Mānawatia a Matariki - we hope you enjoy this time of renewal with family and friends.
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Latest Updates
Mānawatia a Matariki
Matariki – A sign that the cold and rainy season of winter is upon us, ready to inundate the land with waimāori (freshwater).
“Matariki tāpuapua – Matariki the season of rain when water lies everywhere in pools.”
Read more about the three stars in the Matariki cluster - Waipuna-ā-rangi, Waitī, Waitā - that have a deep connection to water.
Three Waters Reform legislation
The Finance and Expenditure Select Committee is now accepting submissions on the Water Services Entities Bill which paves the way for the formation of four new regionally-based water utilities.
Water New Zealand will be making a submission to the Select Committee and we encourage all our members to ensure you have a say over the future direction of our sector.
If you would like to contribute to our submission, please email Katrina.Guy@waternz.org.nz and put Water Services Entities Bill submission in the subject line. If you are a member and would like to join our information webinar, see more information further down under Upcoming Events.
More than 100 water sector professionals turned out in Wellington this week to listen to a panel discussion hosted by Water New Zealand on economic regulation of the water sector.
Panelists included the chief executive of the Water Industry Commission of Scotland Alan Sutherland, who was joined by Kaupapa Maori Environmental Consultant, Tina Porou, Andy Burgess, GM, Infrastructure Branch, Commerce Commission and Taumata Arowai CEO Bill Bayfield.
The event was booked out early so we will be making a recording available shortly. Keep an eye on our website for updates.
Get in early for great earlybird deals! We hope to see you again for the Water New Zealand Conference and Expo 2022. And if you missed our two big events - the Water New Zealand Conference and Expo 2021 Part 2 and the Stormwater Conference earlier in the month, you won't want to miss this one. Earlybird registrations open on July 15.
Technical guidance on the fluoridation of drinking water supplies
Water New Zealand is updating technical guidance for the safe and effective addition of fluoride into a drinking-water supply.
The guidance will provide water treatment operators with contemporary advice on current legislation, and good practice for plant design and operation.
The guidance will not be addressing public health issues associated with the use of fluoride, or the rationale for its addition into drinking water supplies.
If you are involved in the supply or dosing of fluoride and wish to be involved in the guidance update, please contact lesley.smith@waternz.org.nz by COB 30th June.
Water Services (Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand) 2022
New regulations on the maximum acceptable values (MAVs) for the concentration of determinands in drinking water are set to come into force on 14 November 2022.
All drinking water suppliers must ensure that the drinking water they supply complies with the standards which are based in part on the World Health Organization Guidelines.
Four young Lutra engineers talk about their motivations and what drew them towards working in water.
Watch the video and listen to Emma, Colby, Shaun and Ciaran discussing their career pathway.
New grant scheme to fund training initiatives opening for applications
The first round of applications for a new annual $1 million grant scheme to support infrastructure training initiatives open next month. The scheme will be funded by The Infrastructure Education and Training Charitable Trust, and will be administered by the Public Trust.
Applications for the first funding round will be open from 4-25 July 2022, via the Public Trust website at www.publictrust.co.nz/grants.
The proposed changes to the Building Code acceptable solutions and verification methods aim to improve the safety and reliability of plumbing and drainage systems to give New Zealanders greater confidence that water from a tap is healthy and safe.
The proposed changes for plumbing and drainage include looking to limit the allowable lead content in certain plumbing products, reduce the risk of hot water scalding injuries, and protect potable water supplies.
MBIE are proposing changes to the Building Code compliance pathways for water supplies, foul water and surface water that support plumbing and drainage work in New Zealand.
The changes are the latest in a series of continuous improvements for plumbing and drainage to ensure these Building Code compliance pathways are fit for purpose and up to date.
The consultation is open until Friday, 1 July 2022. Consultation documents are available at this link.
Aesthetic Values for Drinking Water
The drinking water regulator, Taumata Arowa has issued updated aesthetic values for drinking water
These Aesthetic Values replace the guideline values for aesthetic determinands specified in the Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand 2005 (Revised 2018).
'Health and wellbeing of people' at core of marae water upgrades
Future generations will not have to carry the burden of fighting for clean drinking water after marae across the Horowhenua region received upgrades to their supplies.
Thirteen marae benefited from the Three Waters stimulus package, with Horowhenua District Council allocating $520,000 of funding to improve waste and stormwater and drinking water facilities.
Govt poaching council staff makes contributing to reforms harder - local govt group
Rural and provincial councils say a shortage of skilled staff is preventing them from meaningfully contributing to the raft of central government reforms.
The phosphorus present in sewage could help provide a solution to global food insecurity if it was removed during the wastewater treatment process and recycled, say scientists.
How one iwi is navigating farming while caring for wai māori
"There’s no reason that farmers, including Ngāi Tahu farmers, can’t save the environment. The technology and science is there, what’s not are the regulations needed to preserve and enhance the mauri of wai māori." - Dr Te Maire Tau,
Water activist Mike Joy calls for nitrates reduction
"Having spent half my life trying to highlight the decline of New Zealand’s freshwater quality, I’m appalled to find that people are now telling me they’re buying bottled water to protect their health."
On 23 May, new Australian – New Zealand Flushable Standard (DR AS/NZS 5328:2021) came into effect.
Join Greg Ryan, current Chair of the Australian Standards Committee, Colin Hester from Queensland Urban Utilities and Noel Roberts from Water New Zealand.
The presentation will outline the background and key elements of the Standard, including disintegration, drain line clearance and domestic pump testing. It will also describe the new labelling requirements and how these can be used to improve consumer behaviour, along with the support we are seeing from manufacturers.
