The New Zealand Aqua Republica Eco Challenge 2016
Aqua Republica is an online not-for-profit ‘serious’ game which has been developed by the Centre on Water and Environment, a partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme and DHI Water and Environment (DHI).
The centre was created with the aim of promoting sustainable water resources management by sharing knowledge, raising awareness and building capacity in some of the most critical issues in managing the use and protection of freshwater from rivers, streams, lakes and aquifers.
A New Zealand unique version of Aqua Republica is due for completion by 30 August 2016 and will be launched through an interschool competition known as ‘The NZ Aqua Republica Eco Challenge’, or ‘NZAR Eco Challenge’, targeting intermediate and secondary schools between 5 and 16 September 2016.
The game enables participants to simulate catchment management decision-making in an interactive and engaging way, based on real-life New Zealand scenarios. It highlights challenges of managing water resources in a situation of growing demand between multiple users and community needs.
The central reasons for carrying out this project is to raise awareness of environmental management amongst school-aged children: increased familiarity with terminology used in the field of water will be determinable. A growing workforce of skilled and engaged professionals will be required to meet the coming challenges in the fields of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and water technologies, particularly where complex trade-offs and compromises between human development and the environment are concerned. We seek to foster interest in this topic and potentially lead young adults to consider careers in these areas, which will become ever more important as the climate changes and human populations grow and continue to stress the environment.
The first NZAR Eco Challenge will reach the regions of Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Auckland, Tasman and the Waikato. Interested community groups are also able to play the game through contacting the Science Learning Hub.
Click through to the website to take a look at who is involved and what the game is all about.
Rose Jowsey
MPbD & The ACADEMY Business Coordinator
MIKE Powered by DHI
The summer pooswater blues
Jill McKee
The Oreti River near Wallacetown. Find somewhere else to swim.
EDITORIAL: For very good reason indeed, people are shunning once-favoured recreational cavorting spots in Southland rivers.
Stomach flu, urinary tract infections, neonatal meningitis for heaven's sake, are among the cocktail of consequences they might now be risking by plunging or tipping themselves into rivers where E coli levels become alarmingly risky.
Putting aside the sheer environmental concerns - but gently, because we'll need to pick them up again soon enough - this is increasingly becoming a major cultural disappointment.
Yes, we still have our coast and the lakes remain in good nick. But Southland is a flood plain. These rivers are arteries whose contribution to our wellbeing has in some measure always included recreational fun.
Lost capacity to lark about in them is, in itself, no minor thing.
Generations of Southlanders have disported themselves in so many of the areas where it now becomes foolhardy to frolic - never moreso, it seems, than in summer holiday conditions.
The Aparima River at Thornbury, the Oreti at Winton Bridge and Wallacetown, the Waikaia at Waikaia, the Mataura at Riversdale and Gore, the Waiau at Tuatapere, all of them now assailed by faecal contaminants.
It's not that they were previously pristine but you didn't hazard gutwrenching distress.
Environment Southland is working to identify sources of contamination. You'd struggle to imagine a more basic requirement of its role, though the task of doing so, for reasons of complexity or resourcing, appears to have been beyond council.
For many people the finger of suspicion isn't so much pointed at the dairy boom as inserted shoulder-deep into it.
Measures have already been undertaken to address the degradation of our waterways, to an extent that farmers are feeling picked on. November's Environment Aotearoa report however, had much to say about the impact of farming on freshwater quality and the Land and Water Forum last year recommended all plains and lowland-dwelling dairy cattle and pigs be excluded from waterways by 2017, and beef cattle and deer by 2025.
Intensified farming is absolutely part of the problem but, as reproachful farmers keep reminding us, by no stretch of the imagination all of it.
Human contributions will also be a factor here, as will the ploppings of water fowl, with weather also factoring into problematic periods. Hopefully, the ES work will help us better determine which areas need more attention than they're getting.
- Stuff
View the full article here.
'Unexplained emptying' causes 200,000 litres of water to disappear from Glenorchy supply
Where has 200,000 litres of water disappeared to from Glenorchy?
That is the question staff at the Queenstown Lakes District Council have been trying to answer for two days.
On Sunday the council reported an "unexplained emptying" of the town's water reservoir sometime in the afternoon or evening.
Council communications manager Michele Poole said "an estimated 200,000 litres of water was drawn down in a short time", which almost resulted in the entire town running out of water.
"Put it another way, that's 200 tonnes of water," Poole said.
Engineers were able to reduced the "massive outflow" from the reservoir, with the town's water supply being maintained by a bypass direct from the bore to the town, but were still trying to trace the cause.
"We do know that it wasn't a burst main or infrastructure failure, because the outflow stopped around the time that we publicised the problem and [there] was no trace of large amounts of water ponding anywhere," Poole said.
It was also not believed to have resulted from developers working in the area.
"What we don't know is who was responsible or what they were using the water for," Poole said.
"This sort of draw down you can't attribute to people watering their lawns at the same time.
"It's a huge volume of water to disappear in a short time," she said.
The council was urging anyone in the town to contact them if they saw anyone connecting to a hydrant on the road, or any unusual activity involving water, tankers or irrigation.
Other leads which had been provided to the council had been followed up but had not found the cause of the water disappearance.
The reservoir returned to normal on Monday.
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Oxfam Water Challenge
How about making one more resolution and make a real difference in the lives of others. You can do this by signing up for Oxfam Water Challenge 2016! Join us and help get to our target of $50,000 to fund a vital Water, Sanitation and Hygiene project in Melanesia. The challenge day is Saturday 20 February 2016 and it’s sure to be an enjoyable way for you and your colleagues to compete with other engineers on a water delivery task, while supporting communities in the Pacific.
Christchurch rowers battle sewage on Avon River
Christchurch rowers are up effluent creek.
The region's crews are unhappy about having to train with sewers emptying out into the Avon River but in the absence of other facilities, have no option other to row through.
Rowing New Zealand president John Wylie, who is based in Christchurch, said the situation was "disgusting".
ANNA PRICE/FAIRFAX NZ
Rowing New Zealand president John Wylie says is is "disgusting" that Christchurch rowers train in the Avon River, which has sewage streaming into it.
An Environment Canterbury (ECan) report released in December found Kerrs Reach, where the rowers train, and the Heathcote River's Catherine St site were polluted by human faeces while at a base flow level.
"Rowers are seeing [sewage] all the time. We have no option but to go out in it," Wylie said.
"I shudder to think of what they have to put up with."
Rowers were a hardy bunch and it was not the elitist sport people made it out to be, Wylie said.
Though they had been forced to put up with a lot since the earthquakes, he said.
McGregor Best, a 15-year-old rower for Shirley Boys' High School, has seen a lot of pollution while training on the river, including doors, a fridge and half a couch.
"It smells really bad in some places," he said.
Canterbury Rowing Club captain Michael Petherick was not able to single out one particular area of the Avon where the effluent was spilling out.
"It moves around as infrastructure works are happening," he said.
"We usually get emails warning us there is going to be an outflow."
Although it was not particularly nice to see the sewage floating about as they rowed, it had not had any detrimental effects on the rowers.
"We haven't had any problems with people getting sick."
Although the pollution problem had increased since the earthquakes, Petherick said it was nothing new.
"The Avon has always been polluted. It's never been somewhere you would go and have a swim."
ECan monitoring and compliance area leader David Noakes said the regional council was "very aware of faecal contamination in the Avon River".
He urged anyone that saw effluent in the river to contact ECan.
Noakes believed effluent getting into the river was due to infrastructure issues, including the state of pipes in the city, which fell to the city council to fix.
Christchurch City Council waters and waste manager John Mackiesaid the council was unaware of any sewage spillages into the Avon.
"Overflows are rare and when notified of problems we respond quickly to fix them," he said.
If people were aware of an issue, they should contact the council, Mackie said.
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Draft regulations for work involving hazardous substances open for comment
The government is seeking feedback on regulations for work involving hazardous substances currently prescribed under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act). The regulations will impact on water treatment operators storage and use of common drinking water treatment chemicals. Consultation on changes to the regulations is open until 26th February. Use this link to review the changes and have your say. http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/employment-skills/workplace-health-and-safety-reform/development-of-regulations-to-support-the-new-health-and-safety-at-work-act/exposure-drafts-of-phase-one-regulations/draft-regulations-for-work-involving-hazardous-substances
Water New Zealand Board Oxfam Water Challenge Fundraiser
The Water New Zealand Board walked, jogged and cycled the 111km long Waikato River Trail in mid-January over their summer break as their main fundraising event to raise funds for the Oxfam Water Challenge for charity in February 2016. The main purpose is to raise funds for improved sanitation in Papua New Guinea.
The Water New Zealand Board would like to thank all those that support them in this challenge.
View images of the Board members and their families completing this challenge here.
World-class drinking water threatened by deeper quarrying
CHARLIE MITCHELL
Christchurch's drinking water, sourced from aquifers beneath the city, is among the best in the world, with a quality similar to bottled mineral water.
It is naturally filtered through gravel and sand from the Waimakariri River, which means it can be consumed untreated.
Helen Rutter, a senior groundwater hydrologist who will provide expert evidence on the applications, said quarrying closer to the aquifers would come with risks.
She said the quality of the material used as backfill would need to be carefully monitored to ensure contaminated material did not leach into the groundwater.
Other issues included spillages from machinery and waterfowl contamination.
"When you're going close to the water table, there's always an issue with potential contamination," she said.
"As long as you're above the groundwater, and you've got a spill, you can clean it up quickly. If you've got groundwater inundating the base of the quarry, then that can be an issue, because things can get straight into it."
Any contaminants present in backfill could leach into the groundwater, she said.
In most cases, the quantity of groundwater would dilute any contamination, but the risk increased with the number of quarries proposing to dig deeper.
"If you've got one quarry that's got fill with contaminants in it, then it will get diluted. If you've got a whole load of them . . . every time you add another one, it has a cumulative effect."
Some residents near quarries have vehemently opposed the application, as have environmental groups concerned about the threat to the city's aquifers.
Robert Wynn-Williams, the former chair of the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board who lives near a quarry, cited international examples of unpredictable effects of quarrying into groundwater.
"Due to the very unpredictable nature of the outcome of quarrying into the water table both internationally and in Canterbury in particular, it is impossible to predict the long term outcome of quarrying in the Groundwater Protection Zone," he wrote in his submission.
"The applicants cannot guarantee that quarrying below the known highest groundwater level and backfilling will be safe in perpetuity."
Bob Cross, chair of the Yaldhurst Residents' Association, echoed concerns about water quality and the impact on residents near quarries.
Public submissions on the application closed on Friday.
The final tally of submissions was yet to be counted, but it was believed to be about 600, an Environment Canterbury spokeswoman said.
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Biofilm builds up in Foxton water after increased demand over summer
NICHOLAS MCBRIDE
The biofilm was created by a chemical reaction in the treatment plant over previous years.
In order to flush the water, the fire hydrants are opened up and water discharged from them until it runs clear.
Searle said the flushing may not get rid of all the biofilm in the system.
"I would hope they would all be discharged from the fire hydrants but reality is that some may still remain in the reticulation as percentage of biofilm removal depends also on the distance between flushing points and how long each flushing session goes for."
However, a full scouring programme was scheduled for February to clean the biofilm from the water supply network. This would "dramatically" reduce any dirty water issues, he said.
The council warned that as a result of this work water users may experience low water pressure or discoloured water during and a few days after the flushing. The flushing could also cause staining of clothing during washing, the council said.
The flushing was a one-off event for the supply, with normal weekly flushing not to resume until water restrictions are lifted.
Weekly flushing of the supply network ceased before Christmas to conserve water so high water demands over the holiday period can be met and it will resume again once the town demand has dropped and water restrictions lifted.
Level two water restrictions were put in place on the town's supply on December 30 but were reduced back to level one on January 15.
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Boil water notice issued for West Melton
West Melton residents have been cautioned to boil their water after E. coli levels went above recommended limits.
The boil water notice was issued by the Selwyn District Council at 8.30pm on Thursday night.
The elevated levels of E. coli were found at one of the West Melton Water Supply's treatment plants. The plant has been isolated from the water supply and a council spokesperson said the amount of potentially contaminated water was likely to be small due to low demand. Although contamination may be limited to the reservoir , the council cannot guarantee the quality of the town supply. Further sampling is being completed.
E.coli is an organism which can cause health issues. Residents who show any symptoms of sickness, including vomiting and diarrhoea, should visit their doctor as soon as they are able to.
When a boil water notice is in place, the Ministry of Health advises that people should boil or treat all water from taps before drinking, brushing teeth or using it in food preparation. In addition, water used to make ice should also be boiled before freezing.
Bringing water to the boil kills the bug or alternatively, water can be treated with one teaspoon of bleach per 10 litres of water.
The boil water notice was likely to be in place for several days, said the spokesperson.
A map showing the area served by the West Melton water supply is available at selwyn.govt.nz.
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Those with Water Tanks May be at Risk
Auckland Council is urging householders with rainwater tanks to conserve water for the dry summer, despite a wet start to the New Year.
“The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) advises we are in the middle of an El Nino weather cycle, with a high (45 per cent) chance that January – March 2016 rainfall will be below normal for the north of the North Island,” says Civil Defence and Emergency management director, John Dragicevich.
“It’s therefore important for residents with rain water tanks not to get complacent just because the rain has been plentiful so far,” he says.
“Check your water tank frequently to ensure you can bring in water before your tank runs dry.”
Homes at greatest risk include holiday homes with visitors who tend to be less aware of the need to conserve water, and permanent residents who may think the wetter New Year means they will have plenty of water to last for the rest of summer.
“Residents in homes that have run out of water often resort to council facilities for their ablutions and cleaning, putting additional stress on these facilities,” says John Dragicevich.
Areas that have rain tanks include rural areas on the edges of the city.
When the Times contacted John Burhill, of John’s Farmlet Services that provides household water delivery services to the residents of Flat Bush, Whitford, Beachlands and Maraetai beach and Pohutukawa Coast residents, he commented saying:
“Obviously people should heed Civil Defence Warnings, however we specialise in providing excellent prompt water delivery and associated services for the households who find themselves in need.
“Personally, I know slowing down the turnover of fresh water in tanks creates other more serious issues i.e. bacteria build up in sun heated tanks and downpipe systems in turn causing tummy aches, heating of organic build up in bottom of tanks causing water to become putrid in taste and smell,” he pointed out.
“Healthy water systems rely on frequent turnover of water whether from the heavens or from a professional Ministry of Health registered water provider like myself.
“In rural areas buying in the odd load of potable water is often the price paid for nice hot dry weather.”
Top tips for conserving water
- Take shorter showers
- Turn off taps while cleaning teeth
- Wash complete loads of dishes or clothing, not partial loads
- Run a shallow sink of water for dishes
- Flush the toilet only when necessary
- Install water conservation devices on your taps, showers and toilets
- Check water connections for leaks and drips
- Don’t use tank water to irrigate gardens
- Wash cars and boats less often
- Check tank water levels regularly
View the full article here.
Midges plague residents near Christchurch wastewater plant
Swarms of midges have plagued residents in a Christchurch street this summer, forcing them to keep their windows and doors shut.
An infestation of the tiny insects has prevented residents in Aranui's Shortland St from having barbecues outside or even doing the gardening.
Resident Janet Profit said she sometimes wore a mask and raincoat when walking her dogs to protect herself.
"They just swarm on you. They get in your clothes and in your mouth."
Are you plagued by midges? Send us your information, photos and video to newstips@stuff.co.nz
The midges were worse at night, but were still there during the day, she said.
"You don't turn a light on at night time. I keep everything shut and cannot have a barbecue or do gardening outside. They are everywhere."
The non-biting New Zealand native species attracted hundreds of birds, who feasted on the midges and left their droppings behind.
"The swallows stay here to have breakfast and they make a mess everywhere. You have no idea what my concrete looks like."
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said the midges were "just diabolical."
"You can't walk out the door without getting them in your ears and your mouth."
The midges first became a problem in 2007 and have progressively got worse since then, the residents said.
Last year, for the first time, the midges stayed around in winter too, Profit said.
The midge population had reduced in the past 10 days, but Profit was not sure if it was due to the colder weather or measures undertaken by the Christchurch City Council to control the insects.
The insects breed at the nearby wastewater treatment plant. Residents have complained to the council and signed petitions over the years to get action.
Council wastewater treatment manager Gijs Hoven said the combination of hot days and long periods of cool weather caused a concentrated spike in midge numbers this year.
The council has approached a number of pest control companies throughout New Zealand and was using an insect hormone called S-Methoprene to limit midge numbers.
"Any chemicals used for midge control must comply with the treatment plant's resource consents and not affect bird life."
The council was unable to do a bulk application of airborne insecticides over the entire ponds, but was experimenting with point spraying, Hoven said.
It was clearing vegetation around the oxidation ponds to reduce breeding habitats. It had started a project to monitor midge populations and help test future midge control measures.
Midges breed in freshwater and improved treatment at the plant meant cleaner water was entering the oxidation ponds. This had contributed to a midge population increase in the past 10 years, Hoven said.
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Exhibitors Opportunity at the Summit
Business NZ Energy Council (BEC) in conjunction with the World Energy Council are hosting a conference in Wellington on 16 -17 March 2016. The conference is targeted at the Asia-Pacific and will draw in a range of energy sector leaders from around this extensive region.
The theme for the summit is Delivering Resilient Energy Infrastructure. This event has the strong support of the New Zealand Government, including the participation of the Minister of Energy and that of his Ministerial colleagues and key Government officials. We also have strong private sector interest from both the electricity and technology sectors.
This event seeks to develop a shared understanding of the growing resiliency risks and challenges presented by climate change, emerging technologies, extreme weather events, cyber security, and the energy-water-food nexus. The summit will give energy leaders from around the region an opportunity to develop a greater understanding of how to manage and/or mitigate these risks and challenges through innovative policy, financing and risk sharing approaches as they look to deploy renewable energy systems. It will also seek to share technical and scientific applications relevant to the delivery of resilient energy infrastructure across the region with trade exhibits from around the region, and so an ability for New Zealand business to showcase what it is doing in achieving infrastructure resilience.
As the delegate and content mix is at such a high level this summit is providing companies and organisations a unique opportunity to exhibit and raise their profile.
Find out more here.
Lake Horowhenua resource consent appealed to Environment Court
Toxic algae on Lake Horowhenua will be sticking around while resource consents to clean the waterway go before the Environment Court.
The Lake Horowhenua resource consent application went to a hearing in late October and was granted on 9 December. Horizons Regional Council received a notice of appeal last week.
Horizons had applied for three consents to address the health of the lake - which has previously been ranked in the country's 10 most polluted - using a sediment trap, fish pass and weed harvester.
Supplied
Lake Horowhenua with cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, on it. Cyanobacteria is naturally occurring in fresh water and seen in several lakes in the region during warm periods.
The council had set aside a budget of $180,000 for processing of the consent.
Freshwater and science manager Dr Jon Roygard said the process would now involve working with the Environment Court and other parties involved.
"The appeal process does introduce further costs. It's difficult to estimate how much this will be and we will discuss it with council as further details become available."
Work involving construction of a fish pass, installation of a sediment trap and lake weed harvesting had been planned to get underway in the next few months to directly address lake health issues such as the blue-green algae present in the lake.
"However, due to the appeal process this would now be delayed.
"We will endeavour to undertake these works prior to the next summer season to avoid blue-green algae growth and its associated unpleasant smells that the Levin community is experiencing at the moment. However, we won't know when this work can begin until the appeal is resolved," Roygard said.
A date for the hearing is yet to be set.
Toxic algae
The lake is covered in blue-green algae, known as cyanobacteria. This occurs over the summer months as a result of warmer and calmer conditions.
A report done by Horizons and Niwa in 2012 said cyanobacteria blooms released toxins which cause skin irritation and other health issues. They could be lethal to dogs and in extreme conditions to small children.
There have been no reported cases of human deaths from cyanotoxins.
Roygard said there was always a risk of toxicity when the algae was present.
The lake is at an 'amber' status due to the density of algae. In the three colour scale, amber means people and animals are recommended not to swim in the lake but boating is still possible.
At red the lake is closed, while at green swimming is OK but drinkability relies on a number of other standards as well.
Lake Horowhenua was last green in November.
Appeal lodged
The consent has been appealed by Phil Taueki on the grounds that the consent commission failed to provide relationship for Maori with their ancestral lands and water.
He claimed Horizons had been selective with who it consulted and "therefore had obtained a distorted impression of the level of support from tangata whenua".
Consultation was with Muaupoko Tribal Authority which represented six of the seven hapu but not the hapu with stature as tangata whenua.
The consent decision said it was not their role to adjudicate between contested whakapapa and ownership of the lake.
Taueki's appeal described this as a "glib dismissal of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi", given that his ancestor was the sole signatory to the Treaty for Muaupoko.
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Water New Zealand renews its Memorandum of Understanding with the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association
This month Water New Zealand reaffirmed our relationship with our sister organisation, the Pacific Water and Waste Association, through a renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding. The Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) is the leading professional water body of the Pacific, representing 28 utilities operating water and wastewater schemes in 22 of the pacific islands.
The MoU renewal occurs triennially, providing an opportunity to reassess where areas of mutual collaboration may lie. The PWWA vision of ‘shaping a cohesive, proficient and robust Pacific water sector’ and strategic goals related to skills development, representation, collaboration and upholding of standards, is well aligned with the activities and strategic intent of Water New Zealand. In addition, our two associations also share a number of members - of the 59 companies who are allied PWWA members, 26 come from New Zealand.
New Zealand and the Pacific have much to teach each other. The renewed MoU references the benchmarking activities covered by both agencies and a commitment to publishing these on the IBNET platform, allowing performance comparisons to be made across utilities in New Zealand and the Pacific. The data shines light on areas where there are opportunities for collaboration; for instance, New Zealand leads the Pacific in areas such as managing water loss, while in water metering we significantly trail a number of our pacific island counterparts.
In addition, the MoU signals both agencies intention to continue long-standing collaboration in areas of member communication, information transfer, and conference participation. These initiatives provide a platform for exchanging knowledge on the many challenges facing the Pacific and New Zealand water sectors; revenue, asset maintenance, and rising sea levels to name but a few. At Water New Zealand we welcome the MoUs formalisation of our intention to work with our PWWA to improve water and wastewater services across the Pacific region.
Water New Zealand Water Efficiency and Conservation Network Special Interest Group
Water New Zealand is supporting a new special interest with a particular focus on community education and delivery of water demand programmes and it is called the Water Efficiency and Conservation Network (We Can).
We Can aims to create a support network and sounding board for professionals that often work in some isolation, geographically or are the only staff members in their organization working on water efficiency. The network will focus on improving desired programme outcomes by skill sharing and by sharing practical experience in behaviour change and communication strategies. The group would like to work towards further encouraging the use of technology in reducing water consumption. Meetings will be a flexible mix of electronic communication or in person and will start in March 2016.
If you work predominantly in a people focused role - communicating or engaging with the community on water efficiency and conservation projects, research or programmes, please get in touch. You will be kept updated and will be contributing to the latest developments and events in water efficiency and conservation. All members must be current financial members of Water New Zealand.
To register your interest please email: amy.aldrich@waternz.org.nz
Legal battle costs piling up
The legal stoush involving the Wanganui District Council and the MWH Global, the company that designed the city's wastewater treatment plant, has so far cost the council $860,000 in legal fees.
The council is suing MWH Global, citing shortcomings in the concept and final design of the Airport Rd facility.
The council has decided it has to replace the plant at a currently estimated cost of $38 million. That includes $7.7 million of design and sludge removal costs, which has already been spent.
The exact amount the council is seeking in compensation has not been publicised, but earlier it was considering claims of up to $10 million.
Up until the end of December payments made to lawyers acting for the council had reached $860,000.
Yesterday councillor Hamish McDouall, who is leading the council's legal review team, told the Chronicle that if a settlement is reached out of court "costs will usually lie where they fall".
Mr McDouall said the council would seek costs if the matter went to court but given the issue was in mediation that probably was not going to happen. Therefore any settlement would not involve either side paying costs.
The district council decided in July 2013 to sue MWH over the plant, which has been troublesome since it was commissioned in 2007. Late last year Mr McDouall told the Chronicle he was confident a resolution will be reached.
The first mediation took place in Wellington on October 15-16 before an independent arbitrator and was ordered by Justice Denis Clifford.
A judicial decision, released in June, initially had the case going to trial, but at a pre-trial conference, MWH applied for the trial to be postponed. Justice Clifford decided to postpone a trial but, more importantly, ordered MWH to enter into mediation with the council. He also said MWH must make a bona fide effort at mediation with the council.
Mr McDouall said the council's legal team met with MWH in Wellington over two days in October, but no final resolution was reached.
No date had been set for a further meeting and, at the moment, lawyers for both parties were corresponding.
He said the council was still expecting a decent settlement but the amount of money would remain confidential.
"Generally, in any settlement in these situations, there's no admission of liability, and the figure is kept confidential. Unfortunately, any mediation is usually like that, where the sum involved is never revealed, and that's the reality," Mr McDouall said.
If mediation does not bring about a settlement, it would go to court, and a court date may not be available until later this year.
View the full article here.
Manawatu District Council slammed over Feilding wastewater non-compliance
NICHOLAS MCBRIDE
Last updated 18:15, February 4 2016
The Manawatu District Council has been slammed for its history of non-compliance at the Feilding wastewater treatment plant.
"There hasn't been a good history," commissioner Jim Hodges said during an Environment Court hearing in Palmerston North on Thursday.
"How can we have any confidence that is going to change?"
In January, commissioners gave a 10-year consent to discharge wastewater to the Oroua River. This was appealed by the council and, with mediation unsuccessful, went to court.
The council appealed the decision because of the number and breadth of the conditions imposed on the consents. The issue is this week before the Environment Court in Palmerston North.
"We have a situation where there has been mixed success," Hodge said.
