In this week's Pipeline - Government to press ahead with Three Waters reform; take a look at the recently released Draft Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules, and earlybird registration for the 2021 Water Asset Management Forum has been extended to 1 Nov.
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Latest Updates
Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2021 - Postponement Announcement
23-25 February 2022
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 delta outbreak and uncertainty about achieving a face to face event in December, we have further postponed our conference until Wednesday 23 to Friday 25 February with the Taumata Arowai and Department of Internal Affairs pre-conference workshop on Tuesday 22 February.
We are optimistic that the February dates will finally work and we appreciate your patience during this extremely trying time.
The Stormwater Conference & Expo 2022 is to be held in Christchurch on 18-20 May 2022, we expect approximately 400+ attendees at the Conference. We are pleased to be able to offer all members of Water New Zealand the opportunity to exhibit at the Stormwater Conference & Expo 2022. You will need to have your membership number available at the time of registration.
Our tight-knit team may be small, but we think and act big. We work together like a well-oiled machine to represent you our members. We are passionate about all things water and helping drive a sustainable water future.
Have you heard? We have extended our early bird pricing for the Water Asset Management Forum 2021 until 1 November. This means you have just under a week to grab your discount ticket.
Book with confidence - we know that moving in and out of alert levels doesn't feel like the best time to be purchasing conference tickets but you can book with confidence knowing that the Water Asset Management Forum will go ahead whether it is in-person or online.
Grab your ticket today and have your say on the future state of water asset management in New Zealand.
Finish your professional year strong - November is your month for upskilling
With 2021 coming to a close, now is a perfect time to get that last bit of upskilling in. Enrol in one of our digital badges this November - Drinking Water 101 or Wastewater 101 and advance your career in the water industry.
Are you interested in joining Water New Zealand's policy group?
Water New Zealand is looking at setting up a policy group to review and provide feedback on the draft legislation around the Three Waters service delivery.
If you are a Water New Zealand member and interested in joining please get in touch with Noel Roberts.
Next virtual coffee catch up
3 November | Online
Water New Zealand's next Virtual Coffee Catch-up is on Wednesday 3 November 2021 at 10 AM. This is an opportunity for members to keep up to date with the latest happenings as well as an opportunity for members to ask questions and tell us what you think.
Did you miss the sixth Taumata Arowai (new water regulator) update that was held on 18 October? If you did, you can view the recording here.
Missed a Water New Zealand webinar?
Full recordings available on-demand
Our webinars are a way of sharing information on topical issues relating to the Three Waters: drinking, wastewater and stormwater while promoting the water environment so we can all help create a sustainable future for water.
If you didn't get the chance to watch last week's webinar on Te Mana o te Wai and Te Oranga o te Taiao with speakers Jade Wikaira, Troy Brockbank and Helen Atkins, you can watch the recording here.
Industry News
Government to press ahead with Three Waters reform
The Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta announced yesterday that the Government will create four publicly owned water entities to replace the current council- controlled entities. In her media release, Nanaia Mahuta said that all workers in the sector can be “asured that their interests are very important to maintain continuity and continue to grow skills in our communities”.
The Government has clearly stated in the past that “council employees that primarily work on water services will be guaranteed a role with the new water service entities that retain key features of the current role, salary, location, leave and hours/days of work”.
Draft Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules now online
Taumata Arowai (the new water regulator) has uploaded the Draft Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules onto its website. These Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules (the Rules) set out the requirements that drinking water suppliers must meet as part of their responsibility to demonstrate that they are supplying safe drinking water. The Rules cover water quality operational requirements from source water abstraction to the point of supply to a consumer (not the consumer’s tap).
Saliva testing for workers who cross Alert Level boundaries
The Ministry of Health has sent out a reminder for all workers who are crossing alert level boundaries to follow the guidelines below when providing a saliva sample.
