Water September/October 2021 by Water_New_Zealand

water MAY 2015 | ISSUE 189

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 ISSUE 221

Investing in water Tunnelling begins for Central Interceptor The benefits and challenges of urban rainwater tanks Increasing flood resilience

CONTENTS WATER NEW ZEALAND

President: Helen Atkins Board Members: Troy Brockbank; Garth Dibley; Lorraine Kendrick; Priyan Perera, Iain Rabbitts, Dr Deborah Lind, Tim Gibson

water Issue 221 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021

Chief Executive: Gillian Blythe SIG Co-ordinator: Katrina Guy Administration Officer: Pip Donnelly Technical Manager: Noel Roberts Principal Data Scientist: Lesley Smith Training Development Manager: Mumtaz Parker Communications Manager: Debra Harrington Marketing Co-ordinator: Renee Butler Administrator: Paris Elwood SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS Backflow: Paul van den Berg, P: +64 27 509 9962

INSIDE 4 President’s comment – How quickly things can change in this Covid era!

10 Watercare launches Nerve Centre 14 DIA on the Three Waters Reform

6 Introducing Rōpū Māori

15 News from the Backflow Conference

8 News from Water New Zealand

Climate Change: Jon Reed, P: +64 9 300 9267 Smart Water Infrastructure: Michael Howden, P +64 4 473 7551 Modelling: Fiona Macdonald, M: +64 21 390 781

FEATURES 83 A national guideline on greenhouse

Small Wastewater & Natural Systems:

26 New intake gate a winner

Sandy Ormiston

32 Watercare’s Central Interceptor tunnel

Stormwater: Kate Purton, P: 021 0375 872 Water Service Managers’ Group: Martyn Cole, P: +64 27 555 4751 Young Water Professionals: AKL: Olivia Philpott, P: +64 22 043 2419 WLG: Aidan Crimp, P: +64 21 829 650 CHC: Liam Allan, P: +64 27 385 7003 WeCan: Christine McCormack, P: +64 22 512 3553 WATER JOURNAL Managing Editor: Alan Titchall M +64 27 405 0338 alan@contrafed.co.nz

treatment

boring machine gets digging

87 Foam fix could better treat

42 Industry first for stormwater

wastewater

management

89 Making HDPE pipes from

47 Better HDD design and execution 51 Rainwater tanks: Opportunities,

waste plastic 92 Microplastics in the environment:

implementation, challenges,

Current status and future directions

and a way forward 60 Research to increase flood resilience

Contrafed Publishing

69 Source water protection: The first barrier

Contributors: Mary Searle Bell

75 RMA system reform has critical

Advertising Sales: Debbie Laing M: +64 27 455 0223

gas emissions from wastewater

100 Sydney Water digital twins build smarter infrastructure

implications for three waters

Design: Contrafed Publishing 1 Grange Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024 PO Box 112 357, Penrose, Auckland, 1642 P: +64 9 636 5715 www.contrafed.co.nz

REGULARS 20 Profile – Jim McGibbon

Distribution: Pip Donnelly

23 Profile – Shannon Te Huia

P: +64 4 472 8925

79 Comment – Legal

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

103 Pacific – Oxfam

‘Ka ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora nga- tangata’ ‘If the water is healthy, the land is healthy, the people are healthy’

The official journal of Water New Zealand – New Zealand’s only water environment periodical. Established in 1958, Water New Zealand is a non-profit organisation. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND FROM THE PRESIDENT

Ka ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora ngā tāngata

How quickly things can change in this Covid era! Helen Atkins President, Water New Zealand

few weeks ago I was looking forward to catching up with friends and colleagues at our Water Conference & Expo in Hamilton this September. Covid has once again disrupted our best laid plans. We know this is extremely frustrating and inconvenient for the many of you who have put a lot of preparation into joining us in Hamilton. We share your disappointment. I recall that our exhibition sites sold out in just 11 minutes after going online. This certainly indicates the huge level of anticipation and interest for our conference this year. However, the good news is that as we were going to print, we were able to secure new dates. We are now looking forward to a face-to-face conference at Claudelands on 19 – 21 October with our three waters reform pre-conference workshop on Monday 18 October. Many of you will have already been in touch and we’re going full steam ahead to ensure an enjoyable experience. Understandably, this new date won’t suit everyone and we apologise to those who will not be able to join us. Of course we are mindful that we are living in uncertain times. If Covid once again thwarts our plans, we do have yet another contingency plan in place. Rest assured, we are very determined to bring you an amazing face to face experience. Covid challenges aside, this has been a hugely busy and fascinating year in water. We don’t yet know which way the Government’s service delivery reforms will lead us. Much of that will obviously depend on the outcome of the eight weeks of consultation with councils and communities due to finish at the end of this month. However, one thing is clear, whatever the outcome of the service delivery reforms, the status quo will no longer exist. We are entering

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a new regulatory environment, and not only for drinking water. Wastewater and storm water will also be under much more scrutiny. The new regulator, Taumata Arowai, is only weeks away from shedding its establishment status to becoming a fully-fledged regulatory body. We all know that regulation of waste and stormwater has been patchy, with unconsented plants in operation and low levels of compliance in some parts of the country. Taumata Arowai will be working with regional councils to ensure better compliance. Then there will be new economic regulation looking after consumers’ interests in terms of pricing and quality. This is new to the water sector. The new regulator will be ensuring that, whoever delivers the service, there is an appropriate level of investment to ensure assets are maintained in good condition. If that’s not enough to keep us occupied, there are plenty of other legislative changes and regulatory reforms to keep abreast of – the Climate Change Adaptation Act and the successors to the Resource Management Act, the Zero Carbon Act as well as the review of local government. And we mustn’t forget the need to ensure that we are giving effect to Te Mana o te Wai and working in collaboration with our communities – that’s a concept that will be enshrined in the new water services legislation. Water New Zealand will continue to support our members to navigate through these challenges. Thank you again for your patience and support, please keep an eye on our website for updates, and I look forward to seeing you soon. He waka eke noa. Helen Atkins President

He aha to mahi? What’s your job?

Kia ora! He Kaiarotake Wai-inu ahau Hi! I am a Drinking Water Assessor

Morena! He Kaiwhakatakoto Paipa Wai ahau (Good) Morning! I am a Drainlayer.

Ata Marie! He Kaiwhakamahi Whakapai Wai-para ahau Hi! I am a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

Tena koutou! He Kaipukaha Paetahi Rawa Wai ahau Hello everyone! I am a Graduate Water Resources Engineer

Nga mihi o te ra! He Matanga Matamua Wai awha ahau Greeting of the day! I am a Principal Stormwater Specialist.

Po Marie! He Kaihangarau Matua Whakapai Wai ahau Good evening! I am a Senior Water Treatment Technician

Nau mai, Haere mai! He Kaiwhakahaere o nga wai paipa e toru ahau Greetings, Welcome! I am a Three Waters Manager

Te Wiki o te reo Maori Maori Language Week

13 - 19 Mahuru (September) 2O21 Ka ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora ngā tāngata If the water is healthy, the land is healthy, the people are healthy

WATER NEW ZEALAND UPFRONT

Taumata Arowai Māori advisory group By Katy Te Amo, head of strategy and insights, Taumata Arowai In June this year, Taumata Arowai, the new water services regulator, established its Māori advisory group. Its seven members will work alongside and advise the Taumata Arowai Board on Māori interests and knowledge. The advisory group has adopted the holding title of Rōpū Māori as it and the board agree a more fitting title is needed to capture the partnership and the mana they bring to Taumata Arowai. Rōpū Māori will help us to build our capability to become the water services regulator and to put Te Mana o Te Wai at the heart of our regulatory approach. One of the core purposes of Rōpū Māori is to help Taumata Arowai to deliver on our obligations to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to build stronger relationships in our communities. It represents a shift towards a model of partnership between Māori and the Crown. The intention of this approach is to embed the principle of partnership into the structure and operation of the organisation. It reflects the organisation’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

A strong relationship at the helm of Taumata Arowai In te ao Māori (Māori world view) connection is everything. Having a strong relationship between Rōpū Māori and the board will be essential in navigating the challenges to come. Building trust and creating a shared vision has been a focus over the first few months since the establishment of Taumata Arowai on March 1, 2021. In July, Rōpū Māori met with the board and leadership team for a combined hui at Te Marua Water Treatment Plant in Upper Hutt, where they toured the facility and discussed their work together. This joint hui was a great opportunity for the two groups to get to know each other. It was awesome to see them sharing perspectives and goals and starting their journey towards creating a shared vision. To help enhance mutual understanding and establish synergy between the board and Rōpū Māori, the minister appointed two dual members, Riki Ellison and Loretta Lovel. They will form a bridge between the two groups. Rōpū Māori are now in the process of deciding on their work programme which will be guided by our establishing legislation. This includes developing and maintaining a framework that provides advice and guidance for Taumata Arowai on how to interpret and give effect to Te Mana o te Wai; and providing advice on how to enable mātauranga Māori, tikanga Māori, and kaitiakitanga to be exercised. This is no small challenge. Later this year we will look to share more from both the Rōpū Māori and the board on how they are collectively navigating this space.