The ultraviolet plant and the alum plant had been successful, but the lagoon cover, biolac and an "expensive tertiary filter" were not.
Hodges questioned how, with a 40 per cent success rate, the court could be confident that the council would be able to beat the nitrogen limit.
"Based on performance to date there is a reasonable doubt in my mind that that will actually be achieved."
The council needed to make sure its options were feasible
He said it would be imprudent of the court to "let it go" without there being a proven way of going forward should an issue arise.
Hodges said it was a case with a number of complex and interrelated issues.
He said there would be the need for either a review or a new consent within 10 years.
Lindsay Daysh, a planning consultant for the Manawatu District Council, said the district council needed to realise it must comply with the consent conditions and there needed to comprehensive monitoring done by Horizons Regional Council.
There was also the need to "crystallise" a plan for a way to deal with the wastewater.
Hodges asked how the history should affect the consent.
"If there is a history of non-compliance, the consent authority or the court is entitled to have a certain degree of wariness," Daysh said.
He believed there was a realisation from MDC that the plan needed to work.
"I'd like to think the conditions of the consent are robust enough to give you some satisfaction that the council will do what it is saying."
But Hodges was not convinced.
"I can't help thinking – 16 years to get to where we are now, regular non-compliance – it is a bit of a big ask to just assume all will be well in the future."
Under questioning from commissioner John Mills, Daysh said total removal of wastewater from the river now was not possible.
"Is it potentially feasible into the future? Uncertain.
"But there are a range of measures to get as close as you can."
Mills asked if there was a will from the council to head in that direction.
"I think MDC have taken this very seriously ... the river runs through Feilding, it is a very important community resource," Daysh said.
Judge Brian Dwyer agreed with Hodges' comments on past performance.
"It seems to me that current inability to meet the policy is something that might weigh very heavily in our consideration of the appropriate term.
"It is pretty apparent that the scales weigh fairly heavily one way on this."
The hearing concluded on Thursday.
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Oxfam Water Challenge 2016
This Saturday, 20 February, seventeen teams from around the water industry will gather in Auckland to compete in the Oxfam Water Challenge 2016. You can support their efforts to raise $50,000 to fund a vital Water, Sanitation and Hygiene project in Melanesia by making donations through the teams’ webpages. Support your colleagues and make a real difference in the lives of communities in the Pacific.
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 - New Regulations Out Now
New Regulations Out Now
Regulations to help you understand what you need to do to meet your duties under the new Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) are out now. These regulations will come into force on 4 April 2016, along with the HSWA.
These include regulations applicable to all businesses as well as others focused on a particular activity, risk, hazard, or on the operation of an industry. The regulations cover the following;
General Risk and Workplace Management: These regulations apply to all workplaces in New Zealand. They prescribe what must be done in specific circumstances to meet the duties under the new law.
Worker Engagement, Participation and Representation: These will help businesses meet their duties of worker participation under HSWA. All workplaces need to have effective worker engagement, participation and representations practices under HSWA.
Asbestos: These regulations aim to help tackle the serious health risks posed by poorly managed asbestos. The asbestos regulations outline requirements for the safe management and work with asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, including demolition and removal.
Adventure Activities : These regulations aim to improve safety, reduce harm and ensure consistent good practice across the adventure activity sector. From 4 April these regulations will revoke and replace the Health and Safety in Employment (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2011.
Major Hazard Facilities: These regulations place safety management obligations on operators or particular facilities. Facilities subject to these regulations are those with the potential to cause a catastrophic event, and focus on matters for process safety.
Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations: These regulations detail the requirements that must be followed including competency requirements in relation to safety-critical roles in mining operations, quarrying operations, and alluvial mining operations.
Petroleum Exploration and Extraction: These regulations provide a framework that aim to ensure the safety of petroleum operations such as the extraction, transportation, treatment or processing of petroleum or gas; any well drilling installation; the construction, maintenance, and operation of any structures, or land improvements connected with petroleum operations.
Rates of Levy Funding: Regulations prescribing the levy required to be paid by employers and self-employed people under section 201 or the HSWA.
More Regulations in the Pipeline
- Regulations specifying infringement offences and fees will be finalised shortly.
- The regulations for work involving hazardous substances are currently being consulted on and will be finalised later this year.
- Regulations to support the power in the new Act for the regulator to grant exemptions from regulatory requirements (clause 228A) will be developed this year.
- Phase two regulations will be developed over the next two years.
Make sure you sign up to our HSWA updates through our subscription page and visit out dedicated HSWA information on our website to make sure your kept up-to-date.
New Steps for Fresh Water
This consultation document contains the next steps the Government proposes to improve the management of fresh water in New Zealand. Our objectives are better environmental outcomes, enabling sustainable economic growth to support new jobs and exports, and improving M?ori involvement in freshwater decision-making. This is part of the Government’s long-term reforms which are based on supporting communities to identify and test solutions that meet their own challenges, but within a national framework.
View the document here.
Hanmer Springs cafes stop serving coffee after water contamination
CHARLIE MITCHELL
Last updated 17:26, February 29 2016
It resulted in the supermarket selling out of bottled water and some cafes no longer serving coffee.
For locals, it could not have come at a worse time — the height of summer meant the town was humming with tourists.
Edwin Van De Koolwijk, who runs both a bus service and a restaurant, said the water situation had been a challenge.
"It's really frustrating, particularly in the high [tourism] season. Some of the bigger restaurants have had a really annoying couple of days now."
Staff at cafes and restaurants had been boiling and storing hundreds of litres of water at a time, while explaining to customers why they couldn't drink water from the tap.
Two months ago, Hanmer Springs ran out of water entirely. "Crunchy," occasionally yellow drinking water in other parts of the district have prompted complaints of illness.
Tourists often complained about water issues in the district, Van De Koolwijk said.
"It's very unstable and just not good enough. In this day and age, in a first world country, we shouldn't have these issues. It needs to be solved, one way or the other."
Before the boil notice can be lifted, three tests must show a negative reading for E.coli. This would likely take at least 10 days, the council said.
Zane Inglis, who owns a local restaurant and bar, said he expected to have 1000 customers over that time, with the water issues potentially affecting business.
Boiling the tap water gave it a strange taste, so he had resorted to giving out bottled water.
"The boiling of water and storing it for so long is probably the hardest part," he said.
"We're probably using 500 litres of water per day up here. It's just time consuming."
The treatment plant was state-of-the-art so it was unclear how a contamination could have occurred, said Hanmer Springs councillor Jason Fletcher.
The most recent water sample had shown no trace of E.coli.
"Even the best of equipment can fail at times, or you can have rogue tests.
"We're still uncertain why it has come to be, so it's a matter of finding out in the first instance why we had a test showing there was an issue."
He understood the frustration in the town, which relied on its tourism trade.
"It's not an ideal situation, particularly given we're a tourism town. But people are pretty resilient here, and get about their business by doing what they need to do."
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Resource Legislation Amendment Bill
Dear All
The Resource Legislation Amendment Bill is currently Bill before the House. The following is the link to it. If you would like to make any comment on it please forward comments to this office (see below).
Secondly, The Hon Dr Nick Smith, Minister for the Environment, and the Hon Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries, recentlyannounced a public consultation process on the Next Steps for Freshwater Reform. The consultation is a joint exercise between the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry for Primary Industries and is the next stage of the extensive reforms which began in 2009 and were initiated to improve the way in which freshwater is managed in New Zealand.
Progress to date has been made possible through collaborative work involving the government, iwi leaders and the Land and Water Forum. The latest consultation focuses on:
- Amending the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management to improve national direction
- Excluding stock from water bodies through regulation
- Requiring more efficient use of fresh water and good management practice
- Considering iwi rights and interests in fresh water
- Setting up the “Next Steps for Freshwater Improvement Fund” to further improve water quality
A series of public meetings and hui will be held around the country next month and there are a number of ways to make your views known through the submission process. The consultation ends on 22 April.
Further information can be found at www.mfe.govt.nz/consultation/next-steps-fresh-water
Please note the Land & Water Forum, of which Water New Zealand is part of, is likely to be making comment on both documents. If you have any specific comments or observations please forward them to Peter Whitehouse, peter.whitehouse@waternz.org.nz.
WATER Journal May Issue
The deadline for the next magazine is Friday, 15 April.
Lead topic: Stormwater Sub-Topics: Flood Management; Data Management
To contribute an article contact Alan Titchall
To advertise contact Noeline Strange
Urban Planning Submission
A commentary has been drafted for the Productivity Commission’s investigation, Better urban planning. A copy may be found here. If you wish to offer any comment or suggestions please send them to Peter Whitehouse, peter.whitehouse@waternz.org.nz by Wednesday 9 March
Freshwater reform public meetings and hui
Further to the announcement last month of a public consultation process for the Government’s Next Steps for Freshwater Reform, a series of public meetings and hui have been confirmed for locations around the country. Details can be found at www.mfe.govt.nz/fresh-water/reform-programme/consultation-public-meetings-and-hui
Oxfam Water Challenge 2016 - Update
What a day it was! On 20 February 2016, over fifty people from around the water industry, along with many of their friends and family, got together in Auckland to compete in the Oxfam Water Challenge 2016. Congratulations to all the teams who all rose to the challenge and delivered 100 litres of water through their structures to the end point. We also all had a lot of fun! You can support the teams’ efforts to fund a vital Water, Sanitation and Hygiene project in Melanesia by making donations through the teams’ webpages. Support your colleagues and make a real difference in the lives of communities in the Pacific.
WorkSafe New Zealand consultation
Consultation
WorkSafe New Zealand is consulting on:
- the proposal to revoke the approved code of practice (ACOP) for Safety in Excavation and Shafts for Foundations (1995), and
- draft Excavation Work good practice guidelines,
You can find the notice containing the proposal to revoke the current ACOP at the New Zealand Gazette. We’re seeking feedback on this proposal, and also any feedback on the draft guidelines that may replace the ACOP.
These guidelines provide updated practical guidance on managing health and safety risks associated with excavation work.
For more information on this consultation – visit our consultation pages:
Consultation closes 5pm on Tuesday, 29 March 2016.
Extractives: Ground and Strata Instability - Draft Code of Practice
WorkSafe New Zealand (WorkSafe) is consulting on the Extractives: Ground and Strata Instability - Draft Code of Practice.
For more information on this consultation - visit our consultation page
Consultation closes 5pm on Thursday 24 March 2016.
Water New Zealand Submission on the Issues Paper, Better Urban Planning
Submission on the Issues Paper, Better Urban Planning - March 2016
Water New Zealand Submission on Resource Legislation Amendment Bill 2016
- Submission on the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 - March 2016
Government support for water scheme welcomed
| Friday, 11 March 2016, 1:46 pm Press Release: Ministry For Primary Industries |
Government support for water scheme welcomed
Date: 11 Mar 2016
Recent government support of $575,000 for delivering the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme has been welcomed by the Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company Limited (HBRIC).
HBRIC Chief Executive Andrew Newman says the on-going support from the Ministry for Primary Industries through the Irrigation Acceleration Fund (IAF) has enabled HBRIC Ltd to maintain very good momentum on successfully completing the final steps towards delivering the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme.
"In particular the funds, which matched those contributed by HBRIC Ltd, are being applied to tasks associated with final technical due diligence, water contracting and investor negotiations," says Mr Newman.
He says the Scheme has, with the help of IAF funding over the past 3 years, obtained the necessary consents, delivered an acceptable construction design, developed a robust capital structure and established that there is a genuine demand for reliable and secure water for irrigation water in Central Hawke's Bay.
"Once fully operational the scheme has the potential to create more than 2,000 ongoing jobs, inject at least $200 million a year into the region's GDP, strengthen the social fabric of our rural communities and give us a better Tukituki River."
Martyn Dunne, Director General of the Ministry for Primary Industries also sees the project as one that would have great benefits for the Central Hawke's Bay community.
"Through the IAF, we have recently committed $575,000 to the Ruataniwha Water Storage Project," says Mr Dunne.
"The project supports the environmental, social and cultural wellbeing of the Hawke's Bay region and will provide economic benefits to the region and wider New Zealand economy.
“IAF is a mechanism we use to support sustainable primary sector growth in the regions, helping to achieve the government's goal of doubling the value of primary industry exports by 2025."
The IAF helps support the development of irrigation infrastructure proposals to the stage where they are investment ready, which means they must be commercially robust and demonstrate a high level of community support.
Government also supports these projects through Crown Irrigation Investments Ltd (CIIL), which acts as a bridging investor for regional water infrastructure development.
Environmental opportunities offered by water storage include more consistent river flows in summer and reduced pressure on ground water sources. Water storage can also support urban water management.
The Ruataniwha Water Storage Project is led by the Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company, the investment arm of Hawke's Bay Regional Council).
By constructing a storage dam on the Makaroro River, 25,000 ha of land in the Tukituki Catchment of Central Hawke's Bay will have highly reliable irrigation.
ends
View the full article here.
Funding for irrigation unlocks potential
| Friday, 11 March 2016, 1:47 pm Press Release: Irrigation NZ |
MEDIA RELEASE
FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016
Funding for irrigation unlocks potential
Irrigation New Zealand applauds the latest announcement by Government sighting three more grants by the Irrigation Acceleration Fund – $804,000 for the Wairarapa Water Use Project, $575,000 for Ruataniwha (Hawke’s Bay) and $250,000 for Gisborne’s Managed Aquifer Recharge Trial.
“It’s great to see the Irrigation Acceleration Fund delivering on what it was set up to do – supporting the potential for irrigated agriculture to contribute to New Zealand’s sustainable economic growth,” says Irrigation New Zealand chairwoman Nicky Hyslop.
“Water is the limiting factor. Even the best dry-land farming systems and farmers are still limited by soil moisture – rain dances just don’t cut the mustard when drought hits year after year. Irrigation brings confidence and security to the primary sector and this flows on to New Zealand Inc’s overall wellbeing.
“It’s great to have a Government that thinks big and understands is its not easy for small, rural communities to raise the capital needed for irrigation infrastructure investigations and development. We know irrigation benefits the entire community and the Irrigation Acceleration Fund’s investments will ensure developments are achievable and sustainable for the communities that drive them,” says Mrs Hyslop.
“At a time when the dairy industry is hurting it’s important we take a long-term view to ensure the best use of our water resources, while also maximizing advantages for regional communities.
“What is often overlooked is that irrigation is not solely about supporting dairy farming. A myriad of other land uses including horticulture, viticulture, small seeds and vegetables and sheep and beef can also rely on irrigation for consistent production.
“Developments also augment rivers and top up aquifers, they tackle the environmental legacies of farming, industry and population growth by boosting water supply and ensuring consistent river flows. In many areas water storage also provides recreational opportunities like new kayaking, boating and fishing destinations. Finally, irrigation developments contribute to socio-economic growth regionally. A recent report by NZIER found that irrigation contributes $2.2 billion to the national economy and this has the potential to increase further.
“Benefits are clear in places like Canterbury and Otago where irrigation schemes such as Central Plains Water, Valetta, Ashburton Lyndhurst and North Otago Irrigation Company with support from the Government’s Irrigation Acceleration Fund, have successfully delivered modern, piped irrigation schemes which bring multiple benefits to the area," Mrs Hyslop concludes.
The Irrigation Acceleration Fund was set up in 2011 to invest $35 million over a five year period (2011/12 to 2015/16) in irrigation development and had an injection of a further $25 million in last year’s budget.
View the full article here.
Oxfam Update
March 22 is world water day – an opportunity to learn more about water related issues and be inspired to tell others to take action to make a difference. One way you can make a difference is by making a donation, now, to Oxfam through one of the teams that competed in the Oxfam Water Challenge 2016. Together, we can raise the funds to complete a vital Water, Sanitation and Hygiene project in Melanesia. Support your colleagues and make a real difference in the lives of communities in the Pacific.
Media Statement - Water New Zealand Supports Changes to Local Government Act - Enables Local Decision Making on Water
Water New Zealand Supports Changes to Local Government Act - Enables Local Decision Making on Water
Media Statement - Water New Zealand Announces Stepped Up Strategy on World Water Day
Water New Zealand Announces Stepped Up Strategy on World Water Day
Iwi closely watches govt moves on water ownership
The debate over water rights is heating up as the government takes its plans for reform around the country.
File photo Photo: Supplied
The government maintains the line that "no one owns the water", which is something iwi leaders are watching carefully as a consultation process on water reforms takes place.
To the west of Whangarei is Porot? Springs; its waters flow down the Waipao Stream from Whatitiri Mountain.
For the past 500 years, three hap? have lived there - an occupation recognised by two government titles.
The legal title to Porot? Springs was given to M?ori trustees in the 1890s, and their treaty claim over the resource has been central to M?ori claims over freshwater.
While the three hap? own the springs, any say in who uses the water in the spring is left to local and regional councils.
Taipari Munro Photo: Supplied
Local kaumatua Taipari Munro said they had been shut out from decision-making and had little trust for council bodies.
"We don't trust that can happen properly when you have other people sitting at the table making decisions when we should be sitting at that table with those who are sitting there."
While hap? have no water rights to their own spring, the council has allocated two commercial businesses rights to use the water from the spring and an old council bore across the road.
The two commercial groups have been granted consent to access thousands of cubic metres daily.
Water bottling company Zodiac Holdings and Maungatapere Water Company are allowed to take up to 19.500 m3 of water daily.
Both are able to on-sell the free water for commercial benefit but while Zodiac Holdings has held the consent for years, it was yet to sell any.
John Wiessing is the chairman of the Maungatapere Water Company, a group of farmers and orchardists who buy shares from the Water Company for access to water.
"We actually have a water right. We extract water from just below the Porot? Springs, we pump that water around the Maungatapere, the Whatitiri area for the benefit of shareholders and non-shareholders."
Asked whether the three hap? in the area should have rights to water in the spring, Mr Wiessing said: "Is it fair? Well, I wouldn't like to comment. The question of fairness when it comes to water rights is a pretty emotive issue."
That response has angered Mr Munro, who said: "I think he has a cheek to be saying that, you know we were there first, we are the first nations people of that place and he's talking about it all getting emotive - well what does he expect after 200 and something years?"
Zodiac Holdings has a consent to sell bottled water into the Asian market.
Both companies pay nothing for the water but pay for the council consent process.
Northland Regional Council told RNZ the last consent requested by Zodiac Holdings to increase the maximum volume of water that it could take under its consent cost the company $26,000, it was declined but an appealed was subsequently granted by the Environment Court via consent order. The Council does not know what costs were incurred by Zodiac in the appeal process.
RNZ approached both shareholders of Zodiac Holdings for comment but they both declined.
Mr Wiessing, from Maungatapere Water Company, said locals who owned farms, orchards or small lifestyle blocks could buy shares in the company by paying $3000 a share and an annual fee.
The length of the consent for both the water company and Zodiac Holdings was 35 years, which Mr Wiessing said was fair.
"The hap? around Porot? Springs can actually use water for their cultural needs but they can't extract it for commercial use."
Asked whether this was a fair process, Mr Wiessing said: "I'll probably steer clear of that. It is what it is. Basically the system operates on a basis of first in, first served."
RNZ spoke to another Maungatapere Water Company shareholder, who owns a Wellington cafe. She had no idea she held shares in a water company and declined to comment further.
Two other shareholders operate hedge funds in Asia. A farming magazine last year described one of them as a billionaire Englishman who said "he wants to put his wealth in land assets around the world and has bought New Zealand's largest orchards".
Across the Tasman
Part of the current freshwater reform being led by government will look at seeking better outcomes for iwi, something every iwi leader in the country is watching closely.
Across the ditch, water is tradable and it can be unbundled from the land.
Australian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson pointed to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing foreign ownership of agricultural water entitlements had increased 55 percent between 2010 and 2013.
Last month, the Australian government announced it was setting up a register to record foreign ownership of water rights.
View the full article here.
Health warning after E.coli found in Patea's water supply
A bacteria that can cause people to become seriously ill has been found in another Taranaki water supply.
Patea residents in South Taranaki are being urged to boil their water after it was found to contain Escherichia E.coli (known as E.coli), which can cause intestinal infection and symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever, while severe cases can lead to kidney failure.
South Taranaki District Council's water supply manager Peter Cook said routine tests had detected the bacteria in the Patea water supply, and investigations were now underway to find the source.
Residents are advised to boil all water used for drinking, brushing teeth or for food preparation, until further notice. Bringing water to the boil was enough to kill all bugs, but Cook recommended boiling water for about one minute.
The council had started chlorinating the water supply to kill all bugs and residents would notice a difference in the taste and odour over the next couple of days.
Chilling the water in the fridge could reduce the chlorine taste, Cook said.
Water still needed to be boiled even if the smell or taste of chlorine was present, he said.
Patea's water woes come just weeks after E.coli was found in Toko's drinking waters.
In late February the Stratford District Council issued a boil water notice for Toko after E.coli was discovered in the water supply.
It was suspected the source of the contamination was from an animal which had crawled into one of the water tanks and died.
The spate of E.coli cases doesn't stop there. The bacteria has also been found recently in other waters in Taranaki.
Last week the South Taranaki District Council issued a double warning for Kaupokonui River Mouth in Manaia, and Opunake Lake.
This warning remains in place and people have been advised to not collect shellfish or plant life from the areas and to avoid coming into contact with the water.
It was also recommended to keep pets away from the water, and to wash and cook eels thoroughly before eating them.
Anyone showing symptoms of sickness should visit their doctor as soon as possible.
Further information and updates will be provided on council's website, www.southtaranaki.com or alternatively the council can be contacted on 0800 111 323.
E.coli at a glance:
* E. coli is a type of bacteria that normally live in the intestines of people and animals.
* Some types can cause intestinal infection.
* Symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and fever.
* More severe cases can lead to bloody diarrhoea, dehydration, or even kidney failure.
* Symptoms generally begin between one and five days after you have been infected.
* Symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to more than a week.
* Source: heathline.com
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Water New Zealand Stormwater Group Notice of Annual General Meeting and Call for Committee Nominations
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is given for the 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Water New Zealand Stormwater Group to be held on Thursday 19 May 2016 at 4.45pm at the Rutherford Hotel, Nelson.
The final Agenda for the meeting is attached for your reference.
STORMWATER GROUP MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS
The Chief Executive of Water New Zealand, John Pfahlert, gives notice for the call for nominations for election to the Stormwater Group Management Committee. The closing date for nominations is Thursday 5 May 2016 at 4.00pm.
Members are elected for a two year term. Any financial member of Water New Zealand is eligible to join the committee; this includes individual, corporate additional and student members. We encourage members of organisations that provide water services to consider joining.
The committee holds monthly meetings by teleconference and it is expected that committee members attend these meetings and play an active role in enhancing our profile, fulfilling our portfolio requirements for our members and assisting Water New Zealand with its membership activities. It is expected that a time commitment of one hour per week would be required to fulfil the portfolio requirements.
The nominee, proposer and seconder involved in the process of nominating a person for a position on the Water New Zealand Stormwater GroupManagement Committee must all be financial members of the Association as at the closing date of nominations.
Nominations should be posted, faxed or emailed to Amy Aldrich at Water New Zealand by 4:00pm on Thursday 5 May 2016.
A copy of the official nomination form is included.
CuriousCity: Fatbergs, stenchy sewers and thousands of litres of poo
JESSY EDWARDS
Last updated 11:00, April 11 2016
Welcome to CuriousCity, our new weekly feature that answers your questions on how Wellington works. This week, Jessy Edwards asks "What happens after you flush?", and meets the cheeky chaps at the sewage treatment centre.
The lid comes off the sewage well with a "poof" of putrid gas and a flourish of flies.
"This really is the high point," City Care utilities operation manager Blair Dynan, who is wearing wraparound sunglasses and a toothy grin, says.
We're here to see what happens after you flush and – spoiler alert – it isn't pretty.
MAARTEN HOLL/ FAIRFAX NZ
Blair Dynan, City Care utilities operation manager.
Peer into the abyss, where the maintenance workers often have to go, and you'll see thick bubbles of yellow, globular fat floating on the surface of a pool of murky excrement.
Concealed under another cover nearby is a two-storey underground chamber where the sewage is pumped to the main pipe, the Interceptor.
On a bad day, when the water levels are high and the pumps are struggling, men like Dynan are in there battling to fix the things as the stenchy liquid rises higher than this reporter's mouth.
MAARTEN HOLL/ FAIRFAX NZ
Once the water has been treated to river quality level, it is pumped 1.9 kilometres out into Cook Strait.
"It's got up to 1500mm: they're not just splashing around," says City Care utilities team leader Sean Riley, a quietly spoken man with a handlebar moustache, sparkly blue eyes and a ring in his left ear.
When Wellingtonians flush too many things they shouldn't – wet wipes, paper towels, undies – the pumps get blocked.
Wellington Central is known for its fat and mobile phones. The railway station is known for its underpants. "They're forever pulling them out," Riley says.
MAARTEN HOLL/ FAIRFAX NZ
Stuart Pearce, left, the Veolia contract manager at Moa Point, and Alex van Paassen of Wellington Water. "We take all the chunky stuff out here," Stu says brightly, as the photographer dry wretches behind us.
Recently, Dynan and his team spent eight hours breaking down a monstrous 1.5m by 1.5m "fatberg" that had formed in this very hole, a consequence of being downstream from the restaurants and cafes of Courtenay Place.
"When you asked about the worst part, this is it," Riley says.
Up at the Moa Point Treatment Plant, Veolia contract manager Stuart Pearce – known as Stu – recalls his first day on the job, 13 years ago.
"I was inexperienced, I got a bit of shit on my lip," he recalls, matter-of-fact.
Have we piqued your CuriousCity?
Ever wondered how something in the city works? Email your question to news @dompost.co.nz with 'CuriousCity' in the subject line.
Touring us around the plant, the Englishman, with bird-like features and chunky gold rings, tells us it processes a massive 70 million litres per day, turning it into river-quality water that gets pumped 1.8 kilometres out into Cook Strait.