Thirty minutes before providing a saliva sample, remember:
No smoking/vaping
No eating
No chewing gum or brushing your teeth
No drinking anything apart from water
Ensure the amount of saliva provided in the tube reaches the bottom level of the label on the tube when holding it upright
Screw on the lid of the tube tightly before placing it into the plastic biohazard bag
Governance and Risk Management Consultation Document
The External Reporting Board (XRB) has launched its consultation on the first part of the proposed climate-related disclosure standards. “Ultimately, this will be about making sure the impacts of climate change are actively considered by boards and management so that smarter business and investment decisions can be made, and entities demonstrate accountability and foresight in relation to climate issues,” says Chief Executive April Mackenzie.
The closing date for submissions on the consultation document is 22 November 2021. The next part will be released in March next year, with a full draft standard released in July 2022.
The first study in Aotearoa New Zealand into microplastics in wastewater plants has found hundreds of thousands of microplastics enter the ocean around Aotearoa every day. Taking samples from water coming into and going out of three wastewater plants, Helena Ruffell from the University of Canterbury was able to determine how many microplastics were being caught by filters and how much is going out to sea. Microplastics are plastics under 5mm in diameter, sometimes so small that they can't be seen by the human eye.
University of Auckland reveals 2021 Velocity $100k Challenge winners
A new generation of start-up founders has been released into the world with the completion of the University of Auckland’s 2021 Velocity entrepreneurship development programme. It is fantastic to see two of the winning innovations looking to create a positive impact in the water industry.
Economic regulation and consumer protection for three waters
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is seeking feedback from New Zealanders about whether economic regulation and consumer protection is needed for the Three Waters, and if so, how this should look.
Red, Orange and Green will take the place of the Alert Level system, with Red having the highest restrictions and Green having the least. The new system is due to kick in once every DHB across New Zealand reaches a 90 percent vaccination rate.
A new framework developed by Our Land and Water will guide regional authorities through the process of identifying sources of E. coli when water quality guidelines are exceeded – including what to do when the source of faecal pollution can’t be identified, or when actions to mitigate pollution don’t work.
Engagement on Te Pūkenga Operating Model is now open for your feedback
The Operating Model sets the scene for how Te Pūkenga will work with learners and employers in the future - the functions and services we need, and how they will connect and work together, to support ākonga their whānau and employers to achieve their goals. Engagement is open until Monday 8 November.
Visit Te Pūkenga's website and have your say - all information and how to provide feedback is available at yourvoice.tepukenga.ac.nz
WEF Announces Graduates of 2021 Water Leadership Institute
The Water Leadership Institute Class of 2021 includes 54 water professionals representing 29 states, Canada, and New Zealand. The programme is aimed at educating, training, and providing opportunities that enable developing and emerging leaders to build strong lasting relationships within the water industry. The application period for the 2022 Water Leadership Institute will open November 1. To get more information about the program, visit the program website.
Sparks special edition podcast series is brought to you by Jacobs in partnership with the World Climate Foundation (WCF). From clean energy innovations in Scotland, to sustainable buildings in Dubai, Jacobs has been interviewing global green leaders, financiers, and entrepreneurs about the policies, investments and innovations that are accelerating our progress towards a resilient and sustainable world. The podcast hopes to educate and inspire, sparking real conversations with the intention to Collaborate. Act. Commit. to real change.
Join us for this free webinar series where Taumata Arowai's Principal Technical Advisor, Jim Graham and various guest speakers discuss components of the Draft Drinking Water Supply Operational Compliance Rules. Taumata Arowai will not be consulting on the new rules until the new year, but they are keen to help water suppliers understand the proposed new requirements. Topics to come include source water testing, bacterial rules, water safety planning and more.
You can attend a single webinar, or you can attend all of the webinars. Even if you can’t join live, register and we’ll send you the recorded webinar to watch at your convenience.
The 2021 Water New Zealand Smart Water Infrastructure Group (SWIG) Annual General Meeting will be held via zoom at 9 AM on Wednesday 3 November. If you are a Water New Zealand member and would like to attend please login and register here.
