example to other countries involved in operations across Antarctica.”

Article provided by NIWA

• Design and supply of digester and large tank mixing systems for major cities across NZ & Australia. Each system is performance guaranteed.

• Centrifugal and positive displacement solids handling pumps for municipal, industrial and agricultural wastewater sludges.

• Rotary drum screens

• Sludge heat-exchangers

• Macerators & chopper pumps

The old Vanda Station site is now underwater.

Lake restoration gets global spotlight

An ambitious plan to reverse the decline of the largest lake in Northland is set to gain global attention at an upcoming international gathering of lake management experts in Australia. The restoration plan for Lake Ōmāpere, a polluted lake prone to toxic algal blooms located near Kaikohe, is being presented to industry leaders, decision-makers, practitioners and researchers this month at the World Lake Conference in Brisbane.

Representatives of the Lake Ōmāpere Trust have been invited to the sustainable lake event to outline their comprehensive plan which aims to revive the mauri of the lake by improving water quality, restoring indigenous biodiversity, and ensuring a sustainable resource to support the well-being of the community as it once did over 50 years ago.

The 12.3 square kilometre Lake Ōmāpere is around 2.6 metres deep, but during summer it drops to as low as 1.5 metres. Two centuries ago, the lake, which sits in a volcanic area, was much deeper and was regarded as a food basket (pātaka kai) of Ngāpuhi. However, since the 1800s the felling of surrounding forest has allowed sediment to wash into the lake and reduce its depth.

The Ngā Kaitiaki o Te Roto Ōmāpere restoration plan, created with the guidance of whānau, hapū, iwi, and community, has been supported by freshwater, ecological and agricultural science experts, including NIWA, the Department of Conservation, 2022 Kiwibank New Zealand Senior of the Year Rereata Makiha, and internationally-acclaimed lake restoration expert Professor David Hamilton.

The plan addresses water resilience and water quality issues, evident in the 2020 drought when attempts by the Far North District Council to access the lake as an emergency water source for Kaikohe failed due to concerns over water quality.

Far North District Council mayor Moko Tepania is excited about the restoration plan: “I congratulate the Lake Ōmāpere Trust on the significant mahi to incorporate multiple outcomes, including green infrastructure, flood resilience, and water resilience into the restoration project.”

The scientific basis for the restoration plan has been supported by NIWA. Last year the Crown Research Institute completed a review of over four decades of research conducted on Lake Ōmāpere, which included the 2021 feasibility to raise the lake level by 2.5 metres for the purpose of water storage however failed

to demonstrate that water quality would in fact improve for the purpose of community use.

Building relationships and working together is vital to the success of the plan, says NIWA chief scientist Dr Erica Williams: “Our long-term relationship with the trust is important, and as partners we can support the environmental and water quality outcomes of the restoration plan, as well as efforts to restore indigenous biodiversity, working alongside DOC to bring back species such as the endangered quillwort plant, Isoëtes kirkii.”

Selection for the World Lake Conference recognises the inclusive, collaborative nature of the trust’s plan, says trustee Ani Martin: “What is most important is the relationships that have been built throughout Northland and across New Zealand to support the restoration of our treasured taonga. The plan reflects the deep relationships we’ve built.”

The plan addresses current and pressing issues for the region, including climate resilience and biosecurity, with the conference presentation another positive in the relationship between the regional council and the Trust, which was formalised in 2023, says Northland Regional Council Chair Geoff Crawford. “It puts Northland on the world stage regarding water quality and biodiversity efforts”.

Professor Hamilton says that hearing about the Lake Ōmāpere restoration plan at the World Lake Conference is critical for international practitioners. For too long, and even now in many parts of the world, the philosophy has been ‘we are the scientists…we know what is best for you’. This approach fails to recognise and engage with community, iwi and policy makers, particularly Indigenous knowledge holders. Hearing about the Lake Ōmāpere restoration plan will provide the global audience with an opportunity to understand a different, Global South perspective.

Article provided by NIWA

When every drop counts

For over 90 years ADR has been there for New Zealand water authorities and Councils with our fieldsmart technology.

From metering to control systems to pump controllers, we offer insight and expertise in the technology that helps you manage water and waste water to a high standard, with resources that are always limited.

The role of water, sanitation, and hygiene in empowering women and girls

Across the Pacific, millions of women and girls face daily challenges in accessing clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene; challenges that are intensified by climate change.

Achieving gender equality starts with water. A lack of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) affects women disproportionately, due to biological and social factors. WASH is essential to meeting women’s specific practical needs, and for their social and economic development, contributing towards gender equality and fulfilling their rights.

Globally, seven in 10 women and adolescent girls are responsible for collecting water when it’s not at home. If everyone, everywhere, had clean water close to home, between 2021 and 2040, it would free up more than 77 million working days for women each year.

In the Pacific, climate change is making water scarcer and less predictable. Rising sea levels are contaminating freshwater sources, longer dry seasons are making it harder to find clean water, and extreme weather events are wiping out fragile WASH infrastructure overnight.

For women and girls, these challenges have cascading effects. Less time for education, fewer economic opportunities, and increased exposure to disease. WaterAid’s work is focused on breaking this cycle.

In Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Timor-Leste, WaterAid works alongside communities to build resilient, inclusive WASH systems that help women and girls live healthier, safer lives, no matter what the climate brings.

Globally, every year, more than one million mothers and babies die from preventable infections. Many of these deaths could have been avoided with better access to WASH facilities, which play a crucial role in improving maternal health outcomes during pregnancy, delivery, and after birth.

In PNG, maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world. Women have no choice but to give birth in healthcare facilities that lack the basic necessities of clean water, toilets, and somewhere to wash your hands.

Recognising this urgent need, WaterAid supported the National Department of Health to develop the WASH in Healthcare Facilities National Guidelines and Roadmap. These frameworks are designed to ensure that by 2030, every hospital, healthcare centre and aid post in PNG will have access to safe water, decent sanitation, and good hygiene services. Access to clean water during childbirth can mean the difference between life and death. Proper hygiene practices reduce the risk of infections for both mothers and newborns, giving families a stronger start to life.

In Timor-Leste, WaterAid is working with healthcare centres to improve water systems, install gender-sensitive toilets, and promote hand hygiene practices. These are simple interventions that have powerful

impacts on maternal and newborn survival. Access to menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is another critical focus of WaterAid’s work. For many girls in PNG and Timor-Leste, getting their period means missing days, and sometimes weeks, of school due to a lack of safe, private toilets and culturally sensitive support.

WaterAid works with schools to install gender-segregated, accessible toilets and to provide menstrual hygiene education. We engage teachers, parents, and communities to help break down harmful myths and taboos surrounding menstruation.

When girls can manage their periods safely and with dignity, they are more likely to stay in school, complete their education and achieve their full potential.

WaterAid also supports local leaders – especially women – to have a voice in water governance. By empowering women to be part of decision-making processes, we ensure that WASH solutions meet the needs of the entire community and are built to last.

Article provided by WaterAid Australia

Sister Jocelyn Leo prepares instruments at Balam Community Health Post, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea. PHOTO