I'd earlier bragged about my strong constitution, but walking through two weighted doors to the tanks, the pungent odour hits you like a wall, sucking up your nostrils before tickling the back of your tongue with a grassy zest.
"We take all the chunky stuff out here," Stu says brightly, as the photographer dry wretches behind us.
"There's some poos, a tampon – we call them mice – that is a condom, some carrot there, some more carrot ..."
I'm feeling woozy.
But I can't complain. On the first Tuesday of every month, his team does the "disgusting" basket clean, pulling out all the bits and pieces that have made it through the pumps all the way to the plant; 10 tonnes a year of material that just shouldn't be there.
There are some unusual things too. "On the odd occasion they find money, and years ago we used to have a big box full of sex toys," Pearce says.
Wellington Water community engagement manager Alex van Paassen says Wellingtonians can make a difference to the city, and to these workers, by not flushing what they shouldn't.
"Just go by the three Ps," he says. "Pee, poo and paper."
After all, the consequence is an extra quarter of a million ratepayer dollars spent on maintenance, and some crappy nights out for our unsung underground heroes.
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Climate Change Adaptation and the Australian Urban Water Industry
Growing evidence indicates that the water and wastewater sector will not only be affected by climate change, but that many of the impacts of climate change will be delivered through floods, droughts or severe storms. Water resources will change in both quantity and quality, potentially requiring investments in new source developments; whilst existing water, stormwater and wastewater facilities infrastructure will face a greater risk of damage. At a time when society’s capital and financial resources are already strained, and the community is already sensitive to the devastating impacts of recent natural disasters, continuing climate change presents a significant strategic challenge for our industry,
This emerging realisation is echoed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report, Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to advance Climate Change Adaptation which states that "where extreme weather events become more intense and/or more frequent, the economic and social costs of those events will increase, and these increases will be substantial in the areas most directly affected. Climate change impacts spread from directly impacted areas and sectors to other areas and sectors through extensive and complex linkages."
While certain actions being taken by urban water utilities may help to reduce their exposure to climate change, there is an evident need to address climate vulnerability more systematically.
Some of the measures currently being implemented primarily address short-term concerns. For many utilities longer term actions may often appear to be unaffordable or unfeasible given perceived complexity, a lack of scientific information relevant to the urban environment, or a lack of coordination with other authorities related to issues such as resource protection and flooding.
Many WSAA members have been focusing on climate change adaptation over and above traditional water supply issues as they will need to adapt their infrastructure and operations to cope with the future impact of climate change.
These analyses have been developing around the key elements of the business model i.e. (strategic
and tactical) planning needs, design and installation, operations and maintenance, customer service, business continuity and so on. The focus has been on identifying what climate change might mean for these elements.
In response to these analyses, the water industry is developing an adaptation tool specifically for water utilities. “AdaptWater” will capture and quantify the complexity of modern utilities economic, social and environmental performance requirements and integrate the effects of evolving direct and indirect climate change hazards.
View the full document here.
Oxfam Update
Struggling families in Papua New Guinea are, right now, facing the likelihood of water shortages, extreme drought and widespread outbreaks of disease – all caused by the El Niño weather system. The New Zealand government realises how badly things could turn out in Papua New Guinea. That’s why it has promised to match every single $1 you give with another $4. Most households in rural PNG are subsistence farmers who rely on growing their own crops to feed their families. But droughts are wiping out crops across the country. As a result, people are going hungry. Families are eating one meal a day and relying on food relief.
Water New Zealand Supports Government Decision on Fluoride
Water New Zealand Members Dashboard
Members are asked to log in to the Water New Zealand website using their registered email address to check and update their preferences.
You can log into the website by clicking "Login" on the top right hand corner of the homepage: https://www.waternz.org.nz/. Circled below is where you will find the link to your dashboard and your preferences/subscriptions. You can also update your contact details, check your account balance, see any tickets you may have for upcoming events, and more.
If you need to reset your password, please email enquiries@waternz.org.nz
Fluoride-free water on tap in Hamilton
AARON LEAMAN
Last updated 19:24, April 22 2016
Anti-fluoride campaigners have won a victory, of sorts, after the Hamilton City Council agreed to provide fluoride-free water at two sites in the city.
Elected members voted unanimously on Thursday to supply unfluoridated water at the Taitua Arboretum and the Claudelands Events Centre.
The public tap at the arboretum is available now, with water drawn from a bore.
A second public tap will be set up at the events centre at a cost of $70,000 to ratepayers.
The Claudelands site will use de-ionising technology to remove fluoride from the water and will achieve an A grade under the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards.
A small group of anti-fluoride campaigners attended Thursday's council meeting and left the council chamber visibly pleased.
Their mood was in stark contrast to when the council voted in March, 2014, to recommence fluoridating Hamilton's water.
On that occasion, campaigners left the chamber threatening to embroil the council in costly legal action.
City Council's city waters manager Andrew Parsons said council staff had investigated possible locations to provide unfluoridated water in consultation with members of Fluoride Free Hamilton.
The group "strongly supported" the council proposal, Parsons said.
The issue of fluoridation hit national headlines in April this year after Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne said district health boards, rather than councils, should decide whether to fluoridate an area's water supply.
Dunne said while health boards currently provide expert advice on fluoridation to local authorities, putting DHBs in charge of the decision-making would reflect that fluoridation was about people's health.
Draft legislation to make the change is expected to go before Parliament later this year.
Parsons said it was unclear how any change would impact the council's decision to provide fluoride-free water.
"That's the unknown for me, in the absence of any specific decision in that space," he said.
"I would like to think as [council] staff that we would strongly advocate to continue to provide community choice and keep the Claudelands option available as an unfluoridated water source but we are a long way away from this conversation."
Water drawn from the Taitua Arboretum will have a B grade because it doesn't have any residual sterilising agent added.
Parsons said signs would be erected at both water sites warning people of the hygiene risks associated with storing water that does not have chlorine added.
Water will flow from the Claudelands tap at a rate of several litres per minute.
FLUORIDE TIMELINE
December 11, 2012: Hamilton City Council decides on a hearing to seek public feedback on whether to add fluoride to the city water supply.
March 1-April 2, 2013: A total of 1557 submissions received, with the majority (1385) seeking a stop to fluoridation. 170 support fluoridation.
June 5, 2013: Council votes 7-1 to stop adding fluoride to the city's water supply.
June 20, 2013: Fluoridation of Hamilton's water supply stops.
July 12, 2013: Council agrees to hold a non-binding referendum on whether to fluoridate the city's water.
October 12, 2013: Referendum results show 66.09 per cent (24,635) of voters want fluoride added to the water. 31.57 per cent (11,768) vote against fluoridation.
November 28, 2013: Council defers a decision until after the High Court has heard a legal challenge by anti-fluoride group New Health NZ against the South Taranaki District Council's decision to fluoridate its water supplies.
March 7, 2014: Justice Hansen rejects all grounds of New Health NZ's challenge and upholds South Taranaki District Council's decision to fluoridate its water supplies.
March 27, 2014: Council votes 9 to 1 to recommence fluoridating Hamilton's water.
April 21, 2016: Council votes unanimously to provide unfluoridated water at Taitua Arboretum and the Claudelands Event Centre.
- Stuff
View the full article here .
Water New Zealand Stormwater Group Notification of AGM and Call for Committee Nominations
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is given for the 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Water New Zealand Stormwater Group to be held on Thursday 19 May 2016 at 4.45pm at the Rutherford Hotel, Nelson.
The final Agenda for the meeting is attached for your reference.
STORMWATER GROUP MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS
The Chief Executive of Water New Zealand, John Pfahlert, gives notice for the call for nominations for election to the Stormwater Group Management Committee. The closing date for nominations is Thursday 5 May 2016 at 4.00pm.
Members are elected for a two year term. Any financial member of Water New Zealand is eligible to join the committee; this includes individual, corporate additional and student members. We encourage members of organisations that provide water services to consider joining.
The committee holds monthly meetings by teleconference and it is expected that committee members attend these meetings and play an active role in enhancing our profile, fulfilling our portfolio requirements for our members and assisting Water New Zealand with its membership activities. It is expected that a time commitment of one hour per week would be required to fulfil the portfolio requirements.
The nominee, proposer and seconder involved in the process of nominating a person for a position on the Water New Zealand Stormwater Group Management Committee must all be financial members of the Association as at the closing date of nominations.
Nominations should be posted, faxed or emailed to Amy Aldrich at Water New Zealand by 4:00pm on Thursday 5 May 2016.
A copy of the official nomination form is included.
Worksafe New Zealand Consultation Notifications
Good Practice Guidelines on Conducting Asbestos Surveys WorkSafe New Zealand is consulting on draft Good Practice Guidelines on Conducting Asbestos Surveys.
For more information on this consultation – visit the consultation page.
Consultation closes 5pm on Friday, 3 June 2016.
Management and Removal of Asbestos code of practice WorkSafe is consulting on a draft code of practice - Management and Removal of Asbestos
For more information on this consultation – visit the consultation page.
Consultation closes 5pm on Friday, 27 May 2016.
Extractives: Air Quality - Draft Code of Practice WorkSafe is consulting on the Extractives: Air Quality - Draft Code of Practice.
For more information on this consultation – visit the consultation page.
Consultation closes 5pm on Friday 27 May 2016.
Auckland's current water supply to hit capacity in 15 years - Watercare
Aucklanders are being urged to conserve water as a ballooning population pushes the city's water sources near capacity.
Water provider Watercare expects Auckland's current water sources to reach capacity within 10 to 15 years if predictions that the city's population will grow by 700,000 over the next 30 years are correct.
Watercare is responsible for supplying the city with drinking water and collecting, treating and disposing of wastewater.
The council-owned organisation lodged an application with the Waikato Regional Council in December 2013 to progressively increase its water take from the Waikato River from 150 million to 350 million litres a day.
Waikato Regional Council has indicated that Watercare's application is likely to be considered next year.
Watercare chief executive Raveen Jaduram said over the next 10 years, Auckland's growing population will demand a further 45 million litres of water a day, enough to fill 18 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Within 35 years, demand will increase a further 200 million litres a day.
"We just have to be very prudent and because of the long lead times we just have to start doing things a decade before," Jaduram said.
If consent is granted, Watercare will expand its Waikato Water Treatment Plant and build a second pipeline from the plant, securing Auckland's water supply for more than 30 years.
Organisations supplying municipal water, such as Watercare, were given preferential status should the available river water become fully allocated.
If the application was declined, alternatives would be evaluated with a desalination plant being one option.
Jaduram said Watercare was encouraging residents and businesses to reduce wastage and gross per capita water demand.
It launched a programme called Be Waterwise for Businesses and Organisations, which aims to help businesses be more water efficient and had a similar programme targeting domestic customers.
Watercare also provides a free water audit service to domestic customers and alerts customers to possible leaks in their plumbing.
As a result Watercare was on target to achieve its goal of reducing gross per-capita consumption by 15 per cent by 2025, compared with 2004 levels, Jaduram said.
Aucklanders are already using 27 litres a day less than they were in 2004 when the average customer was using 190 litres a day.
Between now and 2025 consumption needs to fall by a further 20 litres a day per customer.
Watercare made a loss of $55.4 million in 2015 compared to a $8.4m loss the year before.
The loss was partly due to infrastructure depreciation on its $8.7 billion of assets, and low interest rates reducing the value of its interest rate swap agreements by $89.2m.
Jaduram said despite the loss the company was in a good financial position.
Watercare was also pursuing new water sources for Helensville, Parakai and Warkworth.
- Stuff
View the full article here.
Amendments to AS/NZS 2638.1 and AS/NZS 2638.2
Water New Zealand is looking for input from the sector regarding the review the AS/NZS 2638.1 and AS/NZS 2638.2 standard. If you are interested in contributing time to work with the review committee, or provide advice for communication with Standards Australia, please contact Water New Zealand CEO, John Pfahlert (details below) by Monday, 23 May. If John does not receive any interest from the industry, Water New Zealand will advise Standards there is no interest for participation.
Please find attached the project proposal and background information on the revised text amendments to AS/NZS 2638.1 and AS/NZS 2638.2.
John Pfahlert
E: ceo@waternz.org.nz
P: 04 495 0986
Guidance on Consultation on Management and Removal of Asbestos code of practice
Water New Zealand is seeking guidance on the Consultation on Management and Removal of Asbestos Code of Practice. Please send any views or comments to Water New Zealand's Technical Manager, Nick Walmsley (details below), as soon as possible, no later than 20 May. A Water New Zealand submission will to be lodged by 27 May.
More information can be found here.
Nick Walmsley
E: technical@waternz.org.nz
P: 04 495 0891
Foundations Join Forces to Advance the Concept of One Water
Alexandria, Virginia – The Water Environment Research Foundation and the WateReuse Research Foundation today announced the merger of their organizations. The new not-for-profit powerhouse, called the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF), brings together a rich portfolio of research in water, wastewater, and stormwater, valued at more than $200 million. The merger strengthens the industry movement toward One Water, which realizes the true value of all water, wastewater, and stormwater.
“Bringing these two organizations together allows us to leverage our expertise to pursue an integrated approach to critical research in water,” said WE&RF Board Co-Chair, Kevin Shafer, Executive Director, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. “We are now the largest one-stop-shop for research in resource recovery and reuse.”
Since it was established in 1989, the Water Environment Research Foundation has been internationally recognized as a leader in research related to wastewater and stormwater. Established in 1993, the WateReuse Research Foundation has led the world in producing applied research in water reuse. The new Water Environment & Reuse Foundation will continue to focus on research in resource recovery and reuse, which provides the science for next generation technology and innovation to meet the growing demand for clean water.
“Our organizations shared a common goal, which is to produce research that solved real-world problems with water quality and supply,” said WE&RF Board Co-Chair Doug Owen, Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, Arcadis. “By merging, we will be able to help more communities produce a safe, reliable, locally controlled supply of water that protects the environment and supports economic growth.”
The new organization is supported by more than 200 utilities, businesses, industrial and commercial enterprises, educational institutions, and government agencies. The water agencies combined, represent more than 50 million residential and small business water consumers across the country.
“Our merger is, in large part, the result of a movement that recognizes that all water has value,” explains WE&RF Chief Executive Officer, Melissa Meeker. “All water is reused and renewable, either through desalination, stormwater harvesting, more effective wastewater treatment, or any other number of avenues. Our merger reflects that fundamental principle.”
Water Environment & Reuse Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable corporation seeking to identify, support, and disseminate research that enhances the quality and reliability of water for natural systems and communities with an integrated approach to resource recovery and reuse, while facilitating interaction among practitioners, educators, researchers, decision makers, and the public.
For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
Visit www.werf.org to view the full press release.
PWC'16 Call for Papers
"Call for Papers"
The Pacific Water Conference 2016 aligns its theme “Our Water, Our People” to the United Nation’s Official 2016 theme “Water and Jobs”. In our Islands of the Pacific, water is life - our livelihood. When we experience long drought periods, our people suffer. When we experience floods and severe climate change patterns, our people are affected. Water drives job creation and economic growth says new World Water Development report – our Pacific people want to benefit from good quality and adequate water.
This Conference will provide a uniquely Pacific platform for all water sector bodies and industry partners to meet and discuss how water can be improved in the Pacific and transform societies and economies.
We are now inviting abstract submissions for paper presentations at our upcoming Conference in Nukualofa, Tonga, from 9 – 12 August 2016.
The themes/topics are as follows
1. Water and Gender
- Gender equality issues in the water sector and how they are being addressed in the Pacific
- Does gender mainstreaming make a difference in water management?
- Case studies of how gender equality in the water sector empowers and transforms
- What is the connection of climate to gender and why is it important?
2. Water and Community
- Community ownership of water and sanitation projects
- Case studies of simple technologies that have sustained local communities
- Essence of communication and collaboration in the community
- Land access issues in the community
- Communities First - Opportunities for adaptation through shared conservation ideas
3. Water and Customers
- How do you know your customers are getting value for money?
- Technology (e.g smart meters, billing software etc) for improved customers service
- Free water for customers in small islands - relevance for today
- Customers vs Climate Change - improved ways of information flow
4. Water and Jobs
- Work related challenges in the water and wastewater industry
- Innovation in the workplace
- Case studies of employee empowerment and motivation in the water sector and their impacts
- Water efficient technologies in work environments
- Lost jobs and the collateral damage of climate change
Please note there are only 16 slots available this year and a panel will be short listing the abstracts we receive to ensure we have the best papers that fits the theme and needs of PWWA. We encourage you to submit your abstract and be part of this prestigious event.
Important Dates
Abstract submission: 10 June 2016
Decision notification 24 June 2016
Full Paper or PPt submission: 22 June 2016
For more information on requirements of abstracts and criteria for selection of papers please go to this link http://www.pwwa.ws/index.php?memberID=109565&newsletterID=563684&email=ceo@waternz.org.nz&page=PWC16CallforPapers
Joint Venture between Opus International Consultants and Water New Zealand disestablishment
On 17 May the New Zealand Water and Environment Training Academy (NZWETA) Joint Venture between Opus International Consultants and Water New Zealand was officially disestablished. The JV was established in 2008 to deliver water and environment related training that recognised the effectiveness of workplace learning and requirements for new skills. The JV has been successful in growing specialist water sector training over the last 14 years.
However the training environment has changed significantly during that time, for example the recent transfer of Water Qualifications to Connexis Infrastructure ITO in July 2015. A review of the JV has determined that each party can better service the water sector and fulfil their specialist roles independently of a formalised JV structure.
There will be no disruption or adverse effect to course delivery in 2016.
Opus and Water New Zealand wish to retain a strong working partnership for the benefit of the water industry in New Zealand and will continue to work collaboratively to maintain a strongly performing water training market and quality water training providers.
Opus will continue to deliver specialist water training through Opus Environmental Training Centre (ETC), as well as develop and deliver future training ideas by working with industry and providers to identify skill requirements that benefit the industry.
Water New Zealand will continue to promote and enable the sustainable management and development of the water environment, recognising that the effective delivery of workplace learning and of new skills is critical. We will continue to support Opus as the industry vehicle for the delivery of specialist water sector training.
The parties have determined that they needed to remove market confusion as to the roles of NZWETA and the role of Opus ETC as a training provider.
Opus and Water New Zealand wish to retain a strong working partnership for the benefit of the water industry in New Zealand.
This is a proactive and positive move that will enable both Opus and Water New Zealand to focus on their core strengths to better deliver overall benefit to meet needs of a changing water environment.
Better data for decisions on infrastructure
Work is underway to help organisations more efficiently manage 3-waters and building infrastructure across New Zealand. This will mean more consistent decision making and improved asset management.
Good progress is being made on developing five national metadata standards for how data about potable, waste and storm water (3-waters) and light commercial and residential buildings are captured, described and stored, thanks to the commitment of everyone involved.
Representatives from local government, central government and private sector are working together to develop the content and structure of the proposed standards.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the project. We couldn’t have made the progress we have without the high level of commitment and engagement from everyone involved, says Haydn Read, Programme Director.
The standards will provide the infrastructure data guidance required by public sector agencies to improve the efficiency of asset management decision-making and maximise the contribution that 3-waters and buildings make to the economy.
“Anyone using data to inform funding and investment priorities; research and research investment; policy development and national, regional or local reforms, reporting and benchmarking; shared services and inter-organisational collaborations will benefit from the standards,” says Haydn.
Detailed investment logic maps were developed by the Water Asset Governance Group and Building Housing Asset Governance Group. These identify the major challenges that confront the sectors. This work was instrumental in developing a strategic framework to support the Better Business Case being presented to Treasury later this year.
Technical working groups are working to detail the asset attributes to be used to build a common and standardised way of interrogating and analysing assets.This information will form the backbone of evidenced-based investment decision-making.
Work is progressing on as-constructed, asset condition, financial performance, level of service, risk, criticality and resilience, operational and maintenance works and costs, utilisation, and demand schemas.
The Metadata Standards Project Team is led by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), Ministry Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and an Opus-led project team (comprising of Opus, Morrison Low and GISSA).
The Metadata Standards Project Team
For further information on the project refer to http://www.linz.govt.nz/about-linz/what-were-doing/projects/metadata-shared-data-standards-project
Contact: Haydn Read, Programme Director HRead@linz.govt.nz
Water Fluoridation CBA and Cabinet paper on changes to fluoridation decision-making
This is to let you know that some further information has been published on the Ministry of Health website today in relation to the proposed legislative changes to allow district health boards rather than local authorities to decide which community water supplies are to be fluoridated in their areas.
The following papers are now on the Ministry website: The Cabinet paper; Cabinet minute; Regulatory Impact Statement; and Sapere Report: Review of the Benefits and Costs of Water Fluoridation in New Zealand.
Here is the link to the website page that includes these papers. http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/fluoridation/proposed-legislative-changes-decision-making-fluoridation-drinking-water-supplies
Background documents
- Cabinet paper: Decision-making on the fluoridation of drinking-water supplies (PDF, 325 KB)
Please note: a typographical error has been identified in appendix 1 of the Cabinet paper (paragraph 2, page 11). The age range stated should read children aged between 1 and 14 years, not 1 and 4 years. - Cabinet minute: Decision-making on the fluoridation of drinking-water supplies (PDF, 129 KB)
- Regulatory impact statement: Transferring decision-making on the fluoridation of drinking-water from local authorities to district health boards
- Sapere report: Review of the Benefits and Costs of Water Fluoridation in New Zealand
Water New Zealand Update - Improving Water Sector Performance
I would like to take this opportunity to outline the proposed new strategic direction for our organisation and what this means for the membership.
Firstly, it is important to set the context for why a fresh focus is needed.
Water is currently on the government’s radar because the sector doesn’t have an agreed view on its ongoing management. The Government increasingly recognises water’s importance to the economy, with the 2015 National Infrastructure Plan and recent Productivity Commission reports acknowledging that 3 waters management is an important issue to get right. There are reservations within Government about how well water infrastructure assets are being managed with 67 autonomous owners.
Further context is provided by the Ministry for the Environment focusing on improving the water quality from wastewater and storm water discharges through the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management, the Department of Internal Affairs looking to change the law to enable different forms of water governance to be considered by local councils and for consistent reporting on non-financial performance measures, and work by Local Government New Zealand into 3 waters management.
For the past 10 years, Water New Zealand has focused on promoting structural change within local government and the adoption of commercial models to make water delivery more efficient. Without the necessary political appetite to support this commercial approach however, this strategy has not been so successful and has become counter-productive to relationship building within city and district councils.
In short, the 3 waters sector is not shaping its own future - and we’re not helping.
As the national body representing 3 waters managers, we have an essential role to play in determining the future of the sector.
The Board began the process of reviewing our strategy in December 2015. Our starting point was to re-examine who we exist for. As a result, our focus has been clearly on stakeholder relationships. Following subsequent rounds of discussions, we have agreed on a fresh and focused direction.
The Board has agreed that Water New Zealand needs to position itself to be the national spokesperson and standard setter on water issues, ensuring that Councils adopt consistent approaches to water management. We are too small a country to do things 67 different ways.
In essence, a move towards a more co-ordinated and consistent approach to water management.
Our strategic goals are:
- To facilitate collaborative learning with a focus on accessing technical expertise
- To be the “go to” technical advisor for informed conversations and debates on water, with an emphasis on identifying and promoting sound technological trends and innovation
- To advocate for high quality evidence based standards and decisions on water.
What does this mean for the Association?
You can expect to see a closer engagement between the staff at Water New Zealand and the membership, with perhaps a call for some members to be more closely involved in what we do.
There is a role for Water New Zealand to get the sector excited about the critical importance of water, and to facilitate a collaborative environment where we can learn from each other. The various fora we run – such as our conferences, Special Interest Groups, Water Utilities Association, Water Services Managers Group, Service Providers Forum and so on – will be the vehicles for this, as well as our other means of communication with the sector such as the Water journal, newsletter and website, etc.
New technical groups may be formed if required and old ones be disbanded if they are not functioning as desired.
To help achieve this collaborative approach, the Board has agreed to establish a new position of Manager, Water Sector Collaboration within the Association to facilitate discussion among and between our groups to identify which areas offer scope for collective action. (An example of a technical issue where collective uptake by the sector is essential is the proposed metadata standards.) Recruitment for that position is expected to start mid-June. That person will also work with related organisations that operate in local government to ensure we have alignment with their activities.
Armed with those sector insights, we then need to develop good practice technical guidance material to promote to Councils for adoption. Reaching agreement with Councils about the priorities for technical guidance may be both challenging and time consuming – but it’s essential if we are to lift sector performance. The current part-time position of Technical Manager will become a full time role later this year to reflect the increased importance of technical guidance within the Association and industry.
Nick Walmsley, our current part-time Technical Manager, has signaled his desire to retire (again!) later this year. A recruitment process to find a full-time replacement will commence on 28 May.
Promotion of this guidance material as good practice to Councils will be the role of another new full-time position to be established, that of Manager, Sector Development. That role will be to promote the adoption of improved practice by Councils. The extent to which we can get Councils to adopt consistent ways of operating will be a key measure of our future success.
If we are to build our reputation as the “go to” advisor on water related issues, we need to get to a position where we can demonstrate leadership in joining up the sector so that conversations about water occur within a context – not in isolated silos.
We plan to recruit a Communications Advisor into the Wellington-based team to improve the level and quality of both internal and external communication.
Water New Zealand has been around for many years and has engaged with local government in a variety of ways. There will be a conscious move away from focusing on structural changes to local government as a means of improving sector performance. Rather, the emphasis going forward will be on getting Councils to consistently adopt good practice ways of running their water businesses.
The Board feels if we can achieve the objective of providing sound strategic advice which has a technical basis, we will ultimately enable the sector to determine its own future.
The realignment of staff with the new direction will mean that some of the staff who have worked for Water New Zealand over the years will not be part of the new structure. Peter Whitehouse and Hannah Smith have left the Association, and I thank them for their past contributions. They were with the Association for 11 and 7 years respectively and made an important and valuable contribution during their tenure.