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Seven Rōpū Māori members from across Aotearoa The members of Rōpū Māori were appointed by Kelvin Davis as Acting Minister of Local Government. Tipa Mahuta (Waikato Tainui, Ngāpuhi) is a Waikato Regional Councillor, co-chair of the Waikato River Authority, and deputy chair of Counties Manukau District Health Board. She has previously served as deputy chair of Te Whakakitenga o Waikato, a member of the Waikato Conservation Board, and as a director of Tainui Group Holdings. Bonita Bigham (Ngāruahine, Te Ātiawa) is currently a member of the Taranaki Whanganui Conservation Board, the New Zealand Geographic Board, and is chair of Te Maruata, the Māori Committee of the National Council of Local Government New Zealand. Until recently she was pouuruhi (lead external relations) at Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust and was previously a three-term South Taranaki district councillor. Riki Ellison (Ngāi Tahu, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) is a consultant specialising in resource management and engagement with Māori, working closely with central government agencies, local government, and iwi. In February 2021, he was appointed as a member of the Taumata Arowai Board. He is a member of Kāhui Wai Māori. Frank Hippolite (Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne, Ngāti Apa) was nominated by the Ngāti Koata Trust. He was previously the general manager at Tiakina te Taiao, the mandated environmental arm of the eight Te Tauihu iwi, the chair of Ngāti Koata Trust, and a resource management consultant. He is currently a senior solicitor at Te Puni Kōkiri. Loretta Lovell (Ngāti Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu and Whakatōhea) is a lawyer and environmental commissioner, who is currently a member of the Development Contribution Commissioner Panel and the Environmental Legal Fund Advisory Panel. In February 2021 she was appointed as a member of the Taumata Arowai Board. Pita Paul (Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Whare) is currently the managing director of Waiwhenua Associates, and cultural facilitator for Hauora Tairāwhiti District Health Board. He has had a lengthy career in Māori health, including as the drinking water facilitator for Tairāwhiti District Health Board. Ian Ruru (Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tai, Whakatōhea, Rongowhakaata) is the director of Maumahara Consultancy Services and holds several other directorships (including iwi trusts). He is is a kāhui Māori member of Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge and has a scientific background in marine and freshwater fisheries. He recently led a project between iwi and Gisborne District Council to develop a culturally appropriate way to dispose of mortuary waste.

The Ropu Māori members – Back row: Ian Ruru, Bonita Bigham, Frank Hippolite, Loretta Lovell, Riki Ellison. Seated: Pita Paul and Tipa Mahuta.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2021 – Ngā momo Kaimahi Whakapai Wai Waiora Aotearoa (Water New Zealand) is proud to once again tautoko (to support) Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week), 13-19 Mahuru (September) 2021. In recent years Waiora Aotearoa has helped to celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori in a number of ways including producing a poster that can be put on your walls, or above your desks. This year we are focusing our poster on our workforce and jobs in the industry. Take a look at our poster and have a go at using the te Reo Māori naming equivalent of your job title during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. If you don’t find your job title on the

poster, feel free to do some rangahau (research) and kia kaha ake (give it a go). Once you have determined your te reo Māori job title, kōrero atu (say it). Share it with your colleagues, friends, whānau and ask them he aha tō mahi (what their jobs are). We at Waiora Aotearoa are keen to hear your te reo Māori job titles, so please feel free to share them with us via social media using the hashtag #Heahatōmahi and by tagging @waternz. Also don’t forget to use the official Te Wiki o te Reo Māori hashtag #KiaKahaTeReoMāori. Looking forward, we are going to need to almost double our water workforce over the next 30 years. That’s as many as 9000 new jobs and

many new skills will be also needed. It’s one of the reasons that our work around workforce, skills, and competency has become a key part of what Waiora Aotearoa does. We also know that many of our jobs will be at the frontline, in delivery, and in our regions because there is a real connection between what we, as tāngata (people) of Aotearoa, do in the three waters sector – stormwater, wastewater and drinking water – to ensure that our freshwater, our awa and moana, and therefore our people, remain healthy. See our poster on page five. You can go to waternz.org.nz to download a pdf for printing and sharing.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND UPFRONT

The Water Directory - refreshed, revised, renamed, and ready for 2022

By Debbie Laing, Water advertising manager Even good things need a refresh from time to time and the NZ Infrastructure Water and Environment Directory is no exception. The 2022 edition will be its 30th birthday. Originally there were several partnering organisations who combined to bring related businesses together in one easy to use resource, providing an efficient and targeted way to locate suppliers of products and services. Nzgreenpages.org.nz provided an early online resource – even the name gives a clue to the age of this database. In more recent years, the publication has

become essentially a directory of businesses serving the water industry, so along with other much needed change, we have more aptly named it the Water Directory. Businesses listing in the 2022 edition will find some bigger changes than the name, notably a much needed overhaul of the Products and Services Index. Some fun numbers: There were 3909 individual product and service ‘tickboxes’ in the database, with 1366 in use. The new index has fewer than 300 categories, retaining the most frequently chosen index headings to allow users of the printed version a general index, and online users to search that way if they prefer. At the same time the specifics of what a business currently has selected in the products and service index will be captured in a free text search field, ensuring users can identify who supplies what they need. Our thanks go to Water New Zealand’s technical manager, Noel Roberts, for his expertise in helping rationalise this index – it was a much bigger undertaking than anticipated.

New digital badge launched Water New Zealand has set up its second digital badge. Wastewater 101 was launched in August following the introduction earlier this year of the Drinking Water 101. Training development manager Mumtaz Parker says that this new learning opportunity follows similar lines to its successful predecessor. “Like Drinking Water 101, Wastewater 101 is a fully online course designed to give our members and others in the water sector a basic understanding of wastewater and the components relating to wastewater disposal. “It also focuses on the impact of wastewater on communities and the environment.” She says that by the end of the course, attendees will have a basic understanding of wastewater, particularly what happens beyond flushing the toilet, what wastewater treatment plants do, as well as an overview of some of the roles in wastewater. “The course has been structured into a combination of reading, videos, resources and activities to be completed over a four week period. It’s designed to be flexible so that people can log on and learn at times that suit them. In all it

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Training development manager Mumtaz Parker.

should take between four to six hours to complete. “There will be a quiz at the end and on successful completion, a digital badge award.” For more information go to our website or contact Mumtaz Parker at training@waternz.org.nz

While the printed version of the Water Directory will continue to exist for now, the online directory is fast becoming the first port of call to search for ‘who does what’ in water. For now, the online database will remain essentially the same, but is having a facelift for 2022. After the listings are collated for the 2022 edition, they will be migrated to the new look website – we’ll bring you updates on that in due course. We expect that not everyone will agree with our rationale for the new Products and Services Index, and that we may not have got it completely right. We welcome feedback and suggestions for what users would like to see in the future. There are more innovative and exciting changes we’d like to make to the Water Directory to provide an ever more useful tool for the industry, so we see the changes we’ve made this year as the beginning. To list your business in the 2022 Water Directory, please contact advertising@waternz.org.nz, or call Debbie Laing on 0274 550 223 for more information.

New face at Water New Zealand Paris Elwood is a recent graduate of Massey University with a Bachelor of Creative Media Studies. He has joined the Water New Zealand administration team while executive administrator Amy Samuelu is on maternity leave. As well as providing administrative support, Paris has been designing a wide range of collateral including pamphlets, banners, templates and posters. Outside of work, Paris continues his creative flair. Recently, he co-directed a contemporary dance, He Tangata, which debuted at the Opera House in March and had a sold out season as a part of the Kia Mau Festival in June.