Building Nations 2021
16-19 November | Virtual Event
Water New Zealand members are able to attend the Local Government in focus session at Building Nations 2021 for free. Infrastructure New Zealand is aware that water reforms will play a large part of the infrastructure sector over the coming years.
If you are a Water New Zealand member and are interested in attending please email Paige.Hallam@infrastructure.org.nz with your Water New Zealand Membership number. If you do not know what your membership number is, please contact enquiries@waternz.org.nz
Bromley Wastewater Treatment Plant Visit
18 November | Christchurch
Water New Zealand and CIWEMNZ are thrilled to be able have another site visit to the Bromley Wastewater Treatment plant. You will get to know more about the plant, how the earthquakes affected it, the recovery and what they are doing to prepare for the future.
Water Engineers’ Perspective on Interactions with Maaoridom in Water Management and Solutions
30 November | Online
Water New Zealand and Engineering New Zealand invites you to join us for a webinar with L'Rey Renata where she will share insights on her research project - Water Engineers' Perspective on Interactions with Maaoridom in Water Management Solutions.
Due to COVID-19, the Future-Fit Aotearoa conference is postponed to Wednesday 2 – Friday 4 February 2022. Future-Fit Aotearoa is a joint ACE New Zealand and IPWEA NZ conference for consultants and engineers. Join leaders, key influencers and decision-makers who are at the forefront of delivering critical technology, construction and infrastructure and explore what needs to be done today to ensure a healthy and thriving sector and country for tomorrow.
We are excited to announce that next year's Modelling Symposium will be held in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington on 16-17 March 2022. We are working on building a fantastic programme for you in March that will provide valuable learning and networking opportunities. We will be sending out more information about the programme and registration in the coming months.
Stormwater 2022
18-20 May 2022 | Ōtautahi - Christchurch
Save the dates - Stormwater 2022 will be held at Te Pae, Christchurch Convention Centre on 18 - 20 May 2022. This is the largest stormwater conference in New Zealand, run annually by Water New Zealand. Stay tuned for updates regarding a call for abstracts, registration, and more.
If you’re looking for job interest and challenge and would enjoy the outdoors lifestyle that goes hand-in-hand with the Otago environment of rugged coastlines, spectacular mountains and alpine lakes, this position could be right for you
Right now, we need an innovative and driven Water Technician to join our Assets Group and take responsibility for providing support to operate and maintain water supplies, water treatment plant and wastewater services in the district.
In this role, you will be responsible for the successful operation and maintenance of the district’s seven wastewater treatment plants, by proactively leading and managing staff, completing operational checks, maintenance activities, sampling and testing, data collection and participating in upgrade works and improvement of the treatment plants.
This is a role you can really make your mark on - you’ll drive the development and implementation of strategic asset management at the organisation level. You’ll have a long-term strategic view, working to ensure a coordinated approach that is sustained and integrated across Council.
We are currently seeking an experienced and qualified Water Resources Scientist to join our dynamic and dedicated Natural Resources Science Team which provides environmental scientific information, advice and expertise in relation to freshwater, coastal, air and soil resources.
As Rivers Operations Engineer you will be involved with planning, designing, constructing and maintaining river control works in a cost effective manner. The role also monitors and reports on the condition of flood protection assets; and provides advice to landowners.
In this hands-on role you’ll be a key member of the Asset Renewals team, helping to make sure our district’s Water & Wastewater Treatment plants operate effectively and plant assets are replaced or reconditioned to a high standard.
The Three Waters and Waste Asset Manager will provide effective and sustainable services through high quality asset management across QLDCs $1.4bn Three Waters and Waste asset base.
As the Team Leader Drainage, you lead a team of Drainage crews who are the first point of contact on the ground, the face of Wellington Water! The team activities cover both reactive and planned maintenance works to better our community and water network.