Going forward, there is a sense that a different set of skills will be required and the Board and I trust the membership will see the value in the new approach.
This increased capacity in-house, aligned to our strategic business goals, will set us on a future-focused course. We will be the glue between the technical end of the industry and the service providers. We can create a commmunity for water expertise and be the focal point for the sector to come together and talk about water issues. Water New Zealand is the vehicle for these conversations to occur and will ensure a consistent approach across the 3 waters sector.
One other consequence of these changes is the requirement for additional financial resources to fund the expanded operations. Because we intend to have our new strategy and collaborative model bedded in by the annual Conference in October, a review of our membership fee structure will be up for decision at the next AGM in October and is due to come into effect in July 2017.
I will keep you posted regarding these changes in the next newsletter.
Do feel free to call if you’d like to discuss the new directions with me.
Regards,
John Pfahlert Chief Executive
Email ceo@waternz.org.nz
DDI: (04) 495 0896Cell: 021 150 9763
Rising Tide Presentation and Networking Evening - April
New Zealand first for water management trial
| Friday, 3 June 2016, 3:11 pm Press Release: Environment Canterbury |
New Zealand first for water management trial
New Zealand’s first large scale Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) pilot project officially launched in Ashburton today.
The Hinds/Heheao MAR Pilot Project is part of a package of water management solutions developed by the Ashburton Water Zone Committee in collaboration with the community.
The idea is to divert clean Rangitata River water (taken from the Ashburton District Council’s unused stock water allocation), via the Rangitata Diversion Race and Valetta Irrigation Scheme into a recharge site. The water will then seep down into the aquifer to refill it.
The project will utilise an extensive network of groundwater, surface water and climate monitoring as well as purpose-built computer models which will enable the effects of the MAR water to be distinguished from other effects on the groundwater and waterways.
The MAR site will be turned off during significant rainfall events to assist in this analysis.
It is hoped the trial will result improve groundwater quality in the Tinwald area and that increased groundwater levels and aquifer storage will lead to improved base flows in spring-fed waterways.
If successful, the project could be extended to the rest of the Ashburton-Hinds area.
Environment Canterbury commissioner David Caygill said the trial was an example of the local community working with local, regional and central government to achieve multiple community and environmental benefits.
The pilot project is initially for one year, but has consent to continue until 2021 if required.
ENDS
Resource Law Association Awards 2016 - Call for Nominations Management
The Resource Management Law Association is delighted to advise that nominations for the Resource Management Law Association's annual awards are now open.
The RMLA makes regular awards in the field of resource management. The focus of the awards is to:
- award excellence in resource management documentation;
- recognise outstanding contributions by individuals; and
- award projects and publications.
The criteria for each type of award can be found on the RMLA website.
The winner of each Award will be announced in a formal ceremony at the Annual Conference dinner - to be held in Nelson on Saturday, 24 September 2016. The recipient(s) will be presented with a trophy and a certificate and will be advised two weeks in advance of the ceremony. It is simple to enter - just make sure all the criteria for the award are addressed, and send the application form (which is available to download from the above link) to:
Ms Karol Helmink
Executive Officer
Resource Management Law Association of New Zealand Inc
PO Box 89187
Torbay
Auckland 0742
Nominations must be received no later than Friday, 1 August 2016
Water New Zealand Project Updates
Wastewater Treatment Plant Inventory Online:
The inventory collates information on 238 of New Zealand’s publically owned wastewater treatment plants. Google earth satellite view can be used to examine the treatment plants and their locations. Data on volumes, levels of treatment, sludge, and consent expiry can also be downloaded via excel. The inventory can be accessed through the project web page; http://www.waternz.org.nz/WWTPInventory
Wipes Blockage Reduction Project Launched:
A serious and growing problem facing sewage system operators across New Zealand is the proliferation of wipes improperly disposed of down the toilet. These wipes cause blockages that result in major headaches and unnecessary costs for consumers, plumbers, local bodies and wastewater treatment plants. Water New Zealand has formed a wipes advisory group to co-ordinate actions to tackle this increasing issue. Further updates will be made available through the project page: http://www.waternz.org.nz/WipesBlockage
International Benchmarks available through IBNET:
The International Benchmarking Network for Water and Sanitation Utilities (IBNET) is the world’s largest database for water and sanitation utilities performance data. Data from New Zealand’s National Performance Review is now included in IBNET, allowing comparison of New Zealand performance characteristics with over 1400 utilities around the world. The database can be accessed through the following interactive web portal;
https://database.ib-net.org/Default.aspx
This initiative forms part of our contribution to the global water and wastewater community, however has a number of limitations. These are outlined on a FAQs sheet available on the National Performance Review page: http://www.waternz.org.nz/NationalPerformanceReview
Water New Zealand Submissions
National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity
This submission focuses on a draft National Policy Statement released by Ministry for the Environment which aims to ensure Councils plan to make land and infrastructure available to cope with urban growth. A draft submission will be available late June for members comments. Submissions close with Government 14 July.
Local Government Amendment Bill No 2.
The Bill amends the Local Government Act 2002 to provide for a broader range of functions to be transferred between local authorities, joint governance arrangements for areas of common or shared interest, and greater use of joint council-controlled organisations (CCOs) (including water services CCOs and transport CCOs) for providing services. A copy of the Associations draft submission will be available early July. Submissions close 28 July.
Water New Zealand Annual Conference & Expo - Call for Abstracts a Great Success
There was a great response to the call for technical papers for the Water New Zealand Annual Conference & Expo - over 130 abstracts were submitted. This included 33 abstracts submitted for the Policy/Thought Leadership session.
Authors will be notified of their abstracts' success in the coming weeks and a draft programme will be available on 29 June when registrations open.
New system that uses sound to alleviate water shortage
The world is approaching a water crisis. According to the International Water Management Institute, 33 per cent of the world's population will experience water scarcity by 2025.
One main cause is leaks. Twenty to 30 per cent of treated water is lost in systems because of this simple and fixable problem.
Repairs need to be as precise as possible because excavation and resurfacing is a costly undertaking. Digging up more than one location, or more area than is needed for the repair, can lead to a problematic domino effect including traffic disruption, commuter frustration and loss of business.
Meanwhile, there are major public health risks associated with contaminants entering the water system through holes in pipes.
Luckily, researchers from Concordia University in Montreal have an innovative solution. In an article recently published by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Tarek Zayed, professor in the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, shows how a special tool called a noise logger can detect leaks accurately and efficiently, before major roadwork is required.
"This approach can reduce the duration of a leak, as well as the cost and time involved in locating the site in need of repair," says Zayed, who co-wrote the article with post-doctoral fellow Mohammed S. El-Abbassy, recent graduate Fadi Mosleh and Ahmed Senouci from the University of Houston and Qatar University.
For the study, the researchers went all the way to Doha, Qatar to test their theories. The small nation has one of the lowest precipitation rates in the world, as well as one of the highest evaporation rates -- meaning the little rain that falls is quickly reabsorbed by the atmosphere as water vapour.
"Qatar is currently facing significant challenges regarding its water supply," explains Zayed. "Its water distribution network currently suffers from 30 to 35 per cent water loss due to leakage."
Working on-site at Qatar University, the team installed the noise loggers along the institution's main water network and used them to record the constant noise generated by a leak over a two-hour time period. They then analyzed the readings, comparing sound level and sound spread. A consistent anomaly meant a leak investigation was required.
Over several weeks of monitoring they collected data from across 140 different points. They then ran simulations using mathematical models to determine the location of the leaks. The facilities management team at Qatar University reported back on the actual locations and found that the team had estimated with 99.5 per cent accuracy.
For Zayed and his team, the next step is to collect leak-data surveys of real-life pipelines from municipalities that use noise loggers and develop customized leak location prediction models.
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Concordia University . Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
View full article here.
Councils agree water shake-up, but…
| Monday, 27 June 2016, 9:23 am Press Release: Waikato District Council |
June 27, 2016
Councils agree water shake-up, but…
Three Waikato councils have reached potential agreement on a major shake-up of water services across the Waikato – but won’t push the go button until the public have their say.
Hamilton City, Waipa and Waikato District Councils have unveiled a possible agreement to form a ratepayer-owned water company. The tentative agreement, negotiated by nine councillors (three from each council) will be publicly discussed by Waikato District Council on Wednesday (June 29). The other two councils meet in July.
If it goes ahead a joint water organisation will be set up, run by an independent Board of Directors, to manage water and wastewater infrastructure in the region. The organisation would be owned by the three councils, with Hamilton City the biggest shareholder. No other councils or shareholders would be involved.
If each council signs off the agreement, three new councils elected this October will reconsider the issue and decide whether to proceed. By law councils could not make a final decision to form a company until the public are consulted, probably next year.
An independent report received by the councils last year said a single-focused water entity, set up as a council-controlled organisation (CCO) would save more than $100 million over 10 years across the region and unlock major economic advantages. The report also said a water company would focus more strongly on environmental issues and build a more resilient waters network across the region.
Waikato mayor Allan Sanson said the proposed agreement represents “give and take” from all three councils and echoes some “hard conversations” about putting boundaries aside in the best interests of ratepayers and water customers.
“We’re all obliged, by law, to deliver water infrastructure in the most cost-effective and efficient way; there’s no argument about that,” Sanson said.
“The government is sending a very clear message that councils need to up their game in this area. In this region, we’re facing huge growth and will be forced to invest millions of dollars in water infrastructure to cope. We need to be smart in how we do that and to me it makes sense to leverage economies of scale and do that collaboratively.”
Sanson said Waikato district ratepayers would save $28 million over 10 years by changing the way water and wastewater services were delivered. Under the proposed agreement the councils would retain ownership of stormwater assets, but outsource their management to the CCO. Councils would continue to be directly responsible for all other services they currently provide, including roading.
“Water is just part of our business but it’s a big, very important part. If we get water infrastructure right, and run it as cost-effectively and responsibly as we can, our communities succeed. If we don’t, we all lose.”
Sanson said he was aware some people wanted his council to simply “get on with it”. The three councils had already agreed to forming a joint water organisation in principle, but that’s as far as they can go, he said.
“No decisions can be made until the public has had a say – that’s the law and that’s entirely appropriate. Even if we tick this offon Wednesday, the new council elected in October will need to confirm that decision and then go out and consult the public.”
Copies of the agreement, including a ‘plain English version’ are at www.waterstudywaikato.org.nz. and are also available from council offices.
Key elements of a proposed agreement for a Hamilton-Waipa-Waikato water company:
- A water company would be a council-controlled organisation (CCO) and would be 100 per cent owned by the three councils. There would be no other shareholders.
- The CCO would own the water and waste water assets of each council and would take over all existing water and wastewater related debt.
- The CCO would run water and wastewater on a day-to-day basis. But a Shareholders’ Forum, made up of elected councillors would also set rules about what the CCO could and couldn’t do.
- The CCO would have an independent Board of Directors. Elected Councillors would not be permitted to sit on the Board.
-
ENDS –
View the full article here.
New data for identifying flood risk
| Monday, 27 June 2016, 5:33 pm Press Release: New Zealand Government |
Hon Louise Upston
Minister for Land Information
27 June 2016 Media Statement
New data for identifying flood risk
Scientists have released new data that will help planners identify the risks posed by floods and sea level rise, says Land Information Minister Louise Upston.
Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has completed a five year project to improve New Zealand’s Vertical Datum – a reference for measuring the height of the land and its features.
“LINZ has flown the length and breadth of New Zealand gathering airborne gravity data to update the vertical datum. As a result of its work, planners, surveyors and engineers now have a consistent reference for measuring heights that is accurate to 3cm,” says Ms Upston.
“This helps planners model the height of our landscape and buildings so they can see how water will move during storm surges and floods – New Zealand’s most common natural hazard. It provides a consistent measure for monitoring sea level rise.
“Providing a consistent reference surface will also make it easier for local authorities to share information about the height of land, buildings and infrastructure across boundaries. After all, floods don’t recognise council boundaries.
“Another use is for engineers. The ability to accurately measure the height of our landscape means they can ensure sewage and water infrastructure flows downhill.”
LINZ also has work underway to help make LiDAR data more consistent. LiDAR is three-dimensional data on our land and its features, which is collected by local and central government. Making LiDAR data more consistent will make it more useful for planning against the impact of floods and sea level rise.
“LINZ is making this data more accessible,” says Ms Upston. “As a result, LiDAR for the Auckland region is now freely available online to researchers, industry and others through the LINZ Data Service at no charge.”
“The work that LINZ is leading gives New Zealand the information it needs to improve resilience to natural disasters.”
View the full article here.
Squandering New Zealand's Water
Across New Zealand, people from many different backgrounds have a deep and passionate connection with their waterways. From children who grow up swimming and playing in and beside streams, rivers and lakes, to those who fish for whitebait, eels or trout; from iwi with powerful connections with ancestral waterways, to kayakers, rowers and waka ama paddlers, rivers run through our lives. Rivers, waterfalls and lakes are part of who we are as Kiwis.
When streams or rivers dwindle and disappear; or are choked with sediment and forestry debris; or become toxic with algae and too dangerous to fish and swim in, many of us experience grief or anger. This was evident in the videos filmed by the ‘Choose Clean Water’ group of young people who travelled around New Zealand over the summer, talking with Kiwis in many different communities about the state of their waterways. They collected thousands of signatures on a petition to Parliament, asking that the Government ensure that our streams and rivers are safe to swim and fish in.
In response, the Minister for the Environment said it was not practical to achieve this, an answer that dismayed many Kiwis. Anger has also been aroused by stories about private companies extracting millions of gallons from local aquifers for derisory sums, selling the water offshore and making vast profits in the process.
There have been cartoons about rivers being piped into Fonterra tankers and carried away, or poisoned by pollutants. Large ‘Iwi vs Kiwi’ advertisements have been posted in national newspapers, warning New Zealanders that their rights to freshwater may be at risk from discussions being conducted behind closed doors between iwi representatives and the Crown.
Town vs country, businesses vs communities, iwi vs Kiwi, fresh water is becoming dangerously divisive in New Zealand. And yet, as the Prime Minister has said, “No-one owns the water.” While some would argue differently, this is a position with a long history in both the common law and in ancestral tikanga in this country.
Sir William Blackstone’s “Commentaries on the Laws of England” sum up the common law position: “Because water is a moveable, wandering thing, and must remain common by the law of nature … I can only have a temporary property therein.” Since it is “untamed”, fresh water is held to exist in a state of nature, where property rights do not apply.
On the side of tikanga, the ancestral power of waterways has been eloquently expressed in many Waitangi Tribunal hearings. In the Whanganui River claim, for instance, an elder lamented, “It was with huge sadness that we observed dead tuna [eels] and trout along the banks of our awa tupua [ancestral river]. The only thing that is in a state of growth is the algae and slime. The great river flows from the gathering of mountains to the sea. I am the river, the river is me. If I am the river and the river is me – then emphatically, I am dying.”
This living link between Whanganui iwi and their ancestral river, along with the status of the river as He Awa Tupua (a river with ancestral power) was recognised in the Whanganui River settlement when, for the first time in the world, a river was declared to be a legal person with its own identity and rights.
In both traditions then, water is seen as having a life of its own, independent of people. A river cannot be owned, although we all may have a stake in it. Use rights, rather than property rights, apply.
It follows that if no-one owns the water, those hotly divisive Iwi vs Kiwi debates about ownership are irrelevant. Instead, the question turns upon use rights, and how these can best be managed, in the interests of waterways and people alike.
Many are suggesting pricing as a better way of managing water. Where the use of water leads to private benefit – for irrigators, bottling companies, electricity generators, other commercial users or households, for example, that may well apply.
This flow of income, however, must be devoted to both waterways and the community in general. It must not be captured by private interests.
One way of achieving this would be to set up a Waterways Commission, perhaps headed by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to ensure its independence from vested interests, funded by user charges for fresh water.
This Commission would be charged with working with communities – iwi and Kiwi side by side – to take care of waterways across New Zealand. It would be informed by both science and tikanga, and tasked to assist iwi, private owners and public bodies in the restoration of their local waterways (aquifers, groundwater, springs, streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, estuaries and harbours).
In this way, everyone gains – both waterways and people. Farmers and other private owners, iwi and community groups alike can seek assistance for bush buffers and catchment plantings, and waterways can be properly managed and restored. There will be significant gains for biodiversity, carbon management, and New Zealand’s reputation as a ‘clean, green’ country. Kiwis and tourists can again enjoy the pleasures of safe swimming, paddling and fishing in our streams, lakes and rivers.
If there are better solutions, now is the time for them to be debated. This should happen out in the open, where ideas are ‘blown about by the wind, and shone on by the sun’ – as on a marae, or in a fair and open democratic society. We all have a stake in our waterways and in the future of our children and grandchildren. We must all have a say in how these controversial matters are resolved.
This article has also been published in the New Zealand Herald.
You can view the whole article here.
Canada bans Microbeads
The federal government has moved one step closer to banning microbeads, those tiny plastic spheres found in personal care products that have come increasingly under fire for their detrimental impact on the environment. Here’s what you need to know:
What happened?
On Wednesday, the government published a notice that it is adding plastic microbeads five millimetres or less in size to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act’s Schedule 1 list of toxic substances.
This is an important step because declaring a substance to be toxic to humans, the environment allows the government to propose new “risk management instruments” for microbeads. In other words, the government can now move forward with a ban on the use of microbeads.
This news isn’t entirely a surprise. Last year, the House of Commons voted unanimously to declare microbeads toxic because of the harm they bring to the environment. In February, the government published proposed regulations to ban microbeads two millimetres or smaller in size.
Maggie McDonald, toxics program manager with advocacy group Environmental Defence said she’s pleased the new notice will ban microbeads up to five millimetres in size, as that is the only way to ensure they will all be removed from the market.
The U.S. has already adopted a new law to ban microbeads five millimetres or less and it comes into effect on Jan. 1, 2017.
Why pick on microbeads?
You’ve probably seen tiny colourful plastic beads in face soap, body wash, toothpaste and even hair dye, make-up and nail polish, along with plenty of other personal care products. They are designed to act as exfoliants or to act as fillers in cosmetic products. According to Environment Canada, microbeads have also been used in cleaning products, printing toners, textile printing, oil and gas exploration and other industrial uses and medical applications.
The problem is that microbeads get washed down the drain and are extremely difficult to remove from wastewater, even after multiple treatments and then are able to entre rivers, lakes and oceans. Studies have found microbeads accumulating in alarming numbers in many waterways where they can absorb persistent organic polutants (POPs) like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). From there, fish, birds, seals and other forms of marine life can consume these potentially toxic microbeads. After that, microbeads can enter the human food chain, according to the federal government.
Research has found mounting levels of plastic microbeads in waterways such as the Great Lakes. One study found there were 1.1 million microbeads per square kilometre in Lake Ontario, for instance.
What’s next?
Now that microbeads have been declared toxic, the government can publish regulations that will officially ban their use. Some members of the industry have already started phasing out the use of microbeads as the public backlash grows. It’s unclear when those regulations will be published, but advocates like Ms. McDonald hope action is taken sooner rather than later.
You can read the original article here.
Legal threats escalate over Ashburton water sale
The Ashburton District Council has officially been put on notice that there will be legal action if the sale of water rights to a bottled water company proceeds.
The council is selling Lot 9 in the Ashburton business estate, which comes with a resource consent to extract up to 45 litres of water per second from the town's aquifer.
Yesterday a group of 40 residents opposing the sale crowded into the council chambers to support a submission against the sale.
Jen Branje wiped tears from her eyes as she finished reading her 15-minute submission to the Ashburton District Council, and received cheers and whistles from supporters who had packed into the room.
Miss Branje, leader of the Bung the Bore Action Group, received a standing ovation from supporters after she finished telling the council opponents would seek legal proceedings if the sale was not abandoned by 30 July.
"The time to stop this deal is now, the decision is in your hands. Those same hands that cradle your grandchildren can ensure them a future with clean, potable water.''
Miss Branje said the lack of consultation over the proposal had left residents frustrated and questions remained about who was behind NZ Pure Blue, the company that has applied for the consent.
She told councillors that when the water left the district, it had no intrinsic value to the community.
"Given that our district is currently engaged in a Managed Aquifer Recharge trial to replenish our depleted ground water, we cannot find any cohesive reason to allow 40 billion litres of our pure, potable water, to be extracted to a commercial entity for their long term gain.''
Before the council meeting, a petition with 40,000 signatures against the sale was presented to councillor Ken Cutforth, one of the few councillors to speak out about the sale, outside the chambers.
Mr Cutforth said he was only one vote on the council, but was still committed to stopping the sale going through.
"I just think we should put a value on water, I think it's a crock that John Key and Nick Smith should say that nobody owns the water. The community owns the water, our grandchildren own our water and what we're... saying is come in and help yourselves. It's almost like a dog whistle to overseas interests to come in and help themselves.''
Mr Cutworth said he was concerned that the company would get 30 years of water extraction when there were wells going dry in the district.
The council has a land sale agreement with NZ Pure Blue which expires at the end of September, but Ashburton mayor Angus McKay said he was taking any talk of legal action in his stride.
"I think the problem is that this is a national issue on how water is treated and the council is being very careful to work within the confines of legislation and etiquette.''
He said the consent had been granted by professionals in one of the biggest water consenting regional councils in the country.
Miss Branje said she would be reaching out to the New Zealand public to help crowd source the legal challenge to stop the sale.
You can read the original article here.
NOMINATIONS FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
Water New Zealand is seeking members for a Health and Safety Advisory Group. The group will oversee the development of contemporary water industry health and safety guidance. Membership offers participants an opportunity to share practices with others, contributing to their own professional development as well as developing the knowledge of the sector at large. The groups Terms of Reference are available from the projects section of the Water New Zealand website. If you or a member of your organisation are interested in participating contact; Lesley.smith@waternz.org.nz
How Microbes and Wood Chips Could Reduce Water Pollution
Beneath fields of corn and soybeans across the U.S. Midwest lies an unseen network of underground pipes. These systems, which are known as tile drainage networks, channel excess water out of soil and carry it to lakes, streams and rivers. There are over 38 million acres of tile drainage in the Corn Belt states.
These networks play a vital role in farm production. They allow farmers to drive tractors into fields that would otherwise be too wet and make it possible to plant early in spring. And they boost crop growth and yield by preventing fields from becoming waterlogged.
But drainage systems are also major contributors to water pollution. The water they remove from fields contains nitrogen, which comes both from organic matter in rich Midwestern soil and from fertilizer. This nitrogen over-fertilizes downstream water bodies, causing blooms of algae. When the algae die, bacteria decompose them, using oxygen in the water as fuel.
The result is hypoxic zones, also known as dead zones, where nothing can live. Some of these zones, such as the one that forms in the Gulf of Mexico every year fed by Midwestern farm drainage water, cover thousands of miles.
Across the Midwest and in many other areas, we need to reduce nitrogen pollution on a very large scale to improve water quality. My research focuses on woodchip bioreactors – simple trenches that can be constructed on farms to clean the water that flows out of tile drains. This is a proven practice that is ready for broad-scale implementation. Nevertheless, there is still great potential to improve how well wood chip bioreactors work, and to convince farmers to use them through additional research and engagement.
Removing nitrogen from farm runoff
Researchers studying ways to improve agricultural water quality have shown that we can use a natural process called denitrification to treat subsurface drainage water on farms. It relies on bacteria found in soil around the world to convert nitrate – the form of nitrogen in farm drainage water – to nitrogen gas, which is environmentally benign and makes up more than three-fourths of the air we breathe.
These bacteria use carbon as a food source. In oxygen-free conditions, such as wetlands or soggy soils, they are fueled by carbon in the surrounding soil, and inhale nitrate while exhaling nitrogen gas. Bioreactors are engineered environments that take advantage of their work on a large scale.
Denitrifying bioreactors on farms are surprisingly simple. To make them we dig trenches between farm fields and the outlets where water flows from tile drains into ditches or streams. We fill them with wood chips, which are colonized by native bacteria from the surrounding soil, and then route water from farm drainage systems through the trenches. The bacteria “eat” the carbon in the wood chips, “inhale” the nitrate in the water, and “exhale” nitrogen gas. In the process, they reduce nitrogen pollution in water flowing off of the farm by anywhere from 15 percent to over 90 percent.
Although denitrifying bioreactors are relatively new, they have moved beyond proof of concept. A new special collection of papers in the Journal of Environmental Quality, which I co-edited with Dr. Louis Schipper of the University of Waikato in New Zealand, demonstrates that these systems can now be considered an effective tool to reduce pollution in nitrate-laden waters. Researchers are using these systems in an expanding range of locations, applications, and environmental conditions.
Making bioreactors work for farmers
Woodchip bioreactors can be installed without requiring farmers to take land out of production, and require very little annual maintenance. These are important selling points for farmers. The Clean Water Act does not regulate nitrogen pollution from diffuse agricultural sources such as farm runoff, but states across the Midwest are working with federal regulators to set targets for reducing nitrogen pollution. They also are developing water quality strategies that call for installing tens of thousands of denitrifying bioreactors to help reach those targets.
So far, wood chips have proven to be the most practical bioreactor fill. Research at the lab scale has also analyzed the idea of using farm residues such as corn cobs instead. In laboratory studies, such agricultural residues consistently provide much higher nitrate removal rates than wood chips. However, they need to be replaced more frequently than wood chips, which have an estimated design life of 10 years in a bioreactor.
Laboratory studies have also helped us understand how other factorsinfluence nitrate removal in bioreactors, including water temperature and the length of time that water remains inside the bioreactor – which, in turn, depends on the flow rate and the size of the bioreactor. Another challenge is that bioreactors work best in late summer, when drainage flow rates are low and the water flowing from fields is warm, but most nitrogen flows from fields in drainage water in spring, when conditions are cool and wet. Researchers are working to design bioreactors that can overcome this disconnect.