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WATER NEW ZEALAND UPFRONT

“Watercare, we have lift off!” With a design based on the NASA control room, those could have been the words to launch a new Nerve Centre designed to bring together operational information and various teams to improve responsiveness and deliver better customer outcomes. The Nerve Centre, in Watercare’s Newmarket office, features 29 large screens simultaneously displaying real-time granular data, such as water treated and supplied, wastewater flows, leaks and outages categorised by priority and more. Chief customer officer Amanda Singleton says this is a critical piece for a future that consists of more proactive engagement with customers. “We want customers to be at the heart of everything we do, and this is a significant step in that journey. “Our Nerve Centre is a place where staff can go at any time to find out what’s happening across the whole Watercare network. It’s about bringing people together from different parts of the Watercare family, giving them the best data and technology, and ultimately streamlining our processes when it comes to solving problems for our customers.” The vision for a collaborative, insights-driven and customer-focused space first took shape in 2019. The former Control Room was a small room with screens and monitors for bulk water and wastewater assets. One to two operators continuously monitored alarms and water transmission throughout metropolitan Auckland. Independent contractors worked offsite The plan for the Nerve Centre centred around better communication. A much larger space would be needed because, for the first time, representatives from Watercare’s operations, networks, transmission and maintenance contractors (Maintenance Delivery, Downer, MSN and City Care) would be working in the same space, on a roster. Construction of the physical space began last November and took around five months. There’s seating for up to 35 staff. Just like the NASA Control Room, there are pods for people in different areas. A safe and comfortable workspace has been created, with everything from lighting to segmented air-conditioning to acoustic panels. Night-time shifts are covered by two people. The teams gather every morning for a stand-up meeting, identify issues that need resolving and support each other with content and data to make better decisions. Feedback gained from other areas is shared. Watercare head of customer experience, Jason Pascoe, says greater

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collaboration is seeing better handling of incidents and improved customer satisfaction. “We can send real time information on faults through to the planning team. Not only can this assist with projects they’re working on, but they can also in turn update our staff on future plans to address commonly occurring issues such as leaks.” With the Faults team working alongside engineers and contractors there are improved incident updates. There have also been cases of engineers picking up on conversations that Faults are having with customers and identifying escalating issues. This collaborative set-up is already reaping rewards for senior water quality scientist Leanne McKenzie. “Recently, our lab alerted us to a low-chlorine water quality issue. Normally, the Control Room would have received the call from the lab and emailed the water quality team to identify the root of the problem followed by a course of action to address this. “Because of the Nerve Centre, the nerve centre operator just had to tell me in person, and the team I needed to work with was right next to me; we looked at the issue together, identified that we needed to re-chlorinate the reservoir and we got that instruction to our contractor straightaway.” Smart networks manager Andrew Deutschle says there’s been better information sharing and job planning between networks and transmission maintenance functions: “While Watercare already has good escalation processes, the regular, in-person discussions in the Nerve Centre have assisted matters in getting the attention they deserve and has helped ensure better awareness across departments. Often, we have interesting titbits that come up and prompt a robust discussion.” Environmental monitoring, particularly of recent severe weather events has seen Watercare engineers supporting operators in the Nerve Centre after hours, with contractors, fault teams and operators working quickly together to respond. Another innovation has been the establishment of a control room setup for local network operations. The former control room only monitored transmission assets for asset failures and issues. The Nerve Centre has the same set-up for our local network operations too, with five new operators. Andrew Deutschle says, previously, this was done by maintenance contractors: “We would learn about issues second-hand.”

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Alarm notifications have been slashed. Transmission and local network operators sit next to each other, alongside maintenance contractors. In the past all the alarms related to infrastructure would automatically trigger a text message to maintenance contractors – regardless or not if action was required e.g., when wastewater pump stations settings weren’t quite where they needed to be, and a momentary alarm was triggered before immediately restoring. The Nerve Centre provided greater visibility of the high number of repeat or low-priority alerts, which prompted a full review. “The tweaks to our system were fairly simple but have had a really positive impact in terms of efficiency gains and a happier workforce for our

contractors,” says Andrew. One such contractor, Downer, covers north and west Auckland. They’ve noticed an 85 percent decrease in the number of alarms escalated internally after hours, which means their staff are getting a better night’s sleep and can spend more time focusing on problems that matter.” Other safety improvements include vehicle tracking, monitoring of lone workers and confined space situations. Use of digital tools such as artificial intelligence and digital twins (virtual replicas of physical devices), provide proactive and predictive analytics to identify faults before they occur.

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

Water New Zealand welcomes all our presenters, speakers, delegates and exhibitors.

Keynote speakers include Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Local Government Hon Nanaia Mahuta has held the Hauraki-Waikato seat - previously Te Tai Hauāuru- since 1996 with a strong majority. In the Helen Clark government from 2005 to 2008, she moved up the ranks and became a minister in charge of customs, youth development and local government. Nanaia Mahuta became a cabinet minister in the 2017 Labour government, where she held the local government and Māori development portfolios but also served as an associate minister for trade and export growth, environment and housing.

s a h e c n re fe n o c r u o 9 -1 id v o C Due to In 2020, she became the first woman to hold the Foreign Affairs portfolio while retaining her Local Government, and Associate Minister for Māori Development portfolios.

p ho ks or w rm fo re s er at w e re th e Pre-conferenc She is a tribal member of Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Manu and her parliamentary experience has enabled her to contribute to the collective aspirations of Maori and all New Zealanders.

For updates, and to register, go

Siouxsie Wiles, New Zealander of the Year 2021

With her bright pink hair, Dr Siouxsie Wiles is hard to miss. Trained as a microbiologist, she’s one of the country’s most recognised and respected scientists. Siouxsie has been recognised many times for her contributions to science and society in New Zealand. In 2019 she was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to microbiology and science communication. Prior to this, she had been honoured as a Blake Leader by the Sir Peter Blake Trust as well as winning both the Royal Society Te Aparangi Callaghan Medal and the Prime Minister’s Science Media Communication Prize. Most recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Siouxsie became one of the country’s best-known communicators. Her work during this time led her to be named the supreme winner of the Stuff-Westpac Women of Influence Awards 2020.

Bill Bayfield, Taumata Arowai Chief Executive Bill Bayfield is the establishment chief executive of Taumata Arowai, the new water services regulator. Prior to joining Taumata Arowai in May last year, he was chief executive of Environment Canterbury Regional Council (Ecan), a position he held from 2011. Before then, Bill was chief executive at the Bay of Plenty Regional Council between 2006 – 2011. He has also held senior roles at the Ministry for the Environment and Taranaki Regional Council. Bill has a deep knowledge of drinking water and environmental regulation, and is an experienced local government chief executive.

Huhana Smith, investigator and visual artist Associate Professor Huhana Smith is a visual artist, curator and principal investigator in research who engages in major environmental, trans-disciplinary, kaupapa Māori and action-research projects. She is co-principal investigator for research that includes mātauranga Māori methods with sciences to actively address climate change concerns for coastal Māori lands in Horowhenua-Kāpiti. Huhana actively encourages the use of art and design’s visual systems combined in exhibitions, to expand how solutions might integrate complex issues and make solutions more accessible for local communities.

Allan Prangnell, Executive Director, of Three Waters, DIA Allan Prangnell is the executive director of Three Waters, within the local government branch at the Department of Internal Affairs. He has led advice for the Department on the case for major transformation of the water infrastructure services and regulation. Allan has also led, in partnership with other government agencies, local government and iwi/ Maori, the development and establishment of Taumata Arowai, a new drinking water regulator in response to the Havelock North drinking water inquiry.

r e b to c O 1 2 – 19 l ti n u d e n o tp been pos Jon Lamonte, Watercare Chief Executive

Jon began his career in the Royal Air Force, where he served for 32 years, first as a fighter pilot and later holding senior roles in logistics and procurement for the Ministry of Defence. After leaving the RAF, he became chief executive of Tube Lines, running the engineering and upgrade of London’s busiest underground lines around the time of the London Olympics. He then headed up transport for Greater Manchester, before moving to Australia for the role of chief executive of Sydney Metro, where he led the company through the opening of their first driverless line.

will now be held on Monday 18

October

www.waternzconference.org.nz

He joined Watercare as its chief executive in April 2021, becoming responsible for Auckland’s water and wastewater services.

Thought leadership and technical streams Make sure you don’t miss our incredible line up this year of Thought Leadership speakers covering a range of topics as varied as climate change, customer and community focus, regulation, infrastructure, and much more. Again, our technical stream covers current and relevant issues facing our sector. Thank you again to our premier partners, sponsors and exhibitors. We look forward to hosting you at Claudelands 21–23 September.

Go to www.waternzconference.org.nz to register or find out more

THANK YOU TO OUR PREMIER PARTNERS

An Auckland Council Organisation

WATER NEW ZEALAND THREE WATERS

Reform to transform The Government will soon announce the next stages of its service delivery reforms, and should it choose to pursue the proposals worked up so far, the water industry will enter a period of substantial transition and transformation, according to the Three Waters Reform programme.

