Water Efficiency Conservation Network (We Can)
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Water is life. In Māori culture, many tribes directly or indirectly consider water as the source or foundation of all life. The public are becoming more aware of the value of water with mainstream media highlighting water supply and demand issues around the country on at least a weekly basis.
Our groups mission is to enable collaboration and knowledge sharing across the New Zealand water industry and develop tools and practices for improving water use and efficiency. We do this in a variety of ways:
- Sharing best practice, case studies. Our smart water metering solutions webinar explored the enabling eco-system behind smart water meter that is needed to influence customer water use behaviour and improve network management. Through the water journal we examined the challenges, opportunities and a way forward for rainwater tanks in New Zealand.
- Development of tools. From the Water Services Group Management our group has secured funding to update water loss guidance material. We are supporting a BRANZ led initiative to gain a better understanding of residential water use in New Zealand.
- Co-ordination joint submissions on topics for interest. We also input into other organisations work via collaborative submissions. In conjunction with the Climate Change group, our Drinking Water Network Environmental Performance Rules Submission provided advice to Taumata Arowai on how to advance the efficient use of our precious water resources.
OBJECTIVES
The Water New Zealand We Can Special Interest Group aims:
- To build a community of water industry professionals working in water efficiency and conservation nationwide
- To encourage industry collaboration and knowledge sharing on water efficiency and conservation technologies and initiatives through webinars and workshops, for example share case studies on leak detection technologies, both successes and failures.
- To improve the benchmarking of water efficiency in New Zealand.
- To consider the Te Ao Māori (Māori world view) and advocate for its inclusion in water use and conservation planning.
- To advocate the water efficiency to be effectively embedded in urban water policy, planning, land use planning, building and development requirements.
- To foster initiatives that grow an appreciation of the value of water.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The Water Conservation & Efficiency Network Special Interest Group’s full Terms of Reference are here.
GET INVOLVED
To register your interest in joining the committee: Contact our Group’s co-ordinator Katrina Guy.