We have also carried out tests to see whether bioreactors can treat aquaculture wastewater, which typically contains much higher levels of nitrate and other water pollutants than tile drainage water. Our study showed that bioreactors could be a viable low-cost water treatment option for fish farms.
And researchers from New Zealand recently showed that denitrifying bioreactors may be an effective option for treating some small sources of municipal wastewater. Their work provided the first indication that woodchip bioreactors may be able to remove microbial contaminants like E.coli and viruses, which can be hazardous to human health, from water. The exact process by which the E.coli and viruses were removed is not yet known.
One difficult challenge in designing denitrifying bioreactors is testing novel designs at the field scale. We need to build and test large bioreactors so that we can provide useful information to farmers, landowners, crop advisors, drainage contractors, conservation staff, and state and federal agencies. They want to know practical facts, such as how long the wood chips last (approximately 7-15 years), how much it costs to install a field-scale bioreactor ($8,000-$12,000), and whether bioreactors back up water in tile drainage systems (no). To refine what we know, we plan to continue installing full-size bioreactors either on research farms or by collaborating with private farmers who want to be at the cutting edge of water-quality solutions.
We all play a role in agriculture because we all eat, and at the same time, we all need clean water. Simple technologies like woodchip bioreactors can help meet both goals by helping farmers maintain good drainage and providing cleaner water downstream.
You can read the original story here.
What type of soil do you have? - Glyphosate Sprayed on GMO Crops Linked to Lake Erie’s Toxic Algae Bloom
Phosphorus —attributed to farm runoff carried by the Maumee River—has long been identified as a leading culprit feeding the excessive blooms in the western Lake Erie basin. Now, according to a new study from chemistry professor Christopher Spiese, a significant correlation has been established between the increased use of glyphosate to the percentage of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in the runoff.
As No-Till Farmer observed from the study, DRP loads in Lake Erie increased in the mid-1990s at the same time that farmers began the widespread cultivation of crops genetically engineered to withstand multiple applications of Roundup.
"For every acre of Roundup Ready soybeans and corn that you plant, it works out to be about one-third of a pound of P [phosphorus] coming down the Maumee," Spiese told the agricultural publication.
Here's how the team came to the conclusion, as No-Till Farmer reported:
Through his own and others' research, Spiese found that depending on the types of metal in the soil, glyphosate does release P. For example, when glyphosate is applied to soil containing iron oxide-hydroxide, P is immediately released. But almost nothing is removed when it's an iron oxide material.
Finally, Spiese took soil samples all over the Maumee watershed, applied P to them and then sprayed glyphosate to see how much P was released vs. soil that wasn't sprayed with glyphosate after 24 hours. He saw desorption occurred all over the watershed, but certain areas were higher than others, specifically in the southeastern corner.
Based on the average two glyphosate applications growers make every year, Spiese estimates that overall, 20-25 percent of the DRP runoff is caused by glyphosate. But depending on the location within the watershed, that percentage could be much lower or much greater.
"Some of those sites, it's less than a percent. Other sites it's almost 100 percent," he says.
Previous studies have tied glyphosate to the phosphorous fueling Lake Erie's blue-green algae. In 2009, Ohio Sea Grant researchers, Drs. R. Michael McKay and George Bullerjahn of Bowling Green State University, found that glyphosate could only be detected in the lake at certain times of year—after crops are planted.
"Our research is finding that Roundup is getting into the watershed at peak farming application times, particularly in the spring," McKay said.
Approximately 1,000 metric tonnes (about 2.2 million pounds) of Roundup is applied in the Lake Erie watershed per year , and it is being detected in adjacent waterways particularly in the spring, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) noted from McKay and Bullerjahn's study.
The researchers also found that the blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in the lake are capable of using phosophonates.
"It turns out that many cyanobacteria present in Lake Erie have the genes allowing the uptake of phosphonates, and these cyanobacteria can grow using glyphosate and other phosphonates as a sole source of phosphorus," Bullerjahn said.
View the full article here.
NZ Pipe Inspection Manual Survey
Water New Zealand is collaborating with the University of Canterbury Earthquake Centre and Project Max to investigate updating our Pipe Inspection Manual.
Below is a link to the web-based industry survey form. The survey will take up to 15 - 20 minutes to complete. The purpose of the survey is to gain an understanding of how well the 3rd Edition of the New Zealand Pipe Inspection Manual (the manual) meets the water industry needs and identify potential areas of improvement, or expanded content that could be addressed during the revision of the existing manual.
The survey covers a number of topic sections
- Content Of The Existing Manual
- Sample Forms
- Manhole Inspections
- Pipe Cleaning
- Quality Of Deliverables
- Methods Of Inspecting Pipes
- Pressure Pipelines
- Training And Qualifications
- Data Quality Management
- Standard Documents
- Inspection Of Laterals
- Condition Codes
- Assessing Pipe Condition
- Assessing Inflow And Infiltration
- Acceptance Criteria For New/Rehabilitated Pipe
- Sharing And Bench Marking Of Pipe Inspection Data
All of the questions on these sections are optional. If you feel that you cannot answer the questions within any of the sections, you may move onto the next question. All of the sections also have space for general feedback, and we would encourage you to provide some comment in each section.
To complete the survey click on this link: http://goo.gl/forms/IwWunkxrIWYC4hJF3
If, for any reason, you are unable to access the web-based form, via the link above, please click here.
Please feel free to forward this email on to colleagues if you think there is someone who has not received an invitation to this survey that should have.
We ask that the survey is completed by the end of July.
Following the survey, the information collected will the provide guidance on the issues to be addressed by an industry steering group.
Alternatively, please feel free to give any general feedback via email.
Cawthron Foundation funds health check of freshwater reporting
When it comes to knowing how healthy something is, making sure we are measuring the right things and asking the right questions is vital - whether it’s for our own health or our environment’s.
New research by Cawthron Institute, an independent science organisation, aims to determine if we are measuring the right things when it comes to assessing the health of New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and streams.
The research is funded by Cawthron Foundation through its bequest programme. It will be carried out by a team of freshwater ecologists, social scientists, and policy analysts, and led by Cawthron Institute’s Dr Roger Young - a highly-regarded freshwater ecologist and advisor on freshwater issues throughout New Zealand. Read full article on Cawthron Institute website
"The health of New Zealand’s freshwater ecosystems is under threat from agricultural intensification, urban development, water abstraction, invasive species and climate change," Dr Young says.
"There’s considerable public interest and concern relating to these threats. There is also a lot of debate, concern and confusion around what the different indicators of freshwater health mean, how they link with community values, and how to determine what a ‘healthy waterway’ is. This research is a step towards addressing those concerns by ensuring the things New Zealanders care about are included in the measurement and reporting of freshwater health in New Zealand."
Cawthron Institute freshwater ecologist Dr Roger Young
It is the first research funded by Cawthron Foundation, a charitable trust launched in 2015 to raise donations, bequests and endowments for public good science, as well as scholarships to support talented emerging scientists. Cawthron Foundation hopes this piece of research is the first of many it will fund to address pressing environmental issues
"New Zealanders are passionate about their rivers, lakes and streams and many see the ability to swim and fish as an iconic part of being a New Zealander," Cawthron Foundation Chair Dr Morgan Williams says. "This research was made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors who share the sort of interest in practical science that inspired Thomas Cawthron to set up the Institute 100 years ago. It is an excellent example of the type of science we need to help solve New Zealand’s leading environmental challenges."
New Zealand’s National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) requires regional councils and communities to develop plans that identify freshwater objectives and set limits to achieve them. A range of ecological health and water quality indicators are regularly used by regional councils and others to assess the health of waterways.
Dr Young says that while some of these indicators have been specified as compulsory attributes in the NPS-FM, others have not yet been included. He says that while there’s a strong focus on water quality, some important values such as mahinga kai and fishery health are not well represented by any indicators commonly used for assessment and reporting on freshwater health.
"Overall, we’re supportive of the efforts underway to improve freshwater management. This independent analysis is intended to complement further development of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management," Dr Young says.
"Our aim is to address some gaps we’ve identified and provide the public with easily understandable, robust scientific information so they can be fully informed on this important issue and become actively engaged in the debate."
The ‘Analysis of Freshwater Indicators’ will:
Investigate strengths and weakness of common indicators used in freshwater policy and management
Compare New Zealand’s approach with international trends in the use and development of freshwater indicators
Identify community objectives that are poorly represented by any of the commonly used indicators
Recommend potential changes to the NPS-FM
Cawthron Institute will publish a peer-reviewed report on the analysis, and a short video on key findings. The work is expected to be completed by December this year.
View the full article here.
Submission for Water New Zealand on the Proposed National Policy Statement Urban Development Capacity
Water New Zealand has provided a submission on the proposed national policy statement for urban development capacity.
View the submission here.
The Proposed National Policy Statement Urban Development Capacity consultation document can be found here.
Consultation open - Proposal for an EPA Notice for disposal of hazardous substances
The Environmental Protection Authority have sent the following communication requesting submissions on the Proposal for an EPA Notice for disposal of hazardous substances. Water New Zealand CEO, John Pfahlert, has asked for input from the membership. Please notify John Pfahlert of any suggestions by Friday 29 July 5pm.
We are writing to let you know we have opened consultation on a proposed EPA Notice to cover changes to the rules for managing the disposal of hazardous substances.
As you will be aware, New Zealand’s system for managing hazardous substances is changing. The rules that govern the use of hazardous substances in the workplace are moving from the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act (administered by the EPA) into a new Health and Safety at Work (HSW) Act (administered by WorkSafe).
The changes are part of a wider effort by the Government to improve overall workplace health and safety.
The EPA will still be responsible for approving hazardous substances and setting the rules outside of the workplace and for protecting the environment, along with the rules at the top of the supply chain: classification, labelling, safety data sheets and packaging.
As part of this programme of work, we have previously invited your submissions on our proposals for four EPA notices: Classification, Labelling, Packaging and Safety Data Sheets.
We now welcome your submissions on our Proposal for an EPA Notice for disposal of hazardous substances. To read the consultation document and download a submission form see our website.
The proposed changes transfer the existing disposal requirements which are still fit for purpose into an EPA notice, update and transfer out of date regulatory provisions and delete provisions that are no longer needed. The disposal notice will replace the existing Hazardous Substances (Disposal) Regulations 2001.
Please note: The submission period opened on 11 July and closes at 5pm on 22 August 2016
If you have any questions, please email hsreform@epa.govt.nz and we will get back to you as soon possible.
Proposed regulations to support Fire and Emergency New Zealand
The Government has introduced a Bill to Parliament reforming the Fire Service and rural fire services. This reflects the fact that 60% of emergency responses are not related to fires. The new legislation proposes the establishment of a new organisation, Fire and Emergency NZ. One element of the Bill which is of interest to us are provisions in clauses 62-64 related to the preparation of a code of practice for firefighting water supply. There is also a discussion paper out at the same time in relation to the development of regulations supporting the legislation. Submissions on the Bill close with the Government Administration Committee on 18 August, and on the Regulations Consultation Document also on 18 August.
If members consider there are issues on which the Association should make comment please contact CEO, John Pfahlert, E: ceo@waternz.org.nz
Copies of the explanatory note for the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill and the discussion document can be found below.
Draft Metadata Standards for Water
The draft metadata standards for capturing, describing and storing data for the 3-waters (potable, waste and storm) network, and for residential housing and light commercial buildings are available for comment here: www.linz.govt.nz/draft-standards
The deadline for comments to be received by Water New Zealand is 5pm Wednesday 31 August.
Please send comments technical@waternz.org.nz and we will collate them and forward to LINZ.
Water New Zealand Welcomes New Staff
Vicki McEnaney – Manager, Water Sector Collaboration
Vicki has joined the team at Water New Zealand this week in the newly created role of Manager, Water Sector Collaboration. This role will assist to facilitate discussion among and between groups to encourage a collaborative learning environment across the sector.
Based in Wellington, Vicki has recently been working in the tourism sector at TIA – the peak membership-based organisation advocating for and supporting the challenges facing tourism operators in New Zealand’s rapidly growing tourism industry.
Previous roles include 15+ years in New Zealand’s commercial seafood industry, managing corporate services and latterly sector liaison for industry training within the ITO framework.
Vicki will be out and about over the coming months to meet with member groups and related organisations. Contact: vicki.mcenaney@waternz.org.nz or mob: 027 220 6996
Ashleigh Hume- Team Co-ordinator
Ashleigh is a recent addition to the Water New Zealand team, joining as Team Co-ordinator. She will be assisting Vicki in the newly created role of Manager, Water Sector Collaboration and is the new liaison for the Special Interest Groups.
Since graduating from Victoria University, Ashleigh has worked in sales and marketing, as well as administration. She can be contacted at ashleigh.hume@waternz.org.nz or on 04 495 0893.
Water CCO one step closer
Hamilton City Council voted last Thursday to adopt a draft agreement which outlined how a water and wastewater council-controlled organisation (CCO) for Hamilton City, Waikato District and Waipa District councils might be structured, governed and owned.
It followed Mayor Julie Hardaker and councillors Garry Mallet and Martin Gallagher joining six delegates from the other councils on a Waters Governance Group in December to iron out details.
Council executive director of special projects Blair Bowcott stressed the formal creation of a CCO would require that the agreement went before the new council after October's local body election and a public consultation.
Fear that movement to a CCO would be a step towards privatisation of water were voiced by councillors while others responded by citing current law which forbids the privatisation of water.
Councillor Garry Mallet called such concerns a "red herring".
Councillor Dave Macpherson, however, compared the situation to privatisation of electricity.
"We had a municipal electricity department, but that wasn't only corporatised but sold off. Now we have private power industry in this country created out of a public one. Yes, a law had to change, but it wasn't that hard for the governments of the day to do that, and it won't be that hard here," he said.
"If you start the steps down that road you have to be aware of the private consequences."
Cr Macpherson also criticised the method of public consultation for its failure to present alternatives to a CCO, like the advanced shared services model which had been investigated in previous meetings.
"If you're only given one item to consider you're not given the opportunity to fairly compare two proposals," he said.
"I believe that the CCO model delivers a loss of direct control of the operations of our water and waste water services."
Cr Macpherson put an amendment forward to include both options in the public consultation but it was voted down.
Both Waipa and Waikato District councils had agreed to the Record of Agreement before Thursday's meeting and both already have, or are in the process, of rolling out water meters, prompting a number of councillors to voice concerns over Hamilton being forced to also adopt water meters.
Cr Macpherson said it was clear "to blind Freddy" that the groundwork for introducing water meters was being prepared.
Councillor Andrew King listed some of the projected costs if they were to be introduced, including rollout costs, ongoing maintenance and monitoring.
Cr King also put forward an amendment which would have made any decision on water meters solely Hamilton City Council's. But according to the Record of Agreement installing meters would be a "significant" decision requiring 75 per cent of shareholder votes. This means Hamilton City as the biggest shareholder with 63 per cent of shares would have veto rights.
Councillor Ewan Wilson was in support of Cr King's amendment, claiming the purpose of the CCO move was to take the decision away from the public and "take all the emotion out of the debate".
Cr King's amendment was voted down.
Based on financial forecasts Hamilton would be financially marginally better off with a CCO. Under the agreement no council would be left with water-related debt from forming a CCO.
For Hamilton, its $131 million of water debt would passed to the CCO but because of accounting rules, the CCO's total debt would still show up in Hamilton's accounts . Hamilton would get a cash payout from the CCO of nearly $139 million, based on assets transferred.
Waipa's water debt of $31.5 million would be transferred to the CCO and it would receive $41 million in cash back.
Waikato District's water debt of $61.5 million would also go the CCO, with the same amount going back to the council.
Cr Mallett said the proposed CCO would be "significant beneficial movement" for Hamilton both monetarily and from an operational standpoint but said the agreement as it stood meant Hamilton benefited least out of the three councils.
Cr Mallett said there would be surprises for residents if the CCO went ahead and new tariff structures began to be introduced.
"They will probably be a lot more efficient but they are unlikely to be related to property value. There will be surprises for people - some good, some bad."
Mayor Julie Hardaker voiced her surprise during the closing comments of the meeting for the lack of focus on growth priorities, and the process of how infrastructure was positioned and developed after the CCO took over management.
"Determining that and the process of determining that is critical to us, and I can tell you that what we want is in the agreement," she said.
The draft agreement was voted for by Mayor Hardaker, councillors Gordon Chesterman, Philip Yeung, Rob Pascoe, Garry Mallett, Leo Tooman with councillors Martin Gallagher, Andrew King, Dave Macpherson and Ewan Wilson voting against.
Councillors Angela O'Leary, Margaret Forsyth, and Carina Green were all absent for the vote.
A copy of the Record of Agreement is at www.waterstudywaikato.org.nz
View the full article here.
Secondary school students sample the water industry
An enthusiastic group of secondary school students enjoyed a behind the scenes taste of the water industry recently experiencing what it takes to provide Auckland with clean, safe drinking water.
The students were taking part in a five-day 'Water Taster' programme this week designed to show them how the industry works and to encourage them to take up a career. The programme is an initiative of Connexis, the Industry Training Organisation for New Zealand's infrastructure industry.
Connexis Water Industry Manager Annie Yeates says, "It's been a joy and a privilege to introduce the group to the teams behind providing Auckland with clean safe water to drink, and treating the wastewater before it is discharged back into the environment, and those that look after the maze of pipe networks in-between!
"The last few days have been a real highlight for me, getting young people enthused about a vital industry that offers amazing careers that the vast majority of the population never think about - until something goes wrong!"
Connexis ITO chief executive Helmut Modlik says, "The initiative has been hugely supported by host networks Watercare, Downer, City Care and Safety in Action, they've all been fantastically supportive and have really welcomed this initiative.
"We have some large skill shortages looming in the water industry, particularly in the area of water reticulation - crews who look after the reticulation networks, fixing water leaks etc - where there are presently more than 50 vacancies in this area in Auckland alone, so it's vital to attract more staff and these open days are a perfect gateway."
Water New Zealand Industry Leadership
Water New Zealand has recently undertaken a review of its activities as the principal voice for the water sector. We confirmed that our role is to promote and enable the sustainable management and development of the water environment - encompassing the three waters: fresh, waste and storm.
I’d like to update you on the outcome of that review and let you know where our focus will be in the coming few years.
Through a strategic review by the Board, Water New Zealand has decided to focus on the following areas.
- Working collaboratively across the 3 waters sector to identify areas for improvement.
- Being a spokesperson and advocate on water policy issues – for example the implications of the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management on water quality associated with storm-water discharges.
- Promoting to Councils our annual benchmarking exercise in 3 waters performance.
- Using learnings from benchmarking to identify areas where technical guidance could usefully be developed to drive a consistent approach between Councils – for example procurement, pipeline renewals, adoption of metadata standards.
The Board has agreed that an approach which demonstrates collaborative leadership in the 3 waters space is important. You will find that going forward there will be a much greater emphasis on working with Councils and other related trade associations in a collegial manner to achieve our goals.
We aim to establish ourselves as the “go to” advisor on 3 waters technical issues and, within 5 years, have the water industry determining its own future.
The attached strategic “plan on a page” summarises this new direction.
We have recently completed a staff restructuring and recruited a number of new staff to assist with delivering on the new strategy. While that recruitment is yet to be completed, an updated organisational chart is attached for your information.
One consequence of the changes will be the need for greater financial resourcing going forward. A lift in corporate membership fees will be on the agenda for adoption at the AGM in October.
The Board and I are excited by the new direction and are confident it will lead to better outcomes for the Association and the sector.
If you’d like to discuss any element of our new direction and focus, please make contact through our Chief Executive, John Pfahlert on 04 472 8925 or via email at ceo@waternz.org.nz.
Yours sincerely,
Brent Manning
President
Flood Modelling Update
The attached notes update the work of the IAHR Flood Risk Management Technical Committee on developing a methodology for distinguishing between valid and invalid flood hazard models. The flyer explains the agreed project work and the Benchmark document summarises an initial assessment data set. Noting the evidence presented that unproven models recently imported into New Zealand can easily under predict flood levels by over a metre, it has been recommend that such models be checked for compliance to the proposed accuracy benchmark before being trusted to deal with matters such as the flooding of urban areas which are less than a metre above high spring tide.
For further information, or if anyone can contribute further to this project by proposing other datasets of comparable quality for potential inclusion in the international accuracy benchmark depository, please contact Dr Alastair Barnett at barncon@xtra.co.nz
Worksafe Guidelines - Update
Excavation Safety - Good Practice Guidelines
Excavation Safety Good Practice Guidelines - This good practice guideline provides practical guidance to manage health and safety risks associated with excavation work.
Welding and local exhaust ventilation guidance and resources
Welding and local exhaust ventilation fact sheet - Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is an engineering control commonly used to control the risks to workers’ health from welding fumes. When designed, used and maintained properly it is an effective control measure.
Toolbox talk 1 - Welding work health effects - Use this toolbox talk resource as part of a team meeting, training session or induction to help raise awareness of the health risks from welding and some of the controls to manage them.
Toolbox talk 2: Welding work keeping safe - Use this toolbox talk resource as part of a team meeting, training session or induction to cover the use of local exhaust ventilation and respiratory protective equipment as controls that can be used to protect worker’s health.
Opportunity to help shape the future of environmental reporting in New Zealand
As you may know, Statistics NZ and the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) work in partnership under the Environmental Reporting Act to publish regular, robust, trusted data that illustrates and explains what is happening to our environment. We want to get a better idea of how people are using the Environmental Reporting Series and Indicators to inform future development.
This short online exercise is an opportunity for you to be involved in shaping the future of environmental reporting in New Zealand, and making environmental reporting information more accessible, relevant, and influential. You have been sent this email because we have identified either yourself or your type of organisation as a potential or existing user of environmental reporting information. Please forward to colleagues and others who you think might be interested in participating.
Your participation in the online exercise will help us determine:
- levels of awareness of the Environmental Reporting Series and Indicators,
- how people are accessing the information, and navigating to specific information they require, and
- requirements for environmental reporting information (e.g. content, format, and channel).
The survey is in two parts, and will take 10-15 mins in total.
Any problems/issues/enquires, please feel free to contact me at the email address below.
Kind regards
Bronwyn
_______________________________________________________________________________
Bronwyn Newton | Environmental Reporting Customer Strategy & Delivery | Rautaki Kiritaki me te Whakaratonga
Statistics New Zealand | Tatauranga Aotearoa
DDI: 04 931 4386 | email: bronwyn.newton@stats.govt.nz
Update on Qualifications Review being undertaken by Connexis – the Infrastructure ITO
Qualifications related to water and wastewater treatment were reviewed over the past 2 years as part of the Targeted Review of qualifications – commonly referred to as the TROQ. Connexis (the Infrastructure ITO) is now working on developing programmes to implement the new qualifications, and reviewing their underpinning unit standards to ensure they are up to date and fit for purpose.
Connexis has formed a high level representative group from the water industry to provide advice on training needs facing the sector. This is referred to as the Water Industry Group.
Water Industry Group Membership
| Adrian | Watson | Chair, City Care |
| Kelvin | Hill | Water NZ Board Member (or Noel Roberts) |
| Hugh | Blake-Manson | Water NZ Board Member |
| Shayne | Cunis | Watercare |
| Andrew | Curtis | Irrigation NZ |
| Craig | Hiddleston | Water Industry Operations Group |
| Jeroen | Smal | Equipment Suppliers |
| Tom | Swindells | Downer (Or Rodger Dawson) |
| Jason | Colton | Consulting Engineers |
| Craig | Freeman | Chair of the Small Water Systems SIG, Water NZ |
| Scott | Rostron | Ministry of Health (regulatory bodies) |
Four smaller focus groups of subject matter experts in Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment, Drinking-Water Assessment, and Small Scale Systems has also been established. They will advise on content for new and reviewed unit standards.
The focus groups will meet over August and September to review the unit standards in their subject area. While the groups are quite small to facilitate efficient transfer of information, all of the reviewed standards will be sent to a wider consultation group for comment before registration with NZ Qualifications Authority.
Because the unit standards form the basis of the programmes, the review of unit standards may lead to some updating of the draft programmes. Once this has been done, the programmes will be sent out for wider industry consultation and approval. This is expected to happen in late September/early October, with a view to having the programmes finalised and ready to submit to NZQA in early December.
If you wish to be included in the wider consultation for unit standards and/or draft programmes, please let Wendy Allison at Connexis know and she’ll add you to the list. Wendy Allison WendyA@InfrastructureITO.onmicrosoft.com
Alternatively, contact Vicki McEnaney at Water New Zealand. Vicki.mcenaney@waternz.org.nz
Input for Health and Safety Guidance Material for the Water Industry
The Water Services Managers Group is seeking input for the collation of existing Health and Safety Guidance material for the Water Industry
The Water Services Managers Group has initiated a project to update Health and Safety guidance in the industry. The project will deliver a web-based framework of water industry specific information.
The framework will collate existing health and safety resources, and plug gaps, to provide a one stop shop for water industry health and safety guidance. If you have health and safety resources you think should be included, please add these to this spreadsheet by Monday, 8 August.
The project is being led by an advisory group consisting of representative from; BPO, Dunedin and Hamilton City Councils, Downers, Watercare, Wellington Water, and Veolia. For more information contact: Lesley.smith@waternz.org.nz
Water New Zealand Board Nominations and Notice of Annual General Meeting
Water New Zealand Board Nominations
Water New Zealand will be seeking Board Member Nominations from Wednesday, 10 August. If you are a Water New Zealand member, be sure to check your inbox (or Junk Mail) to ensure you can nominate yourself or your peers to join the Water New Zealand Board.
If you do not receive an email with nomination details, please contact Amy Aldrich, P: 04 495 0894.
Water New Zealand Annual General Meeting
Notice is given that the 2016 Annual General Meeting of Water New Zealand, the trading name of New Zealand Water and Wastes Association, will be held on Thursday, 20 October 2016 at 5.00 pm at the Energy Events Centre, Rotorua.