If you wish to purchase a copy of the standard please click here
The Water Service Entities Bill was introduced into Parliament on 2 June 2022. Following its’ first reading it has been referred to the Finance & Expenditure Committee. Submissions are due 22 July.
This webinar will briefly outline what the WSE Bill proposes and indicate the direction of Water New Zealand submissions.
This is a fully online course designed to assist you with a basic understanding of stormwater and the people and processes involved.
By the end of this course you will have a basic understanding of stormwater in New Zealand, understand the history of stormwater, what’s happening in the stormwater environment and get an overview of some of the roles in stormwater.
The course has been structured into a combination of reading, videos, resources and activities for you to complete over a four-week period at times that suit you. It involves four to six hours time commitment.
This is our latest digital badge. It will give you a basic understanding of backflow - what it is, its history, regulations, best practice and how to prevent backflow. The course has been structured into a combination of reading, videos, resources and activities for you to complete over a 4 week period at times that suit you.
Te Motu a Hiaroa (Puketutu Island) Site Visit - Tour
12 July | Puketutu Island
10 - 11 am, 11.30 am - 12.30 pm or 1 - 2 pm
Join the Auckland YWP’s on a site tour of Te motu a Hiaroa (Puketutu Island) a volcanic island in the Manukau Harbour where Auckland’s biosolids are rehabilitating the cultural landmark.
This is an opportunity for young water professionals to observe the placement of Auckland’s biosolids, as well as understand the methodology of reconstructing the original maunga landform and the cultural significance of the land.
Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules & Acceptable Solutions (Part 3) - post consultation
07 July | 11 am - 12 pm
Webinar
In this series of webinars, Taumata Arowai discuss the outcomes from the consultation process on the standards, rules and acceptable solutions that occurred in the 1st quarter of 2022.
This webinar will focus on "Large Supply Rules".
Recordings of Part 1 and Part 2 of the post consultation webinars are available by clicking this link
Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules & Acceptable Solutions (Part 4) - post consultation
17 August | 1 - 2 pm
Webinar
Taumata Arowai discusses the outcomes from the consultation process on the standards, rules and acceptable solutions that occurred in the 1st quarter of 2022.
This webinar will focus on "Acceptable Solutions".
Recordings of Part 1 and Part 2 of consultation are available here. Part 3 will be added following the webinar on 7 July 2022.
Cultural Significance and Importance of Wai learning module
17 August - 5 Oct | 10 am - 12 pm
Online
The course is online and held over eight zoom sessions of no more than 2 hours each.
Through this course you will gain greater cultural awareness, respect and understanding of Te Ao Māori within the water sector and what it means to give effect to Te Mana o te Wai – a concept introduced in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM 2020) and included in the water services legislation.
This module is designed to help you deepen your understanding of connections and interdependencies of wai (water) through a Te Ao Māori lens.
Perspectives on Data - A Water Break to the Regulator - Panel Discussion
29 June | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Online
Rejoin Hugh Blake-Manson as he and the presenters from the 8th June webinar dive deeper into questions raised.
Rachael Casey - RATA, Andy Gaul - NELMACMark Homenuke - Water Outlook, Michael Howden - Taumata Arowai
Find out more and register
Wastewater 101 Digital Badge
6 July - 3 August 2022
Online
This is a fully online course designed to assist you with a basic understanding of wastewater and the components relating to wastewater disposal and the impact on communities and the environment.By the end of this course, you will have a basic understanding of wastewater in Aotearoa New Zealand, understand what happens beyond flushing the toilet, have an understanding of what wastewater treatment plants do and get an overview of some of the roles in wastewater.
This is a fully online course designed to assist you with a basic understanding of stormwater and the people and processes involved.
By the end of this course you will have a basic understanding of stormwater in New Zealand, understand the history of stormwater, what’s happening in the stormwater environment and get an overview of some of the roles in stormwater.
You need to book out your evening on 14th July because it is the annual Wellington Region ‘Game of Thrones’ Pub Quiz. And no, this is not a quiz about the Games of Thrones TV Programme. As you are a water expert you should get the clever play on words! This event is open to members and non-members within your organisation to form a team of six (maximum).
Put your thinking caps on and get together with your colleagues to take the trophy from last year’s winners from Envelope Engineering. Plus, it is a great chance to meet the Water New Zealand team and reconnect with industry peers.
This is a fully online course designed to assist you with a basic understanding of drinking water and all the people and processes involved prior to it reaching your tap.
The course has been structured into a combination of reading, videos, resources and activities for you to complete over a four-week period at times that suit you. It involves four to six hours time commitment.
Through proactive leadership, this new role will develop and enhance a high performing operations team, responsible for the successful and sustainable delivery of water and wastewater across the Tararua District.
This role is responsible for managing the operations and maintenance of the water and wastewater treatment plants throughout the district and ensuring compliance with resource consents and drinking water standards.
Responsibilities include the daily operation of the water, wastewater, and stormwater reticulation assets including maintenance contract supervision and administration, data collection and analysis, record keeping, and general administration.
You will be responsible for the efficient and effective administration of Trade Waste Bylaws, ensuring compliance to those Bylaws by monitoring and control of industrial discharges and administration of appropriate cost recovery.
In this role you will lead the implementation of the company's resource management implementation programme, and provide trusted technical advice to all teams in the company on compliance, consenting issues and environmental policy.
We are looking for someone to take a guiding role on multiple, large scale and complex network projects, supporting the team to carry them out and lending their technical expertise to complex issues, ensuring strategic outcomes are delivered.