The plan to aggregate the country’s 67 local authority water services operations into four publicly-owned multi-regional entities is intended to deliver benefits of scale and efficiency to the communities served. But combined with a more proactive regulatory regime for water safety and the environmental impacts of wastewater and stormwater networks, economic regulation will help drive badly needed investment in the country’s three waters infrastructure. As a result, the water industry will be primed to become a far more significant sector of the national economy. Analysis by Deloitte suggests the investment required – estimated between $120 billion and $185 billion – across the three waters sector will add $14 billion to $23 billion to our GDP and as many as 9000 new jobs over the next 30 years. Looking at it another way, the additional activity and headcount represents a near doubling in size for the industry by 2051. “We’re really mindful that we need to continue to engage and work with industry, and ideally have an industry led plan to make sure we can actually achieve that workforce growth,” executive director of the Three Waters Reform Programme Allan Prangnell told Water New Zealand members during an August webinar. “We know that we’ve got training and professional development challenges – where are we going to source these workers from? But there is a significant opportunity there. The lesson that we’ve taken from looking at a number of jurisdictions overseas which appears to be backed up by the Deloitte analysis, is that most of the jobs are at the front line, in delivery, and in the regions.” At this point, those challenges and opportunities lie in the future, albeit one that will advance swiftly depending on the outcome of a great deal of discussion and consideration taking place right now across local and central government. Since Government announcements at Local Government New Zealand’s July conference, the Department of Internal Affairs has been working with LGNZ, Taituarā, Water New Zealand,

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other sector groups, and the 67 local authorities themselves to build understanding of the proposed reforms and their effect on communities and council function. At the same time the Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta and her Cabinet colleagues are considering the feedback from the sector as they move closer to decisions on how to move forward and meet the agreed three waters service delivery and affordability challenges. Speaking alongside Allan Prangnell at last month’s webinar, was Three Waters programme transition director Amelia East. She told Water New Zealand members the Department’s Three Waters Reform programme needs to be ready, whatever the decision. “Work in the transition space now doesn’t preempt any decisions about whether the reforms will proceed as proposed, but ultimately should they do so, we need to be match ready and match fit.’’ She says much of that work to date has been going on without a great deal of outside visibility, but that will change should the Government choose to proceed. So what would this look like? “There will be a national transition unit with centralised functions to ensure a consistent approach across the country and provide support to four local establishment entities which will also be up and running as soon as possible once we know how the reforms are proceeding. “Those four local establishment entities represent the four future water service entities and they are really about taking that local ownership of what these future entities are going to be doing going forward. “This is going to be a really critical part of reform delivery and will enable the right input into what needs to be established on the ground.”. Amelia says the transition unit is mindful that many in the sector will effectively be asked to work toward ensuring a smooth transition to and implementation of the new service delivery model while at the same time ensuring the continued delivery of high quality services and infrastructure investment programmes. “We really need to minimise any potential

disruption to communities and consumers, and to do that we need to advance the reform objectives with the sector in a way that works with the industry.” Should the Government’s proposals proceed, to guide and inform that process, the Department’s transition team will soon establish structured engagement channels with the industry in a form that recognises and helps them manage the additional calls on their experience and expertise. Amelia says this ongoing engagement is about more than ensuring a smooth transition. “It’s also about asking whether there is potential in this short period of time to identify some transformation opportunities that can really set up the sector for success going forward. “This is about subject matter experts with strong industry experience working alongside yourselves in the sector, local and central government to make sure we capture your views. “We believe this is required whether reform proceeds or not, it’s to be a supplementary and really important part of what the sector should be looking at and it’s a really exciting part of transition.” Amelia says the frequency and prominence of questions from the sector about what the reforms mean for the existing workforce suggests many individuals still feel uncertainty about their prospects beyond July 1, 2024. She points to the commitment made by ministers at the Local Government conference. “Everyone who works in the water sector industry now for councils should know that they have a job going forward. Any member of staff who works primarily in water will be guaranteed a role at the new entities which maintains the key features of their current role – salary, location, leave, hours, days of work. “This is about providing certainty now but also about how we can provide those opportunities moving forward so we can realise all those benefits for the industry and most importantly for our communities that are identified in the case for change.” Article supplied by the Department of Internal Affairs Three Waters Reform programme.

BACKFLOW CONFERENCE WATER NEW ZEALAND

News from Backflow 2021 New regulations to ensure safety from risks associated with backflow was a major focus at this year’s Backflow Conference in Lower Hutt in August.

The biennial event attracted around 75 practitioners and sector leaders from across the backflow industry who had the opportunity to listen to the details of the changes and question the new regulatory authority, Taumata Arowai. Water New Zealand chief executive Gillian Blythe says the discussions were particularly illuminating and provided a good basis from which the industry could move forward and work together to achieve better public health and environmental outcomes. “The attendees at this conference certainly didn’t need reminding about the importance of backflow protection to prevent cross contamination of drinking water. “For the rest of us, it’s important to remember the findings of one of the world’s most eminent contamination experts, Dr Steve Hrudey, who

wrote a report on the Havelock North event. His research found that many contamination events in large mature utilities were caused by cross connections within networks rather than source contamination or failed treatment.” On behalf of Water New Zealand, Gillian also thanked Kevin Healy, one of the early pioneers of backflow devices – installing his first backflow device in 1988. Kevin was awarded the “Golden Check Award” for his efforts in protecting communities from cross contamination events. Despite Covid restrictions, the conference was able to maintain an international element where Australian Backflow Prevention Association colleagues zoomed in to sessions from across the Tasman. A lively exhibition space and plenty of social

Kevin Healy (centre) was awarded the Golden Check Award for his efforts in protecting communities from cross contamination events.

events helped top off this 2021 get together. In the end, however, it wasn’t all about backflow. Attendees took a short but important pause to watch and celebrate Lisa Carrington’s gold medal success in Tokyo.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND BACKFLOW CONFERENCE

New rules to manage the

backflow risks in drinking water The new water services regulator, Taumata Arowai, is about to introduce new operational compliance rules aimed at reducing the risk of backflow contamination to drinking water. Drinking water principal advisor Jim Graham consulted with water suppliers around the country before preparing the rules which he presented at the Water New Zealand Backflow Conference. The key message to conference attendees is that Taumata Arowai will be taking an interest in backflow and, under the new rules, every water supplier will have a responsibility to assess the risk of backflow to their network and ensure backflow prevention devices are installed where they are needed. To balance this we will make sure that there is adequate time to understand and respond to the new rules.

What is backflow?

Backflow occurs when contaminated or dirty water is sucked back into the drinking water network from pipes, taps or outlets. When the pressure drops in the mains nearby, it can suck liquid back into the network from connections to houses or businesses. This could be through a hose sitting in a tank of chemicals, an irrigation outlet lying in a puddle of fertiliser, or countless other sources. If the outlet is connected to the mains, it is vulnerable to backflow, unless a backflow prevention device is installed.

Backflow is a serious and growing risk to the safety of drinking water supplies The Government estimates that at least 34,000 people become sick every year from their drinking water, and evidence suggests that at least a third of these cases can be traced back to problems in the drinking water network rather than source water. Backflow is known to be a major contributor to these network issues. There have been situations where caustic soda, pool water, and even beer has contaminated drinking water networks through backflow. By requiring water suppliers to better understand risks in their networks, we will be able to ensure appropriate backflow devices are installed where they are needed. The proposed new rules represent a significant shift to a more proactive approach to identifying risks in drinking water risk management. The essence of this shift is to place full responsibility for delivering safe drinking water in the hands of water suppliers. If you are providing drinking water, you have a duty of care to make sure it meets the

16 www.waternz.org.nz

standards and is safe for consumers to drink. This means taking a proactive approach to identifying risks rather than waiting for something to go wrong to introduce safety measures. Under the proposed new rules, all water suppliers will be expected to assess the risk of backflow in their supply network and to prevent its occurrence. For small supplies serving fewer than 50 people, the rule is simple: A backflow prevention device must be fitted where there is a medium or high risk of backflow. For small supplies, serving between 50 to 500 people, the rules are a little more complex. They require the water supplier to undertake an assessment of their network for backflow risks each year including a record of where backflow risks exist. They will need to ensure suitable backflow devices are installed where they are needed and show that all testable backflow devices have been tested annually by a trained and qualified person. The rules for large supplies, serving over 500 people, are more comprehensive. Large suppliers will need to: • Prepare and implement a backflow prevention programme. • Survey their customers’ premises at least every five years to assess backflow risks. • Recommend to customers which backflow prevention devices they need and make sure they are installed within a reasonable timeframe. • Test all backflow prevention devices annually. • Maintain a register of all backflow prevention devices, including the device types, and test results. A key change in the proposed rules relates to accessing a network with a standpipe. This will only be permitted by Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the water supplier themselves, and their authorised contractors. Road workers, water carriers, and others who have previously used standpipes to access networks will be required to fill their trucks from designated filling stations. Changing the rules won’t solve the problem of backflow alone. Taumata Arowai acknowledges that it will take time and resources for the water sector to adjust, and for water suppliers to gather the

Drinking water principal advisor Jim Graham consulted with water suppliers around the country before preparing the rules which he presented at the Water New Zealand Backflow Conference.

expertise and resources needed. For this reason, the timeframes for complying to the rules will be phased in over several years, providing sufficient time for water suppliers to understand the requirements and to put appropriate backflow measures in place. The transitional provisions in the Water Services Bill will set out when different supply types need to comply with the new rules. Taumata Arowai is required to publicly consult on the proposed

rules and will be welcoming feedback through a public consultation process as soon as possible after the Water Services Bill is enacted. These new rules provide a challenge to us in the water sector to lift our game. As the water services regulator, it’s the role of Taumata Arowai to raise awareness of the issue, set standards, and help to build and maintain capability among drinking water suppliers and across the wider industry.