WATER NEW ZEALAND’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXPO 2016 - Update
Energy Events Centre, Rotorua
19 – 21 October
For more information visit our website.
REGISTRATION OPEN
Click here for the preliminary conference programme and more information.
Click here to register now.
ACCOMMODATION
Click here to view the accommodation options. Please book your accommodation directly with the property of your choice and benefit from the conference delegate rates.
FLIGHTS
We now have a charter flight available from Roturua to Wellington on Friday 21st October. This will be departing Rotorua Airport at 1:35pm and will be arriving in Wellington at 2:45pm. Seats on this flight are limited and cost $244.95 incl GST. You can book at the time you register to attend the Conference. If you have already registered and would like to book a seat, email waternz@avenues.co.nz
LIMITED EXPO SITES LEFT AVAILABLE
If you are interested in exhibiting at the conference click here alternatively you can contact James Austin at james@avenues.co.nz or on +64 4 473 8044 to secure a site as limited spaces are left available.
Draft Water New Zealand submission on the draft Fire and Emergency NZ Bill
Please find attached a draft Water New Zealand submission on the draft Fire and Emergency NZ Bill. This Bill restructures the NZ Fire Service to reflect that 60% of call outs are non-fire related. It also provides for an updated levy system. Of relevance to our sector is that the Bill contains provisions for the development of a Code of Practice in relation to the use of water for fire-fighting. We have a raised a couple of issues in relation to consultation with affected parties, and over concerns to do with how priority is determined for use of water for drinking water of fire-fighting water in post emergency situations.
If members have comments on the draft, or have identified other issues you think we should comment on, please let John Pfahlert know by close of business this Friday 12 August.
A copy of the Bill is available for your reference on our website. NOTE that there is also a discussion paper out on proposed regulations which staff are currently considering. A copy of that document is also on our website.
Worksafe - Plan launched to reduce health risks at work
A 10-year plan to address health risks in New Zealand’s workplaces was launched tonight in Wellington by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon Michael Woodhouse.
WorkSafe New Zealand’s strategic plan for work-related health, ‘ Healthy Work’, outlines the approach WorkSafe will take over the coming ten years to support and enable businesses to better manage work-related health risks. Each year, these risks kill 600-900 people and lead to a further 30,000 New Zealand workers developing serious, but non-fatal, work-related health conditions.
“Each one of those figures is a real person who has died or has become unwell as a result of their work and for too long we’ve put work-related health in the ‘too hard basket’,” Mr Woodhouse said.
“We can’t fix the issues arising from past exposures, but with strong leadership from across the health and safety system, and everyone demonstrating greater accountability for managing work-related health risks, we can significantly improve health outcomes in our workplaces for the future,” he said.
The plan focuses on enabling greater leadership across the health and safety system by raising awareness of harm and risks, encouraging collaboration, minimising risks at source and influencing the education system to improve understanding of risks. It also guides WorkSafe’s approach to building the capability of its inspectors, improving data and intelligence, providing guidance and education resources, and enhancing the regulatory framework.
“We will address prioritised risks through a series of targeted intervention programmes so that we achieve a step change in performance,” the Chair of WorkSafe, Professor Gregor Coster, said.
“Beyond the high human cost to individuals, their families, whanau and communities, work-related diseases cost this country an estimated $2.4 billion per year. The human and financial costs are simply unacceptable,” he said.
Visit the Worksafe website here.
Council Approach to Water Crisis Correct
16 August 2016
Water New Zealand says the Hasting District Council responded quickly and appropriately to the outbreak of campylobacter in the Havelock North water supply.
Chief Executive, John Pfahlert said today that the approach being taken by the Hastings District Council following the outbreak of campylobacter disease in Havelock North was entirely appropriate in the circumstances.
“The Council moved swiftly to chlorinate the town water supply to prevent further infection.
“They backed this up with boil water notices and are actively looking to identify and remedy the cause of the problem. Their clear focus is on working with the District Health Board on the health and wellbeing of the affected community.”
He said that while there is some concern in the community about the speed of the Council’s reaction to the crisis, the evidence shows that the Council took appropriate action as soon as possible after they were aware of the problem.
“The Council notified the District Health Board as soon as they discovered the contamination in the water system. It was shortly after then that the extent of the outbreak became known.”
Mr Pfahlert said that while the current outbreak was particularly serious because of the high number of people affected, cases of campylobacter were in fact quite common in New Zealand.
“The number of water-borne cases has almost halved since new Drinking Water Standards were introduced in 2005, but with 6837 cases in 2013 the matter was still of significant concern."
Mr Pfahlert said that the industry would welcome an enquiry into the event, as it would allow a dialogue on a range of issues related to urban water treatment. These included the absence of any government financial support for small rural communities to upgrade their water treatment systems and the support provided by the Ministry of Health to District Health Boards for drinking water assessors.
ENDS
For more information contact Water New Zealand Chief Executive, John Pfahlert on 021 150 9763 or Communications Advisor Debra Harrington 04 495 0895
Amendments to Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods
The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment are undertaking a review of acceptable solutions and verification methods in the Building Code.
There are several changes that appear to be of relevance to the sector; pages 55 and 93-99:
- E1 Surface water: Changes to related to pipes and fittings
- G12 AS1 and G12 AS2 Water Supplies – relates to backflow and AS/NZS 3500
- G13 Foul water
The consultation paper on the MBIE website can be found here: www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/building-construction/consultations/acceptable-solutions-verification-methods
The consultation document can be found here.
Submissions close 31 August, which is not far away.
Please send feedback to CEO, John Pfahlert by Friday 26 August. If feedback is received John will prepare a submission on your behalf.
Water New Zealand Awards 2016 - Call for Nominations
The Water New Zealand Innovation and Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions to the New Zealand Water industry. We invite you to submit nominations for the 2016 Awards.
The purpose of the Awards is to:
- showcase and celebrate the outstanding work done by individuals and organisations in the water sector;
- promote water services as a career at technical, scientific and business levels;
- raise public awareness of the value of high standards of practice in the water industry;
- raise the standing of water practitioners within the community; and
- encourage and promote sustainable management and development of the water environment.
Submissions for Poster Presentations are currently being sought.
Mott MacDonald Poster of the Year - Submissions close Friday, 26 August
The Poster of the Year Award was first presented in 2000 and provides an avenue for presentation of information on initial findings of work that has been commenced, as well as work from completed projects. The Award affords a unique opportunity for authors wanting to share their knowledge or experiences through the medium of displayed posters at the Conference.
Nominations are currently being sought for the following awards:
CH2M BECA Young Water Professional of the Year
The Young Water Professional of the Year is aimed at acknowledging and rewarding one young water professional who has made a significant contribution to the water industry and the general community, and has demonstrated exceptional achievement in the early stages of his or her career.
IXOM Operations Prize
This prize is presented to a Water New Zealand member in recognition of their efforts made in solving an operating difficulty or problem at a water or wastewater treatment plant.
Veolia Health and Safety
The Veolia Health and Safety Innovation Award will acknowledge and reward a corporate entity or individual who has developed an innovation which eliminates or minimises a health or safety risk in the water industry.
YWP Conference Attendance
This Award has been initiated to give the opportunity for recent graduates to attend the Water New Zealand Annual Conference or the Water New Zealand International Stormwater Conference, in order that they may broaden their knowledge and gain a greater appreciation of the water environment, water management, water engineering and the water industry at large.
Opus Trainee of the Year
This award is intended to recognise hard work, aptitude and a keen desire to advance a career in the water industry.
Project Award
The Project Award provides recognition of excellence not only in the delivery of a project but also the contribution of various parties to the final outcome.
The Ronald Hicks Memorial Award
Ron Hicks’ legacy is remembered annually through the Ronald Hicks Memorial Award made to the author(s) of an article or paper considered significant in solving or clarifying sewage treatment or water pollution problems in New Zealand.
Nominate yourself, your colleague or your organisation and help us recognise the outstanding contributions to the New Zealand water industry.
Additional awards to be presented at the Water New Zealand Annual Conference 2016 include:
- Hynds Paper of the Year
- ProjectMax Young Author of the Year
- Mott MacDonald Best Poster
- Association Medal
Visit the Water New Zealand Annual Conference & Expo website for all Awards information.
Contamination Outbreak Shows Need to Review Water Treatment Rules
17 August 2016 – for immediate release
CONTAMINATION OUTBREAK SHOWS NEED TO REVIEW WATER TREATMENT RULES
The contamination of drinking water in Havelock North shows that there is a need to review whether it is still appropriate to allow communities to be supplied with untreated water.
Water New Zealand Chief Executive John Pfahlert says the inquiry into the campylobacter outbreak needs to consider the option of whether all drinking water should be chlorinated.
“This needs to be led by the Government through the Ministry of Health.
“There are many councils around the country that do not chlorinate their public water supply. But there is always a risk of contamination and as we have seen, the consequences can be very serious.
“Many local authorities have very pure water sourced from underground aquifers and have weighed up the level of risk and found it to be acceptable.
“Sometimes council decisions not to chlorinate have been driven by public concern around the adding of chemicals to their water supply.”
However he says there is always a risk of water contamination and that’s an issue that needs to be addressed by the inquiry.
“We also need to take a look at whether the Government should re-introduce the Drinking Water Subsidy Scheme for smaller local authorities to help them comply with the Drinking Water Standards.”
Both Water New Zealand and Local Government New Zealand have previously made submissions to the Government that the fund should be reinstated with $20 million a year available annually.
ENDS
For more information contact John Pfahlert tel 021 150 9763 or Communications Advisor Debra Harrington 027 202 8857
Water New Zealand is a national not-for-profit organisation which promotes the sustainable management and development of New Zealand’s three waters (freshwater, wastewater and storm water). Water New Zealand is the country's largest water industry body, providing leadership and support in the water sector through advocacy, collaboration and professional development. Its 1,600 members are drawn from all areas of the water management industry including regional councils and territorial authorities, consultants, suppliers, government agencies, academia and scientists.
IWC expands its education and training options
The IWC specialises in delivering industry relevant programs designed for individuals, teams and organisations to build the skill sets, technical capacity and leadership strategies required to drive positive change and innovation in the water sector.
Our suite of education and training courses will help you and your organisation make an impact and maximise your return on investment.
Visit the IWC website for more information.
Water New Zealand Annual Conference Friday Flight to Wellington
We now have a charter flight available from Rotorua to Wellington on Friday, 21 October. This will be departing Rotorua Airport at 1:35pm and will be arriving in Wellington at 2:45pm. Seats on this flight are limited and cost $244.95 incl GST. You can book at the time you register to attend the Conference. If you have already registered and would like to book a seat, email waternz@avenues.co.nz.
Further update on the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill
Press release
Chair of the Local Government and Environment Committee
For immediate release – 26 August 2016
Further update on the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill
The Local Government and Environment Committee has been granted an extension to its report back date on the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill. The committee is now expected to share its findings and recommendations with Parliament by 7 November 2016.
Chair of the committee, Scott Simpson, said "the committee requested an extension to ensure that the over 750 written submissions we received could be fully considered and analysed. The committee also heard from a wide range of submitters in Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch over a two month period. We would like to thank submitters for providing us with a variety of insights and suggestions. Our report's recommendations will draw from our consideration of the submissions."
This Bill proposes comprehensive amendments to six Acts and is 180 pages long. Due to the Bill’s complexity, the committee decided to keep submissions open for nearly 3 months. The Bill has been the subject of strong public interest.
Read the written submissions we received on the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill.
END
To find out more:
What’s been said in Parliament about the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill
Check out the Local Government and Environment committee’s Facebook page
For more information contact:
Scott Simpson (Chairperson)
Local Government and Environment Committee
021 880 331
OR
Committee staff
lge@parliament.govt.nz
Havelock North Water Contamination Update
Well, it’s been an interesting 3 weeks since the outbreak of campylobacter in Havelock North. The outbreak is probably going to be a game changer in terms of the way we approach water treatment in New Zealand going forward. It’s certainly going to affect the work plan of the Association in the coming months.
While the cause of the outbreak is still unknown, staff at Hastings District Council has been doing a great job both responding to the media and dealing with the issue at a technical level. I met with them last Friday and assured them of our ongoing support. My thanks go to them and the other industry professionals who have stepped up to help them.
Water New Zealand has issued two media statements in relation to the issue, and these are on the website. I have given a number of newspaper, radio and TV interviews as a result. As a media issue the issue has “legs” and is likely to continue as the inquiry runs its course. You can expect to see Water New Zealand position itself to be a key spokesperson on this issue – because any changes to legislation, drinking water standards, the grading system etc all affect day to day operations in the sector.
In fact, we plan to set up a specific page on the website where all our media statements, articles and important correspondence will be stored. This will allow members to keep track of this issue as the inquiry progresses.
Early this week I convened a meeting of 8 industry experts on water treatment and related issues to discuss a plan of action. The first action was to write to the Attorney General with some suggestions for improvements to the Terms of Reference for the independent inquiry into the outbreak. A copy of that letter is now also on our website.
At this stage we are expecting the government to appoint someone to head the inquiry, perhaps as early as next week? They will likely be supported by a couple of panel members with relevant expertise.
Once the inquiry head and panel are appointed and the Terms of Reference finalized, the inquiry will be supported by staff at the Department of Internal Affairs, because they administer the Inquiries Act.
As to the timing of inquiry – well that’s also unclear. It’s probable that they will report in stages. The first will be in relation to the actual event, and a later report on the systemic issues.
There will be a panel discussion at our annual conference on the topic with industry experts, so make sure you plan to attend this year.
Water New Zealand Submission to LINZ on Proposed Metadata Standards
Submission to LINZ on Proposed Metadata Standards – August 2016
Worksafe New Excavations Guidelines
You can’t build anything much without solid foundations – and that means digging some pretty serious holes, trenches, pits and shafts.
Of course any excavation work brings with it the risk of collapse, so it’s important to know what you’re doing and put in place proper plans to manage risks. To help, WorkSafe has just published new Excavation Safety Good Practice Guidelines.
The guidelines replace the 1995 Approved Code of Practice for Excavation and Shafts for Foundations, and show just how far the industry has come in the last 20 years. WorkSafe worked closely with contractors, unions, shoring suppliers, engineering groups, the Electricity Engineers Association and industry training organisations to develop the guidelines.
WorkSafe’s Construction Manager Marcus Nalter says bringing all that expertise and real-world experience together was vital to make sure the guidelines were up to date and practical.
“We were really pleased with the buy-in from industry. They were very supportive and responsive – and I think that’s reflected in the final document.”
Key points covered in the guidelines include:
- Watch out for underground services and make sure you don’t undermine nearby structures
- Check the excavation each day before starting work
- Provide safe access to get in and out
- Prevent collapse – shore, bench or batter back
- Prevent people and materials falling in
“At almost 80 pages long the excavation guidelines cover the basics and much, much more - including detailed technical information and advice. It’s a great resource and one I’m sure the industry will find useful and relevant,” says Marcus Nalter.
For a deeper look at excavation safety checkout the full Excavation Safety Good Practice Guidelines
Visit the Worksafe website for more information.
8th IWA Specialised Membrane Technology Conference & Exhibition for Water and Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
The Environmental Engineering Society of Singapore, together with the NUS Centre for Water Research, will be jointly organising the 8 th IWA Specialised Membrane Technology Conference & Exhibition for Water and Wastewater Treatment and Reuse (IWA-MTC2017) from 5-9 September 2017 in Singapore.
On behalf of the Conference Organising Chair Prof How Yong Ng, we wish to invite members of the Water NZ to submit abstracts for this Conference. Find out more here.
Good Practice Guidelines for Chemicals used in Drinking Water Treatment available for use
Good Practice Guidelines for the supply of polyelectrolytes, aluminium sulphate and hydrated lime for use in drinking water treatment are now available on the Water New Zealand website.
It is incumbent on water operators to ensure that chemicals used in the treatment of drinking water and safe for human consumption. The guidelines provide purchasers, manufacturers, and suppliers with the minimum physical, chemical and testing requirements for drinking water chemicals to meet safe limits. To ensure limits are met all operators should request a certificate of compliance when purchasing chemicals for use in drinking water, in accordance with processes outlined in the guide.
The guidelines replace the previous “Standards for the Supply of Aluminium Sulphate/Hydrated Lime/Polyelectrolytes in Water Treatment”. Updates to the “Standards for the Supply of Chlorine for use in Water Treatment” are under discussion with the Ministry of Health.
Water New Zealand has an interest in the effective implementation of these guidelines. To assist us monitor this, we would appreciate copies of your certificate of compliance and associated lab results. Please send these to: lesley.smith@waternz.org.nz
Havelock North water chlorination: Brent Manning responds to MP Stuart Nash
You may have seen the opinion piece published in the Hawkes Bay Today http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503459&objectid=11700023
on Thursday 25 August by Napier MP Stuart Nash.
Mr Nash wrongly attributed a recent Radio NZ interview http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=201812605
to me rather than Chief Executive John Pfahlert who gave the interview, however as President of Water New Zealand I have been happy to respond to Mr Nash.
I do agree with Mr Nash on a number of points he made: we do undervalue our water in this country and take its provision and supply for granted; secondly, it is important to “ensure the infrastructure delivering the water is up to standard” - this in fact one of the strategic priorities encapsulated in the National Infrastructure Plan 2015 and strongly supported by Water New Zealand and our members nationwide. Lastly the events and effect of the water contamination and ensuing gastric outbreak in Havelock North is a travesty, but it is one which could possibly have happened in a number of other towns or cities in New Zealand.
We know Councils and public water supply engineers and treatment technicians work hard to deliver good quality safe drinking water - New Zealand mandated a suite of comprehensive Drinking Water Standards in 2008 - and a timeframe for compliance which many public water supplies now meet, thanks in part to investment by councils aided in some cases by government subsidy. The Drinking Water Standards are entirely about mitigating the risk to public health through supplied water (including tankered delivery), however compliance won't guarantee mitigation against every risk.
Without chlorination, once a waterborne pathogen (disease causing microorganism) becomes prevalent in a water network there needs to be a means of disinfecting the water mains and killing the bugs. Although there are alternatives, chlorine has for decades been used as a very effective disinfectant because it provides for residual disinfecting, all the way to our homes and businesses.
There can be downsides - chlorine added to water high in organics can give rise to disinfection by products, some of which are claimed to be carcinogenic. And chlorine won’t remove protozoa (single-celled microorganisms such as cryptosporidiosis and giardia) if they find their way into the water network. Micro-filtration of the water to less than 1 micron will, however, and this treatment is fairly commonplace in New Zealand now. Properly treated, the water quality can be controlled through successive treatment 'barriers’ and the risks managed – primarily though the level of treatment required is determined by the quality of the source water – a secure groundwater offers some protection but even for the purest water or highly treated water, once it is in the water network and pipes in the streets, if there is no residual disinfectant then there is no remaining protection if a bug does enter the pipes.
It is time for a more public discussion about what level of public health risk the community is prepared to tolerate (or not) and not simply leave it to the water suppliers - a point I'm pretty sure Mr Nash would agree with.
Brent Manning,
President, Water New Zealand
Inquiry provides for much-needed review of drinking water - Media Release
Inquiry provides for much-needed review of drinking water
13 September 2016
Water New Zealand says the inquiry into the Havelock North campylobacter outbreak provides a much-needed opportunity to focus on the way drinking water is managed across New Zealand.
President Brent Manning says he welcomes the terms of reference which will look at the regulatory regimes under which various agencies operate as well as any lessons and improvements that can be made to both local and central government systems.
“This is an opportunity to look at the roles and responsibilities of both central and local government in the supply of our drinking water.”
He says access to safe, clean drinking water is one of the expectations of living in a developed country but this comes at a cost.
“Under the current system, this is a cost that is largely imposed on local authorities and it is one which many smaller communities struggle to afford.”
Brent Manning says New Zealanders should also better understand the options around drinking water treatment along with the risks and benefits of different approaches.
“This is not a simple issue but it is one which needs a national discussion and the inquiry will provide that opportunity.”
The inquiry, to be headed by retired judge Lyn Stevens, will include a former Water New Zealand President, engineer Anthony Wilson, as well as former director-general of health, Karen Poutasi.
For more information contact Brent Manning tel 027 752 2187 or Communications Advisor Debra Harrington tel 027 202 8857
Water New Zealand is a national not-for-profit organisation which promotes the sustainable management and development of New Zealand’s three waters (freshwater, wastewater and storm water). Water New Zealand is the country's largest water industry body, providing leadership and support in the water sector through advocacy, collaboration and professional development. Its 1,600 members are drawn from all areas of the water management industry including regional councils and territorial authorities, consultants, suppliers, government agencies, academia and scientists.
Don’t forget urban waterways – World Rivers Day
Don’t forget urban waterways – World Rivers Day
23 September 2016
Pollution from urban stormwater is putting pressure on communities and local authorities in their efforts to ensure our rivers and waterways remain healthy.
Water New Zealand President-elect Dukessa Blackburn-Huettner says while there has been a lot of discussion about the role of industry and agriculture, as New Zealanders, we all need to play our part in keeping our rivers healthy and clean.
This Sunday (25 September) is World Rivers Day where communities around the world celebrate waterways and look at what we all need to do to improve the stewardship of rivers.
“We need to remember that, historically, urban stormwater run-off from roads, carparks and so on was not treated before ending up in our rivers or underground waterways. This means that pollutants such as sediments, heavy metals, litter, cigarette butts, petrol, oil and lead all end up going untreated into a local stream or river before it gets to the sea. As well as petrol and oil, tipping things like cleaning products and paint down the drain poisons plant life and the animals that feed off it.”
However, she says there is a whole raft of simple things we can all do to lessen the impact of our activities on our waterways. These include keeping gutters free of sticks and rubbish, avoiding materials such as uncoated copper guttering and zinc roofing, cleaning up pet waste, picking up plastic bags and rubbish and washing cars on lawns.
“We want to get the message clear that washing poisons and pollutants down to underground stormwater drains does not get rid of the pollution rather it moves it to our waterways.”
Around the world many cities are now adopting water sensitive urban design (WSUD) to address both water quantity and water quality issues. At its heart, WSUD is about working with nature. Approaches involve minimising impervious surfaces and on-site retention of stormwater to better manage water quantity issues, to utilising vegetation features like wetlands, vegetated marshlands and rain gardens to assist in trapping sediment and pollutants for improved water quality. This approach is central to managing new growth under the Auckland Unitary Plan.
At the forefront of these initiatives is a practice known as stream ‘day-lighting’ where buried pipes are brought back to the surface to restore natural streams in their place. This helps to restore habitats and provides a natural asset for people to enjoy.
In Auckland, in what has become a design and bio-engineering showcase for urban stream restoration, two tributaries of the Avondale stream have been day-lighted from their culverts in the La Rosa Reserve in Green Bay.
“This is a great example of Auckland Council designers and engineers working closely with the local community”, says Blackburn-Huettner, who alongside her role at Water New Zealand is Healthy Waters Operations and Planning Manager at Auckland Council.
“The community and mana whenua were involved from the beginning in providing the artwork, planting design and installation. It has since taken ownership of the project, with local schools, day-cares, pa harakeke and special needs facilities using the reserve as an outdoor classroom, and community groups undertaking fish surveys, planting, and ongoing care of the stream.
“We need to remember that rivers, including our urban ones, are our taonga. They are our lifelines, as well as a source of inspiration, lifestyle and prosperity, and we all need to give them the respect and care that they deserve.”
For more information contact Water New Zealand Communications Advisor Debra Harrington 027 202 8857
Water New Zealand is a national not-for-profit organisation which promotes the sustainable management and development of New Zealand’s three waters (freshwater, wastewater and storm water). Water New Zealand is the country's largest water industry body, providing leadership and support in the water sector through advocacy, collaboration and professional development. Its 1,600 members are drawn from all areas of the water management industry including regional councils and territorial authorities, consultants, suppliers, government agencies, academia and scientists.
Are Christchurch City Councillors playing Russian roulette over drinking water?
Are Christchurch City Councillors playing Russian roulette over drinking water?
The decision by Christchurch’s Mayor and Councillors to reject the advice of staff and vote against chlorinating the water supply to 80,000 households is putting residents at continued risk of illness, says Water New Zealand Chief Executive John Pfahlert.
“It appears that this is a case of putting public relations before public health. It is interesting that the councillors voted to bring forward the decommissioning of shallow at-risk bores from June 2018 to March 2017 at a cost of an extra $480,000. And that they intend to embark on a programme to raise awareness of the risks of drinking untreated water from shallow bores.”
John Pfahlert says the councillors have clearly decided that they have got away with not chlorinating the shallow bores for a number of years now, so are prepared to continue to take the risk over the next few months.
“Not chlorinating water from shallow bores such as those in Christchurch is like driving without a safety belt. You may not have a crash, but if you do, the result will be way worse. We have to question whether this is a responsible decision.”
“We know that councillors are under pressure, often from very vocal groups of people who oppose adding chemicals to public water supplies but they also need to remember that, as Havelock North has shown us, there can be very severe consequences when the risk doesn’t pay off.”
For more information on the risks and benefits of chlorination, see our Water New Zealand factsheet produced as part of a series on drinking water quality in New Zealand.
Connexis Industry Training - Programme and unit standard consultation – National Certificate in Water Treatment (Small Scale Systems) Level 3
The aim of this consultation is to gather expert opinions and suggestions on whether the programme of unit standards will effectively meet the qualification outcomes, and whether the content of the unit standards sufficient, appropriate and fit for purpose to assess candidates’ competence.
Feedback is due by 17 th October 2016.
For further information, please contact Vicki McEnaney at Water New Zealand, vicki.mcenaney@waternz.org.nz
South Taranaki District Council Appeal Court Fluoridation ruling
See the Court of Appeal Ruling here .
Water New Zealand welcomes “common sense” legal ruling over fluoridation
Water New Zealand chief executive John Pfahlert says the Court of Appeal ruling supporting the South Taranaki District Council’s decision to fluoridate its water supply means that common sense has prevailed and he says this is good news for dental health in the community.
“It now means that after nearly four years of costly legal delays, the Council is able to extend fluoridation to residents who have not had the benefits of added fluoride in their public water supply.”
However, he says it is disappointing and concerning that lobby groups representing an extreme position, not backed by scientific evidence, have been able to hold a small council to ransom.
“The benefits of fluoride protection for dental health are irrefutable and pose no health risks at the recommended level of 0.7 to 1.0 parts per million in drinking water.”
“It would appear that the opponents of fluoride deliberately targeted a small council.”
He says that’s one reason Water New Zealand strongly supports the proposal to shift responsibility for fluoridating water supplies from councils to district health boards.
“Fluoridation is a public health issue and it should not be left to councils to be responsible for making decisions over the dental health of communities.
“I look forward to seeing the legislation supporting this move going through Parliament.”
Water New Zealand Submission to Productivity Commission on Better Urban Planning - Draft Report
Submission to Productivity Commission on Better Urban Planning - Draft Report - October 2016
Independent Review - Whanganui Wastewater Treatment Plant
An independent review of the facts pertaining to Whanganui District Council’s decision making processes from 2003 to 2012 leading to the failure of its wastewater treatment plant.
View the document here.
The complex systems behind the water coming out of your tap
Turning on the tap to get a cold, refreshing drink of clean water is so simple and commonplace it's almost impossible not to take it for granted. Catherine Groenestein reports on water's long journey to your tap.
Livia Peters was just two years old when a drink of water nearly killed her.
In March the Taranaki girl, her mother Amelia and a 15-year-old cousin, all drunk water from a rainwater tank at their home.
Before long they all became seriously ill with what they later learned to be VTEC, a serious vomiting and diarrhoea infection.
Both women needed hospital treatment and Livia was rushed to Starship hospital in Auckland with renal failure and spent 10 days on dialysis.
Even though their water looked and smelt clean, tests revealed it was highly contaminated with E-coli, a bacteria that can cause serious intestinal illness.
"The results said one part per 100 was safe for drinking water and ours was 23," said Livia's father Roy Peters.
The source of the bacteria remains a mystery but the family now have a high-tech UV water filtering system to keep them safe.
While the Peters have been able to ensure their water is safe relatively simply, the process for public supplies is far more complicated.
When it does go wrong, the effects are devastating. In August 5200 residents in Havelock North got sick after drinking from the town's contaminated water. Residents wondered how such a thing could happen in New Zealand, a country not usually associated with third world problems.
But perhaps the more pertinent question is why it doesn't happen more often.
Water New Zealand president Brent Manning, who is also the South Taranaki District Council's engineering manager, says most people have no idea of the science and effort that goes into treating the water that flows from taps throughout the country.
Councils tread a line between providing safe water that complies with government standards, and doing so at a price the community is able to pay, he says.
Manning welcomes a recently-announced Government inquiry into the Havelock North issue as a chance for a public discussion on what level of health risk the community will tolerate, instead of leaving it to water suppliers to decide.
"There is a huge opportunity to educate New Zealanders better about the quality of their water and how they get their water because in my view we have taken it for granted for far too long."
At the moment most councils do a good job of doing the best with what they've got, he says.
"You can put a whole lot of risk mitigation measures in place to stop what happened in Havelock North occurring elsewhere but it comes at a cost. It's a matter of how much you need to spend.
"On the whole, councils and engineers in New Zealand have done it very well. It works, you generally turn on the tap and there's water."
South Taranaki District Council's engineers run 10 water supply schemes in the district and also oversee three in central Taranaki for the Stratford District Council.
Stratford's new water treatment plant, and those at Opunake and Kapuni, use micro-filtration membranes, a process Manning says is the best technology currently available to remove micro-organisms.
Behind the scenes is a complicated network of electrical and instrumentation and computerised systems for monitoring and control of all the equipment at the plants scattered around the province.
That engineering is shared between Taranaki's three district councils.
"The New Plymouth District Council team helps Stratford and South Taranaki out with their electrical and instrumentation technicians. They service the three councils across the region for water and waste water systems and in my view they do a damn good job," says Manning.
Taranaki is 'a bit of an exemplar' in terms of regional standardisation and regional operation, he says.
Not all water is treated equally as the work needed to make it safe for drinking depends on the source.
Water from a river, such as that supplied to New Plymouth, Opunake and Stratford residents, requires more filtration to remove debris and disinfection with chlorine.
Water from a deep aquifer, such as that supplied to Patea, where the water is so old and so deep does not harbour bacteria.
Here's where the science gets interesting.
Water flowing from taps in Patea and Waverley older than anyone who is drinking it. It began its "life" between 158 and 179 years ago, meaning it was already in the ground around the time the British government was deciding to establish a colony in New Zealand in 1837, and when the New Zealand wars began in 1860.
One way scientists figure out the "age" of water involves looking for traces of radioactive tritium, because tiny amounts can be found in water that is younger than 50-years-old due to above ground nuclear testing in the 1960s and 70s.
However, no matter how pure the water, on its journey from the treatment plant to the customer's tap, it can be contaminated with pathogens, and that's why most councils chlorinate water despite the impact on it taste.
Chlorine is the best way to provides residual protection that travels with the water, Manning says.
In New Plymouth treating the water is just one of the issues they face. Taranaki's most populous already has the highest per capita water use in the province of 336 litres per person per day and overall demand is only increasing.
If not controlled, this demand, combined with the city's expected growth to 88,000 people by 2045 means the council will soon have to find a new water source, council infrastructure manager David Langford says.
"Even if we manage our demand, at some point in the future we will have to find an additional water source because we will outstrip what we can take from the Waiwakaiho River."
He believes a combination of the region's high rainfall and historically low cost to ratepayers for getting that water, means people in the district don't value it as much as other district's populations might.
"It doesn't cost a lot, it's easy to use lots of it, you just turn the tap on. We just generally take it for granted.
"We are in the top third [of users] for New Zealand.
"The Australian average is only 195 litres per person per day and if you look at some European countries, the Netherlands are down to 119 litres. We use a lot of water," Langford says.
The council is introducing new charging regimes, including voluntary water meters for some residential users, and educating residents to use less water.
Because even in summer, when water supply is tight, water use remains high.
Using a hand-held hoses instead or sprinklers, washing cars using a bucket and sponge rather than with a hose were two simple ways to use less water Langford says.
Problem is, these basic conservation methods just haven't caught on in New Plymouth.
"We've seen some people washing their driveways down with a hose when they could be using a broom. When you've got 70,000 people in the district, if we all save a litre each, it will soon add up."
He's often asked why the council charges for something that falls from the sky for free.
"What we do charge for is the process of treating it so its safe and drinkable and the process of transporting it from the water treatment plant to your home."
Another conversation that needs to be had is balancing the opposing requirements of health versus flavour, he says.
It's a touchy subject. New Plymouth's water is renowned for its dirty taste and though residents are largely oblivious to it after years of exposure , its taste is often one of the things visitors stick their tongue out in disgust at.
"People want the water to taste nice but have the protection of having chlorine." Langford says. "But if you want to have protection you have to compromise on taste."
The Taste Test
We wanted to find Taranaki's best tasting water, so we filled bottles from taps around the province and a panel of six rated them from 1 (yuck) to 5 (I'd pay for that).
A noticeable chlorine smell marred many of the samples from the larger supplies. The terroir of more than 100 years underground showed in Patea's water. It also split the panel, with one person declaring "I'd pay for this, " while others noted a "strange metallic taste".
Oakura's water and some from a rainwater tank were the preferred tipples overall. Oakura's water comes from an underground aquifer and contains more minerals than the water in other places that is from surface sources.surface sources,
Oakura: Fresh, pure, "I'd move there". 5
Filtered rainwater: Fresh, pure. 5
Okato: Nice natural taste. 4
Eltham: Most liked of Southern waters. Slight chlorine smell. 4
Stratford: Can smell chlorine, flavour good. 4
Hawera: Flavour good, initial chlorine odour. 3.5
Opunake: Tastes a bit silty, 3.5
Inglewood: Chlorine smell, taste ok. 3
Waitara: Bit of an odd taste. 3
Patea: Slight metallic taste, panel opinion very polarised. Some loved it, others loathed it. 3
New Plymouth: Noticeable chlorine aroma, slight undertones of dirt. 2.5
Botched wastewater projects prompt rethink
Water New Zealand’s CEO John Pfahlert says there is a need for flexibility in proposals for national guidance on wastewater – see RNZ to listen.
Asbestos Approved Code of Practice is available online
The Approved Code of Practice: Management and Removal of Asbestos is available on WorkSafe New Zealand’s website.
Please follow this link: http://construction.worksafe.govt.nz/guides/acop-management-and-removal-of-asbestos
Please note: the commencement date for the Approved Code of Practice is 3 rd November 2016.
Australian Rainfall Runoff Guidelines
The modernisation of the ARR Guidelines has largely been completed, and ownership of the ARR has been transferred from Engineers Australia to Geoscience Australia on behalf of the Australian Government. This arrangement means the Guidelines will be publically accessible free of charge. For further information, please refer to the new ARR website arr.ga.gov.au .
September update on the Water Industry Review
Welcome to the September update on the Water Industry Review
September has been another very busy month for the Water review, with progress being made on all facets but especially the Level 3 programmes.
In this update:
- Water Treatment qualifications
- Drinking Water Assessors unit standards
- Water Reticulation unit standards
- Drinking-Water Treatment unit standards
- Wastewater unit standards
- Drinking-Water/Wastewater andSmall Scale Systems - Programmes now open for feedback
- Coming up next ...
Water Treatment qualifications
The Water Treatment suite of qualifications have been with NZQA for minor revisions and ownership changes, and the response from the evaluator arrived on Friday 30th September. They are requesting only minor tweaks to administrative sections and have not requested any changes to the important content. These have been returned to NZQA for final approval, which we expect to be granted this month.
Drinking-Water Assessors Working Group meetings - 9 September and 30 September
Group members: Martyn Simpson, Scott Rostron, Sarah Pitches, Nick Hewer-Hewitt
The group met twice in September, and went over all of the unit standards associated with the Diploma in Drinking-Water Assessment. These standards are now being updated and checked by the group for consistency with meeting agreements. Once this work is completed, the draft programme and standards will be sent to wider industry for consultation, and placed on the Connexis website for public viewing and feedback.
Water Reticulation Working Group meeting - 21 September
Group members: Alan Smith, Keith Barnett, Duncan Smith, Ross Twyman, Nigel Hesford, Greg Winnie, Todd Randell, Garry Adcock
The group met for the first time and reviewed the standards listed as Priority. This group included standards in confined space entry, lifting operations, location of services, notifiable works, as-built plans, CCTV survey of assets, and shut down and recommissioning of pipelines. These standards have been updated and are with the group for confirmation before being sent to wider industry for feedback. It is likely that the Reticulation group will have to meet at least twice more to cover the remaining 36 standards for review.
Drinking-Water Treatment Working Group meeting - 23 September
Group members: Jason Colton, Martyn Simpson, Stuart Urquhart, Dave Bassett, Andrew van Bussel
This was the second meeting of the Water Treatment group, this time covering the standards at Levels 4 and 5 not focused on specific work processes (legislation, monitoring and testing, site walkthrough, treatment plant report etc) and those shared with other sectors to ensure they are still fit for use in water treatment. These standards are now being updated and checked for consistency with meeting outcomes. Once this work is completed, the draft programmes and standards will be sent to wider industry for consultation, and placed on the Connexis website for public viewing and feedback.
Wastewater Working Group meeting - 28 September
Group members: Ian Cripps, Adrian Webb, Nigel Hesford
This was the second meeting of the Water Treatment group, this time covering the standards at Levels 4 and 5 not focused on work processes (legislation, monitoring and testing, site walkthrough, treatment plant report etc) and those shared with other sectors to ensure they are still fit for use in wastewater treatment. These standards are now being updated and checked by the group for consistency with meeting agreements. Once this work is completed, the draft programmes and standards will be sent to wider industry for consultation, and placed on the Connexis website for public viewing and feedback.
Programme Development progress:
The review of unit standards and programmes for the following qualifications has now been completed:
- NZ Certificate in Water Treatment (Drinking-Water/Wastewater) (Level 3)
- NZ Certificate in Water Treatment (Small Scale Systems) (Level 3)
The final drafts of these have been sent to a large industry consultation group, and are also available on the Connexis website for viewing.
Please take the time to check these over, as they will only be as good as the information and feedback provided by industry experts.
Specific feedback we are looking for:
- Do the draft programmes meet the outcomes of the qualifications and are they achievable within your industry?
- Does the content of the draft unit standards collectively cover the skills and knowledge required for the tasks they represent, and are they achievable within your industry?
Please send any feedback to Wendy Allison.
Feedback will be open until 20 October 2016.
Coming up next
October/November
- Update programmes based on any changes to standards and circulate drafts for feedback.
- Finalise draft unit standards and circulate for feedback.
- Submit Water Treatment unit standards to NZQA for registration end of October.
November/December
- Two meetings of Water Reticulation industry groups to review standards
- Complete consultation on Water Reticulation standards with wider industry groups and submit to NZQA
- Complete consultation and signoff for programmes, submit to NZQA
If you wish to be part of the consultation for the unit standards and/or programmes, or would like further information on the review and development process, please email Wendy Allison who is managing this project.
Similarly, please feel free to share this information with others in your organisation who may find it useful.
Kind regards,
The Qualifications Team
Water New Zealand Stormwater Conference 2017 - Call for Abstracts Open
Water New Zealand’s 2017 Stormwater Conference website is now live!
We are excited to announce that we will be holding Water New Zealand's 2017 Stormwater Conference at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland from 3 - 5 May 2017.
Call For Abstracts
The call for abstracts is currently open for the 2017 Stormwater Conference and will close at 5pm on Friday 4 November 2016.
Click here for more information on submitting abstracts
Why Present?
We’re inviting water professionals and anyone with an interest in stormwater, to submit an abstract proposal that presents a challenging and practical perspective on any of the conference themes. Present a paper and share your experiences globally.
It is also an opportunity to:
- Profile your research, project or initiatives
- Expand your network connections with potentially hundreds of water professionals and exhibiting companies
- Develop your professional experience
- Keep up-to-date on the latest industry trends and information
Themes
The overarching theme for Water New Zealand’s 2017 Stormwater Conference is Innovative, Resilient & Future Ready . Papers are sought on any topic of interest to the full spectrum of the stormwater industry including but not limited to:
Future Ready
Design, Construction and Network Performance
Stormwater Quality
Governance, Regulation and Planning
Catchment and Asset Management Planning
For more information on the themes and 2017 Conference please check out the 2017 Stormwater Conference website.
Submit your abstract here
Water New Zealand's Modelling and Digital Water Symposium 2017 - Call for Abstracts Open
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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Open
Modelling and Digital Water Groups' Symposium
15-16 March 2017, Heritage Hotel, Auckland
The Water New Zealand Modelling and Digital Water Groups' are currently calling for abstracts for their joint symposium being held at the Heritage Hotel in Auckland on 15-16 March 2017.
A paper will not be required; a 300-500 word abstract will need to be submitted for review and then a presentation prepared for the day.
Please feel free to forward this on to anyone who may be interested.
Abstracts are due no later than 16 November 2016 to vicki.mcenaney@waternz.org.nz
Symposium Overview
Hydraulic and hydrological modelling has been an important analytic tool for several decades. While modelling continues to develop as an analytical tool, other data analytic methods and datasets are also maturing rapidly. These tools can be used to complement each other to provide the evidence for investment being demanded by decision makers within the water industry. Data-driven decision making is here now and this year’s symposium aims bring together those involved.
All hydraulic and hydrological modellers, engineers and environmental practitioners, and stakeholders involved in the collection, management and effective use of digital information in the fields of stormwater, wastewater and water supply modelling are encouraged to attend this symposium.
Further information and ongoing updates for the symposium can be found here: www.waternz.org.nz/ModellingDigitalSymposium
Study shows high cost effectiveness of fluoride health benefits
Study shows high cost effectiveness of fluoride health benefits
19 October 2016
The health benefits of adding fluoride to drinking water significantly outweigh the cost, according to a paper presented at the Water New Zealand Annual Conference in Rotorua this week.
The paper estimates that over a 20-year period, fluoridation in water saves $1.4-billion from both reduced dental costs for adults as well as significant savings from the health budget for reduced dental care costs for children.
It also shows fluoride has greater absolute benefit for groups with the greatest prevalence of dental decay, particularly Maori and those who are most economically deprived. This is because fluoride reduces dental decay regardless of ethnicity, socio-economic status and age.
One of the paper’s authors, Andrew Watson from CH2M Beca says investment in fluoridation saves $9 for every dollar invested.
He says this is rare among health interventions which generally require a net increase in spending to achieve improved health outcomes.
However, he points out the size of the community makes a big difference to the cost-benefit equation because of the capital costs involved.
“For instance, on average providing fluoride to communities of more than 500 people saves nine times the estimated cost of supplying fluoride, whereas in communities of fewer than 500 people, adding fluoride to water is unlikely to be cost-effective.
Earlier this year the government proposed changing legislation to give District Health Boards the responsibility of deciding whether to fluoridate community water supplies while local authorities would continue to pay the costs of water fluoridation.
Water New Zealand Chief Executive John Pfahlert says the legislation could go further.
He says fluoride provides significant health benefits and as a consequence provides savings for the health budget, and that “Consideration should be given to the government picking up the cost of adding fluoride to our water supplies rather than ratepayers.”
Water fluoridation gets political
Conference tackles tough water issues facing New Zealand
Conference tackles tough water issues facing New Zealand
18 October 2016
New Zealand is facing serious and unprecedented challenges around our water resources, from providing clean and safe drinking water to how we provide sustainable solutions for wastewater and storm waters.
Water New Zealand Chief Executive, John Pfahlert says changing population, along with climate change and an ageing infrastructure will present some major and costly challenges to communities, local authorities and central government.
“We need to be planning for this now.”
He says the Havelock North water contamination crisis shows just how serious water issues can be when systems break down.
These challenges will be a key focus of a three day Water New Zealand conference in Rotorua (October 19-21) which will bring together industry leaders from around New Zealand and overseas.
The Water New Zealand Annual Conference and Expo will feature keynote speakers exploring the latest thinking and developments in science and technology and the effect our political, social and economic environment has on this most critical resource.
Environment Minister Nick Smith along with international experts on water, energy, climate and packaging recovery will be attending the conference, including the President of the World Water Federation and Coca Cola Global Director of Sustainability, Paul Bowen, along with the Deputy Director of the Environment and Research Bureau of Meteorology in Australia, Graham Hawke.
New Zealand keynote speakers include Watercare Chief Executive, Raveen Jaduram and Chairman, Auckland Transport and the Auckland and Waitemata District Health Boards, Dr Lester Levy.
Call to remove politics from water – Water Conference
Call to remove politics from water – Water Conference
21 October 2016
Water managers have been told they need to take a stronger lead in ensuring communities in New Zealand are supplied with safe drinking water.
Around two hundred water sector leaders and representatives attended a panel discussion on the implications of the Havelock North Water contamination crisis as part of the three day Water New Zealand Conference and Expo in Rotorua.
Some members talked about the frustration of having recommendations to treat water ignored by local government politicians despite the risks involved.
“There are cases of contamination that happen all over the country that people don’t hear about and what we’ve been hearing today is that ratepayers and politicians are not qualified or knowledgeable enough to make crucial decisions around water safety,” said Water New Zealand Chief Executive, John Pfahlert.
The conference heard how the Havelock North outbreak despite the seriousness of it, could have been even worse.
“If the campylobacter infection had taken a different form, we could have been facing a scenario where people died.”
He says the Havelock North Inquiry is a great opportunity to look at the systemic issues around what went wrong and how this can be prevented from happening again in the future.
Call for cuts to band-aid solutions over contaminated water
Call for cuts to band-aid solutions over contaminated water
20 October 2016
A small number of water suppliers are dealing with contaminated water problems through band-aid solutions, according to the authors of a study on failing the drinking water standards.
The report, Failing the Drinking-Water Standards – Insights from the Annual Survey, was presented to the Water New Zealand Annual Conference in Rotorua today.
ESR Science leader Dr Chris Nokes says that while the vast majority of New Zealand communities have access to good quality water, a review of annual survey data reveals that more than ten percent of the zones, or water supply sub-areas ,serving more than 500 people in 2013-14, failed to meet the Drinking Water Standards because E. coli was detected on too many occasions, or there was inadequate monitoring. A little more than a quarter of these zones had failed in at least three of the four previous years because of the detection of E. coli.
Dr Nokes stresses that these results don’t necessarily mean that the drinking water was unsafe. But he says the presence of E. coli does indicate faecal contamination of the water and this means further investigation is needed.
He says it’s important to find out the cause of the contamination, especially when there are repeated cases of failure. Intermittent, low levels of E. coli contamination can be difficult to investigate.
“In circumstances where there have been a high number of transgressions, or failure to meet the standards, the cause could be an ongoing problem needing attention, such as inadequate treatment or contaminants entering the water after treatment.
Temporary chlorination is often used to provide a short term solution but does not address any underlying issues.
Dr Nokes believes that, to reduce levels of failure, all water suppliers should be encouraged to permanently treat water with chlorine and that, where necessary, filters be installed in treatment plants before the water is disinfected.
“We also need to ensure that suppliers’ water safety plans include a requirement that causes of contamination are investigated and then steps are taken to address those causes.
Water New Zealand Chief Executive John Pfahlert says he hopes the investigation into the Havelock North contamination will provide a real opportunity to investigate the significant challenges that many local authorities face in ensuring communities have safe drinking water and that any contamination outbreaks are investigated and dealt with appropriately.
Study shows high cost effectiveness of fluoride health benefits
Study shows high cost effectiveness of fluoride health benefits
19 October 2016
The health benefits of adding fluoride to drinking water significantly outweigh the cost, according to a paper presented at the Water New Zealand Annual Conference in Rotorua this week.
The paper estimates that over a 20-year period, fluoridation in water saves $1.4-billion from both reduced dental costs for adults as well as significant savings from the health budget for reduced dental care costs for children.
It also shows fluoride has greater absolute benefit for groups with the greatest prevalence of dental decay, particularly Maori and those who are most economically deprived. This is because fluoride reduces dental decay regardless of ethnicity, socio-economic status and age.
One of the paper’s authors, Andrew Watson from CH2M Beca says investment in fluoridation saves $9 for every dollar invested.
He says this is rare among health interventions which generally require a net increase in spending to achieve improved health outcomes.
However, he points out the size of the community makes a big difference to the cost-benefit equation because of the capital costs involved.
“For instance, on average providing fluoride to communities of more than 500 people saves nine times the estimated cost of supplying fluoride, whereas in communities of fewer than 500 people, adding fluoride to water is unlikely to be cost-effective.
Earlier this year the government proposed changing legislation to give District Health Boards the responsibility of deciding whether to fluoridate community water supplies while local authorities would continue to pay the costs of water fluoridation.
Water New Zealand Chief Executive John Pfahlert says the legislation could go further.
He says fluoride provides significant health benefits and as a consequence provides savings for the health budget, and that “Consideration should be given to the government picking up the cost of adding fluoride to our water supplies rather than ratepayers.”
Advanced Asset Management Forum
NAMS Advanced Asset Management Forum 2016
Returning to the Top
Location. Wellington
Date. November 7-8th
The Much Anticipated Forum is Here!
The theme of the 6th NAMS Advanced Asset Management Forum is ‘Returning to the Top’. The theme challenges us to define where NZ sits in terms of leading Asset Management practice, where we should be and what excellence in Asset Management will look like in future. We are seeking papers which will stimulate, challenge and expand the thinking in line with the conference sub themes. We strongly encourage all of the asset management sector to attend, government, commercial, corporate, industrial, utilities, financial institutions, consultancies.
Where: To be held at the InterContinental Hotel Wellington
When: Monday 7th & Tuesday 8th November 2016.
Find out more here.
Connexis review of unit standards and programmes for the Water qualifications
The Connexis review of the Water Reticulation, Drinking-Water and Wastewater Treatment, and Drinking-Water Assessment unit standards and programmes is in its final stage of consultation. Any further feedback is due by 10 November, directly with Connexis. Further details can be found here: http://www.connexis.org.nz/troq/water-(troq)
NPS on Urban Development agreed as building boom continues
The Government has signed off on a National Policy to ensure councils in rapidly growing urban areas provide enough land for new housing and business development, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
“The National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity (NPS-UDC) requires councils to allow for a greater supply of houses, so prices rise more slowly and houses are more affordable. The long-term root cause of New Zealand’s housing affordability problems is insufficient land supply, especially in Auckland where median section prices increased 350 per cent from 1990 to now; building costs increased only 78 per cent during the same time.
“The NPS-UDC will require councils to base their decisions on better information, including house prices in their areas. It is also a powerful lever for those seeking additional residential zoning from councils in that they can appeal council decisions to the Environment Court on the basis the council is not meeting supply requirements,” Dr Smith says.
The NPS-UDC takes effect on 1 December and the biggest councils experiencing high growth will be most affected, including Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga and Hamilton. Smaller, fast-growing cities such as Nelson and Queenstown will also be affected.
“It also requires local authorities and infrastructure providers to better co-ordinate the provision of services needed to support housing and business growth,” Dr Smith says.
“This Urban Development NPS has been delivered in less than nine months – far less than the standard time of three years. This reflects the importance of action on housing and the increased emphasis on the use of national Resource Management Act (RMA) tools. It sits alongside the new Unitary Plan and the Government’s RMA reforms to address the core issue of increasing land supply.
“Today we’ve also seen building consents figures which show we’re in the midst of the longest and strongest building boom on record, with the total value of building work for the year to September 2016 hitting $18.7 billion.