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND BACKFLOW CONFERENCE

Backflow risk increases as accessory bidets become more popular Plumbers are reporting a growing interest in households wanting to install accessory bidet units. But as Water New Zealand Backflow Group member and Tauranga City Council water network engineer Brian Brown points out, this new trend comes with a health warning. If you want a bidet, you don’t even need to find more bathroom space. These new-style accessories are attached to the existing toilet bowl either under the existing seat or combined with their own seat. As well, there is a large variety to choose from. You can purchase them on the local market and the internet, and they come with options such as heating, a variety of sprays, powered or unpowered and variable pressure. Most of the devices connect directly into the household water piping and have no backflow protection. DIYers are being targeted with claims of easy installation. This leaves open the risk of incorrect, illegal, installations leading to water contamination and obvious health risks. Fortunately, some plumbers are contacting councils about the risks and seeking information about boundary backflow requirements. As a bidet operates in a wastewater environment, it is classified as a high-risk and therefore requires a high-risk backflow device. Some councils will require this protection to be at the boundary and therefore the appropriate device is a reduced pressure

zone backflow device. This will protect the public water supply network, which is important, but then the people in the building that the bidet is installed are at risk. In this case, a second device should also be installed. The second driver for the backflow protection is that as the bidet device starts to age and wear, leaks will eventuate. If the wash apparatus is handheld, the most common remedy is to hang the wand in the toilet bowl to catch the leaking water. Other models have a small wand that when activated extends forward to wash the required areas and then retracts back out of the way. When this extension and retraction starts to fail this leaves the wand in the extended position where it could collect unwanted solids and liquids.Immediately we have a cross connection to the water supply. The backflow risk isn’t just confined to the new trend for bidet installation. Other bathroom accessories are potentially being installed without the correct backflow protection: free-standing bath spout and handheld shower wand attachments for instance. This is a sleeping issue waiting to emerge.

The backflow risk isn’t just confined to the new trend for bidet installation... free-standing bath spout and handheld shower wand attachments for instance. 18 www.waternz.org.nz

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WATER NEW ZEALAND PROFILE

Pushing backflow forward A willingness to learn has seen Jim McGibbon become hugely enthusiastic about backflow, and he’s keen to share his knowledge and the expertise of Water New Zealand’s Backflow Group. English-born Jim McGibbon grew up in ‘the low end’ of Birkenhead, near Liverpool, in impoverished circumstances. “My entire family was out of work, so I tried as hard as I could at school to make sure I could get a job. “My goal was to become a firefighter – my brother-in-law was one and I idolised him. When it finally happened, it didn’t work out for me and the reality was quite different to my expectations. I found it to be sexist and homophobic; the culture was quite toxic.” Leaving the fire service, Jim got a job as an administrative officer with the Department for Work and Pensions, and soon discovered a passion for project planning. “I ended up working basically as a project administrator, running the day-to-day business. We were working on replacing the old pension books with a move to Pension Credit, which would see pensions deposited directly into bank accounts rather than pensioners collecting their money from the Post Office. “There was a huge push-back from the public on this as people thought it would lead to them losing their local post offices. But this was an effort to reduce fraud and we needed a more targeted scheme. However, we managed to find a work-around where, basically, the post office would have what amounted to a bank account for those who liked the weekly ritual of collecting their pension in person. “What was particularly interesting is that, during the process, we discovered there were many proud people who refused a pension, even though they had worked for it and were entitled to it. We also found many of retirement age who were still working but unaware they were able to top up their salary with their pension.” Jim joined this massive eight-year-long project in the middle and stayed with the department for seven years before deciding to move to New Zealand. “My wife and I had honeymooned in Australia and thought

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we’d emigrate there. We were chatting to an expat friend who had recently moved from Sydney to Auckland but was hating it. However, two weeks later we got a phone call saying, ‘Forget that. I’m sitting on a beach in Mission Bay and I love it”. That was enough; we moved to Auckland.” When Jim got here in 2010 he struggled to find work, turning instead to voluntary work with a local cat charity. He says his experience was all in project administration and there weren’t many vacancies. Fortunately for him, Metrowater was Jim McGibbon in the process of winding down but had short-term vacancies to fill as staff left. He got a job as a personal assistant to two of the company directors. “I got to see the end of an organisation and the building of a new supercity from a director level. “It was fascinating to see that many of the staff were positive about the change and, although they would be losing their jobs, worked hard to ensure the handover was perfect. “I could see they really cared about the industry and were really invested in it; I’d never seen that before. I thought it was an incredible thing.” When the facilities manager moved on from his role, Jim stepped in. “I was actually the last person to leave Metrowater – I turned off the lights on my way out.” The day before that final Metrowater moment, Jim had interviewed for a backflow administration position at Watercare. “The person who was originally going to take the role chose not to, so I spent the night before the interview, frantically learning everything I could about backflow – enough to get the job!” In the early days of Watercare, the company had to take six disparate systems and merge them into one, something Jim says took a long time. “I had to develop relationships with the IQPs (Independent

Qualified Persons) who can test backflow devices – there are 140 IQPs in Auckland.” He also had a lot to learn about all things backflow. “Backflow engineer Barry Beaurain was like a god to me. Anything I didn’t know, I’d ask Barry. He was no nonsense and no waffle and had loads of information to impart.” When Barry decided to move on, his role was divided between the remaining staff, with Jim taking a portion. This now saw him on site, visiting IQPs when they were testing backflows. He also started a surveying programme looking for cross-connections that could be hazardous to health – something he says will be a big job going forward with the proposed changes to Watercare’s remit under Taumati Arowai. In 2014, Jim’s manager left, and once again, Jim stepped up to take on more. “I’ve had a lot of on-the-job learning, and I’ve picked up a lot of knowledge along the way. My next step is to do the IQP course myself.” Outside of Watercare, Jim is very much involved in Water New Zealand’s Backflow Group. “The knowledge in this group is incredible. I want to learn as much as I can from these people and they’re keen and willing to share. “We recently had a spirited discussion around bidets – apparently they’re back in fashion and there’s a potential issue around backflow if they’re not plumbed properly. I learnt a lot!

“What astonishes me about these small groups of experts is that they’re always upskilling. It’s fantastic and something I didn’t see in the UK.” Jim has recently stepped down from chairing the Backflow Group, passing the reins to Paul van den Berg from Western Bay of Plenty District Council. Before taking up the position as chair, Jim served as deputy from 2017-19. “It’s been an interesting couple of years. We’ve been upgrading the Backflow Code of Practice and once the new water bill is signed, it will be finalised and added to the Water New Zealand website for guiding backflow installation and best practice.” As you would expect from someone so keen to learn and share knowledge, Jim has broadened the scope of the group with BPAA (Backflow Prevention Australia Association), with the two meeting online every two weeks to chat all things backflow. Going forward, Jim is hoping to move into more of a comms role in the group, saying that under Taumati Arowai, everyone in the industry will have to pull together and the backflow group is there to help and share their expertise. “If the changes come through as the draft plan shows then the new utility’s remit will be from Cape Reinga to the Bombay Hills. We will need to bring it all together, and consequently more training and upskilling will be required, not just for me but for everyone. “I would like to see more people get involved in the Backflow Group, not just in Auckland, but from all over the country. There is so much we can learn from each other.”