“Nationally 29,935 residential building consents were issued for the year to September – an increase of 122 per cent compared with five years ago. In Auckland 9960 consents were issued, up 186 per cent on five years ago.
“It is particularly encouraging that construction work in Auckland has grown 36 per cent in the past year, to $7.2 billion.
“Just last week we announced a heads of agreement on a 104-dwelling development at New North Road in Mt Albert and turned the first sod at a 196-dwelling development in Massey East, both of which are part of our Crown Land Housing Programme. I also turned the first sod at a 1350-dwelling development in a Special Housing Area at Drury.
“This Government is step by step, development by development, getting on and addressing Auckland’s housing challenges.”
View the full article here.
The benefits and costs of water fluoridation - a summary for DHBs
The purpose of this document is to provide a DHB-level analysis of the results of our report – ‘Review of the benefits and costs of water fluoridation in New Zealand’ (2015). That report was a national level analysis. This report applies our results to aggregated Council data to provide indicative DHB-level results. We recommend the analysis be further refined at the DHB level before being used in decision making.
View the report here.
Fluoride-free tap for Masterton
National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity
The Government has approved a National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity 2016 (NPS).
The NPS places new obligations on local authorities to ensure that planning decisions are based on better information, and land supply for residential and business use can meet future demand.
The NPS will come into effect on 1 December 2016 with all objectives and certain policies having immediate legal effect.
Click here for more information.
Water New Zealand submission for hazardous substance rule proposals to protect general public and environment
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is seeking submissions on a consultation paper proposing changes to the rules to protect the general public and the environment from hazardous substances. Water New Zealand has prepared a submission that responds to proposed controls to specifically prohibit the application of hazardous substance directly, onto, into or over water. If you wish to view the submission, click here. If you have comments you wish to add to the Water New Zealand submission please contact Lesley.smith@waternz.org.nz, or, to submit yourself, visit this EPA webpage. Submissions close at 5pm on 21 November 2016.
New Zealand Trade and Industrial Waters Forum Trade Waste Monitoring Course
The New Zealand Trade and Industrial Waters Forum, in partnership with Simmonds and Bristow, are offering for the first time in New Zealand a three day Trade Waste Monitoring Course. At this point we are only gauging the interest in such a course and details such as venues, cost, dates etc. are yet to be determined.
The course would cover such things as:
- co-ordination, implementation and reporting on monitoring programs
- techniques to effectively sample trade effluents, with a particular focus on grease trap sampling
- ability to correctly calibrate basic test equipment and perform basic field tests
- skills and technical knowledge to report investigation results and recommendations according to organisational requirements
- awareness of occupational health and safety issues, and skills which promote safe work habits.
To register your interest or for further information please e-mail chris.feely@timdc.govt.nz
Resource Legislation Bill
The Resource Legislation Amendment Bill was discharged from the Local Government and Environment select committee on 7 November 2016, without report. The bill is now business before the House: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/order-paper/
The evidence and advice considered by the committee will be publicly available here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/scl/local-government-and-environment/tab/submissionsandadvice
Water Action Initiative (WAI) NZ Wins Award
Water Action Initiative NZ are pleased to announce the we have won the 2016 World Wildlife Fund's Conservation Innovation Awards for the River Watch water testing device. If you would like to know more please contact Water Action Initiative NZ.
Pipeline Renewals Guidelines Literature Search- Schedule of Works
As part of the pipe renewals guidelines program being undertaken by Water New Zealand, the Quake Centre and IPWEA we are pleased to announce the release of a stocktake of existing knowledge prepared as part of the project. 10 themes were identified and stocktake of the state of knowledge and practice has been developed for each of the following themes:
- Strategy and Planning for Capacity and Growth (both positive and negative)
- Levels of Service, Risk and Resilience
- Pipe Criticality
- Pipe Vulnerability
- Pipe Inspection and Condition
- Forecasting Remaining Pipe Life
- Business Processes
- Data management
- Building Standards and Constructability
- Life-cycle Cost of Pipes
46 initiatives have been determined that could be completed over the next three years to close gaps in knowledge or practice. A description of each initiative is provided outlining what is required, why it is necessary and the recommended approach for developing the initiative.
Evidence Based Decision Making for 3 Waters Networks (Pipe Renewals)
Water New Zealand the Quake Centre and IPWEA are pleased to announce the release of Evidence Based Investment Decision Making for 3 Water Pipe Network Programme (Pipe Renewals Guidelines Programme). The three organisations have agreed to work co-operatively to develop guidance documents and tools to assist New Zealand’s water organisations to make nationally consistent, evidenced-based decisions relating to the management and renewal of their 3 Water Pipe Networks. The programme covers inspection, maintenance and renewal strategies for pipework in potable water, wastewater and stormwater systems.
The tools and guidance documents developed through these initiatives will form a framework that can be used in conjunction with the International Infrastructure Management Manual (IIMM) and the New Zealand Asset Metadata Standards project to implement advanced asset management processes to produce investment strategies that optimise cost, risk and level of service. They will enable organisations to assess the implications of adopting alternative investment strategies and select the strategy that best suits the needs of their community.
Benefits of this programme include:
- Better performing assets and higher returns on investment
- Potentially large cost savings in renewals budgets
- A better understanding of risks and contingent liabilities
- Improved transparency in the decision-making process
This document presents 46 project initiatives that comprise the overall programme and one integrating decision support theme. Of these projects a number have been prioritised such that they could be implemented over the next 3-5 years. A steering group rationalised the number of projects based on level of importance and ease to the following areas:
- Integrated decision making framework
- Condition
- Repairs and Maintenance
- Service Performance
- Resilience
- Design Performance
- Financial Performance
An implementation plan has been developed to determine level of priority for each project based on three measures; ease, level of importance and level of impact. To support the delivery and funding of projects these projects have been grouped into work packages.
The initial literature search identified a series of available polices, guidelines and documentation which will support the early implementation of part of the pipe renewals framework. Based on existing knowledge and priority it is recommended the following projects are progressed first:
- Decision making support tool – to be started in 2017
- Pipe data management
- Pipe inspection and condition framework
- National Pipe Database
- Pipe sample recovery
- Useful life deterioration curves
- Definition of pipe failure and National Pipe Failure Database
- Pipe performance measures
View the documents here.
New Technical Projects at Water New Zealand for 2017
At the Water Service Managers Group Meeting on 4 November they agreed to fund 3 new technical projects in 2017. These will be as follows:
- Hygiene Guide
- Good practice Guide for developing pressure sewer systems
- Code of Practice for Water Metering – an update of the 2003 Guide
It is expected these will be completed by the end of 2017.
In addition, we have commenced a project with the University of Canterbury Quake Centre and IPWEA on the development of a decision support framework as part of our collaborative initiative on evidence based investment decision making for 3 waters pipe networks. Details of the deliverables for this project are still being finalised but will be posted to our website in the new-year.
Details of the 3 WSMG projects can be found below:
Metadata Project
On behalf of Treasury, MBIE and LINZ, staff at Land Information NZ have asked Water New Zealand to thank industry participants for their on-going and considerable contributions to the development of the draft metadata standards for Three Waters. With your help, the first phase of work to draft both the metadata standards and a business case providing ministers with options for implementing the standards, has now been completed.
Significant work is going on 'behind the scenes' to secure additional funding. Should LINZ be successful in securing this funding, it will be used to finalise and publically release the metadata standards by the end of June 2017 (at the latest). The funds will also be used for continued development of the implementation options contained within the business case, so that ministerial direction can be gained and the preferred implementation option/s can commence from July 2017.
It is intended that once this money is allocated that the metadata standards will be progressively rolled out, starting with pilot trials to ensure the data standards are fit for purpose. Wellington Water has agreed to run one of the pilot trials. This approach is supported by Water New Zealand.
Brexit – uncertain times for water services provision?
The decision taken by the British Government to begin the process to exit from the European Union, the “Brexit vote”, has generated concerns as far away as India, Australia and South America. When the vote to leave was announced in June the British pound fell to a 30-year low. The latest financial commentary expects it to fall lower still.
The vote has however raised concerns in several areas.
From 2011 to 2015 the European Investment Bank (EIB) invested more than €29 billion in the British economy. 21% of the EIB investment in 2015 went to water services. It is unclear what the ongoing role of the EIB will be if a complete Brexit does take place. If the EIB was to reduce this level of investment there would be more expensive commercial financing options available, but this would inevitably impact on water pricing.
Another area of uncertainty involves people and skills. Free movement and the ability to attract technical skills from across the EU has been an essential element of many sectors - the water industry is no exception. 10% of infrastructure workers are reportedly born outside the UK. If sourcing labour from the EU is to be restricted or made overly complicated this could mean significant delays in implementing projects.
A number of issues have arisen in the procurement area. Public procurement in the UK and EU is currently governed by several EU directives that are applied through national legislation. In the UK, the Public Contract Regulations would not cease to exist if the directives no longer applied. There are several options the UK could explore in this area but one key consideration would have to be that if the UK continues to implement EU procurement rules, but no longer be a member of the EU, it would have no right to participate in the discussion on how the rules are developed and evolved. The UK would have compliance obligations but no opportunity to influence policy.
The industry body, Water UK, has pointed out that a wide range of EU rules have, over the past 25 years, been implemented by the water sector. They also note UK drinking water quality has improved to be world-class, the condition of rivers and beaches is greatly enhanced, and customer satisfaction with water services delivery has risen.
This latter factor, environmental protection measures, has generated considerable discussion. A group of fourteen senior experts have written to the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary of State, Liz Truss, to voice concerns over any departure from the EU directive regime.
Professor Sir John Laughton commented: ‘Never mind what you think of the EU generally, you have to be very careful what you wish for in terms of the impact of Brexit on UK natural habitats and landscapes. UK politics has a tendency to be short term and see the natural environment as an impediment to economic growth, and EU agreements help mitigate this by encouraging us to be more long term in our public policy.’
Britons have benefited greatly from EU environmental policy. Being inside the EU, Britain has been able to shape that policy, but would lose that ability if they were leave the EU. It is very likely the UK would still have to follow EU environmental laws if they wished to retain access to the EU’s single market. This would effectively reduce UK sovereignty rather than increase it. Paradoxically, membership of the EU is an essential condition for the UK to exercise some sovereign influence over the European forces that affect it.
Elsewhere, industry trade organisation British Water, said the decision to leave the European Union is certain to have a significant impact on a sector where considerable investment is driven by EU directives on water, wastewater and the environment.
The organisations chief executive was reported as saying that they recognise the significant impact EU directives and the resulting investment have had in driving improvements in water and wastewater quality and for the environment since water company privatisation in the 1980s.
In a briefing paper on Brexit the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) expressed similar sentiments: ‘Differing environmental approaches member state to member state could significantly undermine the principle of free trade within the European Community. Moreover, environmental challenges from air pollution to water quality have been understood as transboundary in nature and have required a multi-national approach to resolve. Taking this principle further, negotiations on global environmental challenges have been more effective as a bloc of collective national opinion and commitment.’
All in all the Brexit debate and subsequent vote brings considerable uncertainties for the water sector. There are major issues to be resolved around financing, staffing, procurement, access to markets and the ongoing development of environmental rules and health and safety requirements.
John Pfahlert
CEO
Water New Zealand Annual Conference & Expo 2016
Thank you to everyone who completed the 2016 Conference and Expo Survey.
Congratulations to Andries Erasmus who has won a full registration to the 2017 Water New Zealand Conference and Expo.
The Conference and Expo will be held on 20-22 September 2017 at Claudelands, Hamilton.
Buy a Frizzell umbrella this Christmas and raise some vital funds for the Pacific
One thousand ‘weather bomb’ umbrellas designed by iconic Kiwi artist, Dick Frizzell, have been rolled out by Blunt Umbrellas and Oxfam to raise awareness and funds for those on the frontlines of climate change.
To create the brolly, Frizzell worked with former weather presenter, Tamati Coffey, to come up with an umbrella adorned with classic weather slogans, popular sayings, famous weather reports and song lyrics. And although the weather bloopers will most definitely raise a smile, its main purpose is to raise vital funds for our Pacific island neighbours who are facing the devastating impact of climate change.
Frizzell says deciding to team up with Oxfam and Blunt was a no brainer so he could help those people who had been“buggered by weather.”
“I was talking with the guys at Blunt about people in the Pacific who are dealing with cyclones and all sorts of bad weather destroying their homes, crops, boats, livelihoods and they asked me, “Could a Frizzell brolly help Oxfam help people hit by terrible weather bombs?” And I said yes, it’s worth a shot.”
Climate change is happening now in the Pacific. Rising tides, super-charged cyclones and erratic weather is destroying our Pacific neighbours’ homes and their ability to put food on the table. They need our help to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
For each umbrella sold, $40 will go towards Oxfam’s climate work in the Pacific.
Purchase this limited edition umbrella for Christmas at www.bluntumbrellas.com/nz/dick-frizzell
BLUNT™ Umbrellas make the world’s strongest umbrellas and lay claim to creating the only umbrellas on the market with fully tensioned canopies. Since being founded in 2009, design critics and press alike have bestowed BLUNT™ with such accolades as a “revolution in umbrella design”, a “structure that falls between a suspension bridge and a NASA space probe” ( The Wall Street Journal), and an umbrella with “architectural integrity as unbroken as the dome of St. Peter’s” ( Wired).
Government $1b Infrastructure Fund
The Government has released the initial decisions in relation to the above fund onto the Treasury website. Go to: www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/informationreleases/housing/hif
ARR 2016 guidelines officially finalised
The ARR 2016 Guidelines have now been officially finalised, providing engineers and consultants with the guidance and datasets necessary to produce more accurate and consistent flood studies and mapping across Australia, now and into the future.
Professional engineers and planners, particularly those with local government, are encouraged to make the most of this valuable resource. Consistent use of ARR will ensure that development does not occur in high risk areas and that infrastructure is appropriately designed.
ARR is also now publicly available online and free of charge. Visit arr.ga.gov.au to learn more about ARR 2016.
Havelock North sparks safe drinking water workshop
Local authority leaders in and around the Manawatu have the opportunity next week to learn more about the risks and responsibilities around supplying safe drinking water to communities.
Water New Zealand is running a workshop on Tuesday in Palmerston North aimed at helping ensure that decision makers, including local body councillors, council and district health board staff, and district health board members, understand the risks and responsibilities around the supply of drinking water.
Chief Executive John Pfahlert says councillors, as well as staff, have a responsibility to ensure that their communities are supplied with safe drinking water and it’s important that all elected representatives understand their role.
“That’s why this workshop will be particularly important to newly elected leaders.”
“The Havelock North water contamination crisis shows just what can happen when there is a failure to ensure safe drinking water, and even closer to home, we’ve seen Pahiatua residents having to boil drinking water after their water supply tested positive for E. coli.”
The workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss the evolution of safe water supplies, the contaminants that make people sick, technologies and what compliance tools are trying to achieve.
“While it’s too early to draw any conclusions from Havelock North, we’ll be looking at the cause and effects of other developed world water-borne illness outbreaks such as those in Milwaukee, Walkerton and Darfield. And we’ll look at how they have changed our thinking.
“The workshop is designed to inform local authority leaders and decision makers, but registration will be accepted from other organisations including interested members of the public, although there is an attendance limit.”
It is being held on Tuesday 29 November and is supported by SOLGM (New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers) and LGNZ (Local government New Zealand).
Havelock North sparks safe drinking water workshop in Hamilton
Local authority leaders and staff in the Waikato have shown strong interest in learning more about the risks and responsibilities around supplying safe drinking water to communities.
Water New Zealand is running a workshop in Hamilton next week aimed at helping ensure that decision makers, including local body councillors, council and district health board staff, and district health board members, understand the risks and responsibilities around the supply of drinking water.
Chief Executive John Pfahlert says councillors, as well as staff, have a responsibility to ensure that their communities are supplied with safe drinking water and it’s important that all elected representatives understand their role.
“That’s why this workshop will be particularly important to newly elected leaders.”
“The Havelock North water contamination crisis shows just what can happen when there is a failure to ensure safe drinking water.”
The workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss the evolution of safe water supplies, the contaminants that make people sick, technologies and what compliance tools are trying to achieve.
“While it’s too early to draw any conclusions from Havelock North, we’ll be looking at the cause and effects of other developed world water-borne illness outbreaks such as those in Milwaukee, Walkerton and Darfield. And we’ll look at how they have changed our thinking.
The workshop is being supported by SOLGM (New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers) and LGNZ (Local Government New Zealand).
Bottled drinking water is unnecessary and wasteful - Water New Zealand
Soaring sales of bottled water means that New Zealanders are throwing away millions of dollars on an unnecessary product.
This follows reports that sales of bottled water in New Zealand have for the past two years, grown by 25 percent per annum.
Water New Zealand chief executive John Pfahlert says that in the majority of cases, buying bottled water is a huge waste of money.
He says it’s ironic that New Zealanders are prepared to pay many times more for water than they need to when most people have access to freely available, quality drinking water simply by turning on a tap.
“It is understandable that recent cases such as the contamination of Havelock North’s water supply have made many people nervous. Havelock North should never have happened and I certainly hope the government inquiry will help to fix any systemic issues that may have led to the crisis.
“However, New Zealanders can be assured that, in the vast majority of cases, the water supplied from their local authority, has been monitored and treated to ensure that it is safe for drinking.
“For instance, the latest data from the Ministry of Health shows that between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015, nearly 3.7 million New Zealanders had access to drinking water that met drinking water standards in relation to bacterial standards, which is the most important criteria.
That’s 96.8 percent of the population supplied by a utility that served 100 or more people.
Mr Pfahlert says while there is less known about the safety of some small supplies and rainwater systems, for the vast majority of people there is no need to waste money and add further.
“Most New Zealanders are on a supply that is safe so there is no need to waste money and add to our growing mountain of plastic in landfills.”
Waiting list for water - Gisborne
Waikato Water CCO back on agenda
Waikato Healthy Rivers open day due to start
Healthy rivers open days due to start.pdfCouncil to consider big wastewater spend
Waikato District Council to consider big wastewater spend .pdf
Central Hawkes's Bay council charged over wastewater treatment plants
Central Hawkes Bay council charged over wastewater treatment plants.pdf
Councillors not qualified to make anti-fluoride pronouncements
The extraordinary outburst by a newly elected Hamilton City Councillor over fluoride in water is another example of why decisions over water fluoridation should be made by District Health Boards and not local councils.
Water New Zealand Chief Executive John Pfahlert says most councillors are not qualified to make decisions on fluoride in water because it is a scientific health issue, not an ideological one.
“It is totally preposterous for Hamilton City Councillor Siggi Henry to claim that she knows more than scientists do about the benefits and risks of fluoride.”
He says calling scientists and health experts “smarty pants” shows an extraordinary level of childishness and ignorance from an elected representative.
“The facts around fluoride are very clear. Adding fluoride to drinking water poses no health risks at the recommended level of 0.7 to 1.0 parts per million while the benefits for dental health are irrefutable.”
In 2014 the Royal Society of New Zealand and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor released a major review titled Health Effects of Water Fluoridation: a Review of the Scientific Evidence. The study concluded that fluoridation is a good use of ratepayer funds as the savings in dental costs are likely to be more than the cost of adding fluoride.
I would sincerely hope that elected representatives of DHBs will take advice of health experts and the huge body of evidence supporting the case for fluoride in drinking water and that this will result in more communities in New Zealand benefitting from it.
Earlier this year the government moved to shift responsibility for fluoridating water supplies from councils to DHBs on the basis that decisions over fluoride should be based on local health priorities.
It has followed up that commitment by introducing a Bill to Parliament to effect that transfer of powers.
Water New Zealand's Updates on Havelock North
View Water new Zealand's updates on Havelock North in the Technical News section.
Hamilton councillor blasted for anti-fluoride view
Hamilton councillor blasted for anti-fluoride view - The New Zealand Herald
Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule rejects councillor's call for HDC CEO to resign
Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule rejects councillor's call for HDC CEO to resign - Hawkes Bay Today
Independent report underway on CHB wastewater treatment plants
Independent report underway on CHB wastewater treatment plants - Hawkes Bay today
Ian Maxwell: Making the hard decisions
Queenstown chlorinates community water supplies
Opposition to water export facility in remote South Westland
Opposition to water export facility in remote South Westland.pdf
Council confirms commitment to Waters CCO proposal
Council confirms commitment to Waters CCO proposal.pdfEarthquake damage highlights need for better ways to invest in NZ’s water services
Earthquake damage highlights need for better ways to invest in NZ’s water services
The devastating effect of the 2011 Canterbury earthquake has led to a major project which could save ratepayers billions of dollars on the cost of replacing vital water pipes.
Major earthquakes take a huge toll on vital infrastructure such as water and highlight the need for improved decision making on pipeline replacement, says Water New Zealand Chief Executive John Pfahlert.
This has sparked a joint venture between Water New Zealand, the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) and the Quake Centre based at Canterbury University, aimed at providing tools to enable better and more nationally consistent decisions on where and how to renew and replace water piping.
“This programme could hold the key for unlocking huge savings for ratepayers. If we could improve decision making by 5 percent on a $50-billion asset, that’s $2.5-billion of potential savings – a significant amount in anyone’s terms.”
The first stage of the programme has been released this week. It aims to bring together guidance documents and tools to enable Council staff to make evidence based decisions relating to the management and renewal of their drinking, storm and wastewater pipe networks. The programme covers inspection, maintenance and renewal strategies.
Mr Pfahlert says all around the country, drinking water, wastewater and storm water pipes are nearing the end of their useful lives and will need replacing.
“This is vital underground infrastructure worth $50 billion. Yet it’s a burden that many local authorities have an “out of sight out of mind” attitude to.”
“Let’s face it, libraries, swimming pools and parks make a much more attractive and visible investment. And this has led to a consistent pattern by councils of delaying spending on assets that can’t be seen.”
Quake Centre Manager, Greg Preston says a key component to improving sector performance is knowledge-sharing.
The programme will also help councils use national data effectively to help them decide where they are best to spend their funds – what pipe replacements need to be done urgently and what can wait.
“This is a long and detailed project but has the potential to save billions of dollars, allow communities to understand what resilience means for them and to make the best local decision based on real information.”
Climate change a major issue for councils and communities - LGNZ
Fluoridation bill passes First Reading
Fluoride bill positive but Government could go further
Fluoride bill positive but Government could go further
7 December 2016
Water New Zealand says the Government’s new bill giving District Health Boards the responsibility of managing the fluoridation of local public water supplies is a good move but the legislation could go further.
Chief executive John Pfahlert says fluoride is a public health issue and therefore district health boards, and not local councils, should make decisions around its inclusion in drinking water.
However, he says he would like to see national policy as well as funding for fluoride in public water supplies, rather than separate decisions by each district health board, as is currently proposed by the legislation.
“Fluoride offers significant benefits for dental health for the entire population but particularly for children and those who are most economically deprived. Therefore it makes sense that the decision to add fluoride to water should be made at a national level.”
“The Government needs to have the confidence to stand up against the small but vocal minority who have been waging a campaign against fluoride at both local and national level.”
A study presented at the Water New Zealand Annual Conference this year estimated that over a 20 year period, fluoridation in water saves $1.4-billion from both reduced dental costs for adults as well as significant savings from the health budget for reduced dental care costs for children.
The report found that investment in fluoride saved $9 for every dollar invested.
“Fluoride has proven to be safe, effective and economical, yet only 56 percent of people on public water supplies receive fluoridated water.
“I look forward to seeing the legislation proceed through Parliament.”
Hastings District Council pleads not guilty to Havelock North gastro charges
Hastings District Council pleads not guilty to Havelock North gastro charges
Fluoride bill positive but Government could go further
EPA Petition Could Spell End of Fluoridation
Hot water cylinders causing chaos in Hawke's Bay
Finding natural solutions for wastewater treatment
Waikato District Council gives wastewater plan the go-ahead
Hearing underway for Havelock North inquiry
Chlorinating water supplies
Councils agree for good of Havelock North water inquiry
Hastings and Hawke's Bay councils have agreed to keep their legal battle out of court in a bid to speed up the Havelock North water inquiry.
Havelock North water contamination inquiry wraps with 16 recommendations
A Government inquiry into contamination of a Hawke's Bay water supply has made 16 draft recommendations.
Aussie consumer watchdog takes makers of flushable wipes to court
Kimberly-Clark Australia, Pental and Pental Products will face Australia's Federal Court over allegations they independently made false or misleading representations about so-called "flushable" wipes.
Wastewater scheme survives yet again
Promised bloodletting on the floor of the Whanganui District Council debating chamber failed to happen yesterday as councillors robustly yet civilly voted to crack on with the city's new $41 million wastewater treatment plant.
Te Anau wastewater appeal may be dropped
An Environment Court appeal against a controversial wastewater scheme in Te Anau could be dropped if parties can agree on a new site.
Water hui concerns raised
Assurances are being made that a hui on water issues was not intended to be "exclusive" despite concerns from one of the region's mayors.
HBRC voted to publicly notify future water bottling consents
The Hawkes Bay Regional Council has today voted to require all future water bottling consent applications be publicly notified and heard in an open and public way.
Industry Feedback Required on Non-residential Rainwater and Greywater Systems
BRANZ is currently seeking industry opinion on the driver and/or barriers to uptake of rainwater and greywater systems in New Zealand's non-residential buildings. Provide feedback by completing this short 5 questions survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/23X8BJB
This is part of a three-year study funded by the Building Research Levy. The full study results are due out in April 2017 via www.branz.co.nz/rwhgwr
Contact Dr Lee Bint for any queries or additional information:
- Lee.Bint@branz.co.nz
- 0800 1 WATER
Draft Water NZ Submission – Fluoridation of Drinking Water Bill Comments Requested
Water New Zealand has drafted a submission on the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill for comment. Please provide comments to John Pfahlert, ceo@waternz.org.nz, by Wednesday 25 January 2017. View the draft submission here.