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND PROFILE

Kaitiaki Shannon Te Huia has been named as the Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year for his environmental work. He says he’s simply caring for the river he played in as a youngster so today’s kids can enjoy it too. By Mary Searle Bell

Growing up in Kihikihi, with his iwi pā (marae), Mangatoatoa, near the banks of the Pūniu River, the river was the source of food, wellbeing, and endless hours of fun for young Shannon. “We were always in the river; playing and learning how to live off the river by catching eels for food.” But it wasn’t all play. His grandfather was a huge influence in his life, instilling a love of the land and a strong work ethic. “My grandfather was always at the pā, our family was raised to be ahikā, responsible for keeping the fires burning by keeping the place tidy. “He always made sure he had his grandchildren giving him a hand – he’d make sure we were always working.” Shannon recalls tending the big vegetable gardens at the pā and dropping produce off to people in the community. As a teen, Shannon decided he wanted to be a boat builder – his love of water influencing his career from day one. He moved north to Whangarei to learn how to build boats. This led to him owning a successful business in the composite industry for 10 years until he felt the urge to do something meaningful. “What I was doing wasn’t having an impact on the people around me, it was unhealthy and the products we were using were bad for the environment. I wanted to build a future which improved the health of people. “When I began getting more involved with the pā in my 30s, I was shocked to see the once healthy waters of the Pūniu looked sick – the water had a brown tinge, and the riverbed was knee-deep in mud where it had had a firm gravelly bottom when I was a kid.” Shannon wasn’t the only one who lived in and loved the river. The Pūniu was once a rich source of freshwater kai, and provided many picnic and swimming spots for the local people. Sadly, now, the river is not classified as being of a swimmable standard, the eel stocks have depleted in some areas, the banks of the rivers are eroding and over 10,000 tonnes of sediment discharges into the Waipā river from the Pūniu River every year. So, after completing a diploma in civil engineering to help him better understand the science behind what was going on, with the support of his grandfather and kaumātua from three other pā, in 2015 Shannon set up Pūniu River Care to restore the river to health. An incorporated society and registered charity, its purpose is to enable local hapū to be involved in improving the water quality and replenishing taonga within the river catchment. The organisation is a collective of four pā which fall within the Pūniu river catchment, Aotearoa pā, Whakamarama marae, Rawhitiora pā and Mangatoatoa pā.

“Western science says trees clean water. Te ao Māori values say the same. It’s not rocket science. We needed to plant trees. “But Pūniu River Care is more than the simple activity of planting a tree; it’s deeper. Te ao Māori brings learning, and focusing on this has brought success, and not just of planting trees, but also reducing sediment, and improving the water. “We have a staff of 47 now, most of who are connected to one of the four pā in the river’s catchment. We have a high emphasis on Tikanga Māori – it is important that whānau are connected to the river and are invested in its well-being – we want whānau to have the opportunity to have a hand in restoring the river, if they choose.” The team at Pūniu River Care eco-source their seeds – tracking and tracing where they come from to ensure they’re planted in the right planting zones. The seeds are prepped and stored before being sown and allowed to germinate in a propagating shed. Seedlings are pricked out and potted into larger trays to continue growing and harden to the outdoor climate before being planted along the riverbanks. “Our team ranges from 17 to 70 years in age – the younger, fitter ones do the site prep and planting (planting trees can be a pretty miserable job, especially if it’s frosty or rainy), and the over-50s tackle the lighter duties such as seeding.”

The team ranges from 17 to 70 years in age – the younger, fitter ones do the site prep and planting and the over-50s tackle the lighter duties such as seeding.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND PROFILE

To date, in total around 1.36 million trees have been planted along 32 kilometres of river, and 68 kilometres of waterway fencing has been built. More than that, however, the society provides training, upskilling, and qualifications, along with jobs and a sense of purpose. “We’re connecting whānau back to the land, the gates are open. There are a lot of positive outcomes besides improving the health of the river. “There’s a huge cultural component. We whakarite our day, recite pepeha and haka every morning – this is our health and safety meeting, whanau can bring forward concerns, moans and groans and learning before the day begins. This is how our ancestors did things, and it still works today. “I used to begrudge giving my weekends to the marae when I was younger – I’d rather have been surfing or playing rugby – but I now appreciate the value of keeping traditions alive.” Shannon is now hands-off at Pūniu, focusing more on the overall strategy for the society. “We’re working on a master plan – one with a housing component for staff and the wider community. We are thinking kaumātua care, community tech hub, education, and healthcare, as well as bespoke infrastructure for plant propagation. “We want to cater for the families in our community, helping provide stability for our children, along with environmentallyfocused education. It’s important our children know what a home feels like. “We went into this knowing that we would need to execute complex strategies and bring people together, and we understood the landscape. Our footprint would be determined by the ability to partner with outside organisations and government agencies: we didn’t know how big we could get at the time. With the support of the Waikato River Authority, Waikato Regional

Council, Momentum Waikato, Ministry for the Environment, Trust Waikato, Mercury Energy, Whaingaroa Harbour Care and Sustainable Coastlines, we have made a significant impact. Now we want to consolidate this kaupapa for the next generation. However, our number one focus still remains to restore the river.” Shannon himself continues to work on himself, with just a few papers left to complete a civil engineering degree, and he has set up a new company, Waka Huia, to act as advisors on resource consent and offset mitigation projects. “I work with mana whenua to negotiate a meaningful outcome. I like to keep the discussion simple, ‘He aha te hua mo te Taiao me te Tangata? (Where are the fruits for the environment and the people?)’ It’s my job to flesh this out, to reach real outcomes for the community and the environment. Often, we get caught up in the language, and things get lost in translation. “We have negotiated the decommissioning of aging wastewater treatment plants, the offset of large areas of riparian and wetland planting, as well as the employment opportunities or local communities. These are outcomes that impact communities and can become a catalyst for flow on benefits.” Looking forward, Shannon is keen to learn about other indigenous cultures, to get an understanding of the values which have survived and guide decisions for making the world a better place. He’s passionate about how mana whenua can be included in decisions concerning Te mana o te Wai and the three waters reform. “Reforestation is another big challenge. Rivers and wetlands are relatively easy access, but big areas are much harder to clear weeds and replant.” It seems Shannon is a man who thrives on a challenge and is undaunted by the scale of the issue. His success in rejuvenating both his awa and hapū, make his ‘local hero’ accolade well deserved.

Along with propagating and planting trees, Pūniu River Care provides training, upskilling and qualifications.

24 www.waternz.org.nz

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WATER NEW ZEALAND HYDRO POWER

New intake gate a

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After nearly two years of construction, the $26.5 million Tekapo A Intake Gate Project is complete on time and under budget, protecting one of the South Island’s key hydro power stations from alpine fault earthquake risks. The Genesis project recently netted contractor Downer a CCNZ/Hirepool Construction Excellence Award. The 50-tonne gate is designed to stop inflows from Lake Tekapo in the advent of a serious emergency, such as a one-in-10,000-year earthquake (Richter scale 7+) that would potentially send up to 680 million tonnes of water surging around Lake Tekapo. Five years from planning to completion, the project had to overcome a number of unique engineering challenges, including how to integrate modern gate technology into infrastructure and tunnels originally designed and built in the 1940s. This included digging 22 metres down to the original underground tunnel, and cutting a 20 metre hole in its roof to construct the new gate housing. While the gate can be manually triggered, it is also designed to automatically close when its earthquake monitors hit a certain threshold, acting as a ‘dead man’s switch’. The gate can shut completely under its own weight and does not require any electronics or hydraulic systems. This is vital in an emergency where power may not be available, or the station’s operators are incapacitated. Genesis chief operations officer Nigel Clark said the key to the project’s success was coordinated teamwork amongst numerous partners under lead engineering contractor, Downer Engineering.

Five years from planning to completion, the project had to overcome a number of unique engineering challenges, including how to integrate modern gate technology into infrastructure and tunnels originally designed and built in the 1940s

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

Downer worked with Genesis, designers AECOM, and subcontractor Parfitt Construction to develop engineering smarts to maintain live operations, including construction of a permanent stent in place of a temporary measure to sustain power generation.

28 www.waternz.org.nz

“The scale of the challenge was significant especially when we needed to continue operating the Tekapo Power Scheme during construction. As a Governmentclassified essential services provider, construction also had to continue throughout the Covid-19 lockdown to hit deadlines. “I am proud to say our teams have performed admirably under strict health and safety guidelines to get this done on time, and under budget.” Downer constructed and installed the massive gate that will stop inflows that could send millions of tonnes of water surging downstream. There were significant engineering challenges, with construction of the access shaft and tunnel works governed by mining regulations, and tolerances for the gate installation between two and five millimetres. In addition, works had to meet just two shutdowns of 17 and eight weeks respectively to support unimpeded power generation. Downer worked with Genesis, designers AECOM, and subcontractor Parfitt Construction to develop engineering smarts to maintain live operations, including construction of a permanent stent in place of a temporary measure to sustain power generation. This very complex project installed an intake gate and operating equipment into an existing six metre tunnel that carries 130 cumecs of water to power Tekapo A. This involved preliminary earthworks and walling to establish the gate area, excavation and construction a 14 metre diameter vertical shaft to enable the installation of the gate and operating equipment some 22 metres below ground to a level 15 metres below lake level.

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The Tekapo Power Scheme is now back to running at its full 190MW capacity, providing power to more than 100,000 Kiwi homes and businesses. The work included breaking into the existing six metre tunnel, installing a stent in two halves, welding these halves together, and sealing the stent into the tunnel. Within the vertical shaft, supporting structure was installed and the 49 tonne gate positioned with its hydraulic operating ram. The shaft was enclosed at the surface with reinforced concrete and the mechanical and electrical equipment housed above. Genesis also used this opportunity to perform maintenance and upgrades to both Tekapo A and Tekapo B power stations. This included replacing the Tekapo B turbine runner, providing an efficiency gain of 2.5 percent and further enhancing the Tekapo Power Scheme’s long-term reliability and performance. The Tekapo Power Scheme is now back to running at its full 190MW capacity, providing power to more than 100,000 Kiwi homes and businesses. The final stage of the project saw the former construction site beautified with more than 400 native grasses and plants.

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SHE’S OFF Watercare’s Central Interceptor tunnel boring machine gets digging On July 30, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, Watercare’s giant tunnel boring machine (TBM), officially began her 14.7-kilometre-long journey under Auckland to construct the Central Interceptor – a $1.2 billion wastewater tunnel that will clean up central Auckland’s waterways. Auckland Mayor, Phil Goff gave the order to start up the TBM at a launch ceremony at a construction site next to Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant. At the bottom of the 40-metre-deep launch shaft, the TBM’s 5.45-metre diameter cutterhead began rotating, titanium blades slicing into the earth. Around 65 dignitaries and other guests clapped and cheered to see Hiwa-i-te-Rangi underway via a video link, shown on a large screen beside the launch shaft. Celebrations continued. Hours after the launch, Watercare opened the site to Local Board members, key customers, and neighbours. The next day (a Saturday), Watercare staff and construction teams brought along family and friends. A special walkway was built over the launch shaft, so visitors could see Hiwa-i-te-Rangi far below. Huge information panels explained how the equipment worked, the tunnel route and specifications. Finally, on August 1, the public got their turn. All 2000 free tickets were snapped up. Auckland put on its best winter day; turquoise skies and temperatures in the late teens, and free gelatos were very popular. Watercare Central Interceptor executive programme director, Shayne Cunis, was delighted by the response from visitors: “You wouldn’t think Aucklanders would give up a couple of hours on a Sunday to come and Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, Watercare’s giant tunnel boring machine (TBM), officially begins her 14.7-kilometre-long journey under Auckland to construct the Central Interceptor.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND WASTEWATER

learn about a giant wastewater pipe, but so many did! “Visitors were fascinated by the tunnel boring machine technology and construction techniques – particularly how we’re going to cross underneath the Manukau Harbour. “They were pleased to hear about the huge environmental improvements to our waterways that will eventuate from this project too. We were impressed by the quality of the questions – it’s not just engineers who are interested in what we’re doing!” Over the next four years, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi will travel north underground, crossing the Manukau Harbour and finishing her journey at Tawariki Street, Grey Lynn. Lasers will guide the route of the TBM, so that the direction is millimetre accurate. Two new link sewers will connect with the main tunnel. The first link sewer to be completed will travel from May Road, Mount Roskill to Miranda Reserve in Avondale. Construction is already well underway. Since tunnelling began in June, a 12-metre long micro-TBM called ‘Domenica’ has travelled 410 metres. The 2.1-metre

34 www.waternz.org.nz

diameter pipe sections are being laid using a pipe-jacking method of construction. Another 328 pipe sections will follow over four months. Around 40-60 staff work on the May Road site each day, supported by another 20 engineering teams and other contractors. The second link sewer will start near the Mt Albert War Memorial and travel 1.5-kilometres to the Ōrākei sewer main. The project is being delivered by Ghella-Abergeldie JV. Ghella is internationally renowned for its tunnelling expertise. They have more than 100 years of Italian and international tunnelling experience and ability and has completed numerous largescale projects worldwide. These include the Legacy Way tunnel project in Brisbane, Sydney Metro and the Riachuelo sewage system in Buenos Aires. Between 400-600 staff are working on eight Central Interceptor sites across Auckland. The project is providing a significant boost to the local economy and providing employment and

Watercare’s giant tunnel boring machine (TBM), just visible at bottom of shaft.

major contractors such Hynds Pipe Systems, Pokeno. Eventually 16 sites will be operating. As Water went to press, Auckland was under its fourth lockdown since March 2020 (two of which were national lockdowns). Shayne Cunis told staff that negotiations with the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment were taking place so that tunnel boring machine operators and a small number of other key staff could continue their work. “When we started the project in 2019, we thought we had planned for every scenario – a global pandemic wasn’t one of them! But this project has shown more than anything how resilient we are. “Right now, the concepts of manaakitanga, looking after each other’s welfare, and kotahitanga, identifying as one team, have never been more appropriate. We will get through this disruption as we have before. Staying safe is our main priority.” Ghella-Abergeldie JV project director, Francesco Saibene, SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND WASTEWATER

was also particularly mindful of his foreign workers who have lost friends and acquaintances and been separated from families due to Covid-19. “Italy and other parts of the world have suffered badly. We know how lucky we have been to work here in New Zealand, which has been relatively Covid-free. “We must remain positive about the current situation, look out for each other and follow through with our work safety plans.” The third Maori principle of Kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, is a natural fit for the Central Interceptor, given the massive environmental benefits the super-sized wastewater tunnel will have on reducing overflows and creating a legacy of clean, safe beaches. Tame te Rangi, chair of Watercare’s Mana Whenua Kaitiaki Managers’ Forum, notes that this aligns with te ao Māori and by recognising, and providing for, the cultural landscape, we can deliver better, more sustainable infrastructure outcomes to benefit present and future generations. The Central Interceptor is designed to have a life of 100 years. It will cater for population growth. Over the next 30 years, Auckland is expected to increase by one million people. Older parts of the city have combined networks, with sewer lines dating back to the 1900s, with substantial extensions during the 1950s and 1960s. The specific need for a new central interceptor was identified in studies between 2005-2008. Concept design for a deep

underground wastewater tunnel began in 2009. Resource consents were obtained and, in September 2014, Watercare engaged Jacobs, in association with McMillen Jacobs Associates and AECOM, to provide principal engineering advisory services. The procurement phase began in late 2017 and, two years later, the contract was awarded to Ghella-Abergeldie Joint Venture (GAJV). The Central Interceptor tunnel is the largest wastewater infrastructure project in New Zealand and the most significant wastewater investment in Watercare’s history. At depths ranging from 15 metres (below seabed) to 110 metres (below Hillsborough ridge), the tunnel will have 18 shafts, mostly of the cascade type and will drop flow from shallow connections to the deep link sewers and main tunnel. Inflows to the tunnel will be limited via actuated gates at most of the shallow connections to the existing network. At its downstream end, the tunnel invert is at 32-metres depth as it enters the Māngere pump station. From here flows will travel via a rising main to the treatment plant for processing. Ghella-Abergeldie JV appointed Arup as its designer for the tunnels and shafts, and appointed Beca for environmental and consenting support. Watercare was responsible for the design of overall system hydraulic and pneumatic design; pump station and ancillaries; drop shafts; connection chambers and piping.

Domenica, the micro tunnel boring machine lays the first pipe.

36 www.waternz.org.nz

Sustainability a key focus of all aspects of the work. The Central Interceptor will also enable other work such as the Western Isthmus Water Quality Improvement programme to take place. The full programme of work is expected to be completed by 2028. Residents in suburbs like Point Chevalier, Westmere, Grey Lynn and Meola will particularly appreciate the significance of this project. For years, heavy rain has overwhelmed the network, creating overflows into their streams. Tunnel boring machines traditionally have female names. Hiwa-i-te-Rangi was chosen by students who attend schools along the route. It is one of the Matariki stars to which Māori would send their dreams or aspirations for the new year. Designed and assembled by Herrenknecht AG in Germany, she was shipped to Auckland in November. The front shield was the first section to be hoisted by crane into the launch shaft in late June. In the following weeks, remaining sections have been assembled, connected to power cables and undergone testing. As the journey progresses, gantries will be added to create a long train with an overall length of 190 metres. Soil conditions will dictate the TBM’s progress, which is likely to be 12-16 metres per day. An ‘earth pressure balance’ method of construction is being used. The front of the machine is pressurised to keep groundwater

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at bay. The TBM is powered by thrust cylinders, which press the cutterhead into the ground. Spoil passes through openings in the cutterhead, along a screw conveyor and conveyor belts, which tip into muck skips. The muck skips are sent down the tunnel by electric locomotive and are removed by crane. Most of the spoil will be deposited at nearby Puketutu Island, where Watercare is carrying out a restoration project on a former quarry. One day the island will be returned to the people of Auckland as a park. In July, Watercare announced that it was getting three electric trucks to transport the spoil after winning $500,000 from the government low emission vehicles contestable fund, administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). The e-trucks will be driven by contractor Fulton Hogan to transport 66,000 tonnes of spoil from the Central Interceptor shafts excavation and reduce at least 306 tonnes of CO2-e. it’s hoped at least one will be delivered before Christmas. Learnings about the e-truck venture will be shared throughout the construction industry. Once completed, the Central Interceptor will be the country’s longest bored tunnel. Providing both storage and conveyance, it will hold 226,000 cubic metres of water – the equivalent of 90 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Despite shipping delays and the global pandemic, the project remains on track for completion in 2025.

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Aiming for ecological excellence Watercare wanted an Excellent ISCA (Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia) rating for the Central Interceptor Projects. In rating sustainability performance, the ISCA reviews the project against a set of guidelines and undertakes a thorough evaluation before awarding a certification. The ISCA ecology rating makes up some 30 was then laid over the map at five key percent of the overall rating for the project, ecological features. We could then identify and has two components: ecological value locations where ecological enhancements and habitat connectivity. were feasible, and later we can monitor the Boffa Miskell devised an ecology results of those enhancements.” quantification method to measure Key ecological enhancements include ecological connectivity to individual revegetation, riparian planting, and the ecological features. The metrics developed development of terrestrial microhabitats demonstrated an overall net ecological and aquatic habitat. The opportunities to enhancement for the project. provide the ecological enhancements were GIS analysis was undertaken to limited to a small number of surface sites. demonstrate improvements in connectivity Analysing the existing connectivity between across habitats within the urban habitats and the potential enhancements environment. Getting the ecology rating was a major significance for satisfying the Central Interceptor Project lead Dr Ian Boothroyd wasn’t straightforward. ISCA rating conditions. “As an urban and mainly underground “Habitat connectivity is an important project, the challenge was maximising concern in urban environments. Loss of opportunity for ecological enhancement habitats due to increased development while achieving sufficient points to get the can cause deterioration of healthy, ecology rating,” says project lead Dr Ian interconnected eco-systems. We used Boothroyd. Linkage Mapper software to assess Ian and senior GIS specialist Sandeep connectivity in the immediate environs of Gangar worked with the Watercare selected priority Central Interceptor sites sustainability team, led by Olivia Philpott, and within the priority sites,” says Sandeep. to plan what was achievable at each of The key inputs used by Linkage Mapper these sites. are core habitats, dispersal distance and a Using information collected for the raster dataset of the underlying land use ‘Assessment of Ecological Effects’ report, it with resistance values. The connectivity was possible to build a picture of each site between the core habitats is derived as a line Senior GIS specialist Sandeep Gangar and what enhancements were feasible during of probable travel direction. A core can be and after the construction of the tunnel project. connected to several other core habitats or just This also led to the development of an Ecological to a single core depending on the maximum dispersal distance of Management Plan, which Boffa Miskell has refined with the a particular species and the distance between the habitats. Ghella Abergeldie JV. “The initial connectivity analysis for pre-project construction “The ecology team collected data through fauna surveys, phase helped us to understand how the habitats are habitat observation and active searches at various points along interconnected. This in turn helped us identify sites that had the the Central Interceptor route,” says Ian. “This information potential of acting as stepping-stones between other habitats, SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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thereby helping create new ecological corridors where none existed before.” The metrics of connectivity improvement were derived using the total number of connections between the core habitats and the total distance of all connections between core habitats. Overall a

greater than 20 percent enhancement in habitat connectivity has been achieved for the Central Interceptor. Enhancing ecological values at a small number of optimal sites, and not decreasing values at remaining sites, resulted in a substantial increase in overall ecological values for the project as a whole.

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The success behind the fast-tracked Waikato 50 project The Waikato 50 project has been completed in record time, enabling an additional 50M litres to be drawn from the Waikato River, then treated and finally pumped into the Watercare transmission system to improve the resilience of water supply to the consumers in the Auckland region. Collaboration between multiple organisations was a key success factor for this project.

Amongst other companies such as Fletcher Construction and Fulton Hogan, ABB collaborated with Watercare and Beca by providing a motor and drives solution, including ABB's compact switchgear 'SafePlus', increasing Watercare's take from the Waikato River to 225 million litres a day. In addition, ABB provided ongoing service and support, including commissioning on site. Watercare's Chief of Infrastructure, Steve Webster commented on ABB's service and support throughout the project. "ABB was a crucial part in making this project a success. From their technology to ensure the team were able to keep pumping water, through to their ongoing service and support was exceptional". In addition, ABB provided various product options during the initial stage, to ensure simpler integration and reduced costs, accelerating the progress of the project, which of this size, would normally take two to three times longer. Beca's Principal Electrical Engineer, Wernher Roding, says the biggest overall challenge was the program timeframe, but this was offset in part by the expertise provided by ABB's engineers and the additional integration support they were able to provide locally, which helped get the pumps on-line on schedule. He says from the outset design decisions were influenced by the availability of equipment caused by the urgency of the project and the disruption to supplies caused by COVID-19 shutdowns. "We had to change our standard design process to accommodate lead times and secure the hard-to-get items up front.

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This eliminated some tenders and when ABB ended up supplying the motors through the pump supplier tender process, we were able to settle on a design that was the best within the time constraints and a cost-effective solution." ABB's Local Business Area Manager for Motion Grant Carter outlined ABB's portfolio. "Our Motors and Drives technology provides flexibility, that helped Watercare optimise their process and control, resulting in increased capacity and efficiency. Given our local resource capability, we were able to provide high-level service and expertise during design, timely and fast delivery, installation, and commissioning. I am pleased that we were part of this key project, which is helping to ease Auckland's water crisis". Furthermore, the dedication and commitment of ensuring the project was a success was shown by ABB when they airfreighted in two eight-ton drives, working closely with Beca from the design phase to handover, helped deliver the project in record time.

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WATER NEW ZEALAND RAIN GARDENS

Industry

stormwater manage

42 www.waternz.org.nz

first for

ment

Space constraints have led to the use of concentrated rain gardens that will retain and treat stormwater in a massive state housing development in central Auckland.

In October 2019 the Government brought together KiwiBuild, Housing New Zealand (the country’s largest landlord), and its development subsidiary, HLC, to become Kainga Ora (Homes & Communities) to enable a more cohesive, joined-up approach to delivering the Government’s priorities for housing and urban development. One area currently being transformed by Kainga Ora is Owairaka, an area that is part of the greater Mt Roskill suburb in central Auckland. According to the 2018 consensus, Owairaka has a population of 5268 and has the highest percentage of overseas-born Kiwis (47.5 percent). Asians make up almost 40 percent of the local residents. Owairaka has also been in a state of development for almost a decade as it is next to the Waterview Tunnel which finished construction in 2016. Then, in 2018, the government started pulling down hundreds of state houses in the area for a new development called the Roskill Development. This Kainga urban development project is being carried out by Piritahi (which translates as coming together), an alliance of companies delivering over $1 billion of land development and infrastructure works for the Government. The Roskill Development is separated into new neighbourhoods and Piritahi has been preparing sites in areas of Mt Roskill for a massive housing development involved and designing and constructing new and upgraded infrastructure for the area. The Roskill Development will see 11,000 new terraced and apartment homes delivered over the next 15 years. These new homes will be a mix of state, market and ‘affordable’ homes. Infrastructure also involves new parks and public spaces and new stormwater networks.

The stormwater project

Construction of Owairaka’s stormwater network began in late 2019 and is one of Piritahi’s largest infrastructure projects.

Construction of Owairaka’s stormwater network began in late 2019 and is one of Piritahi’s largest infrastructure projects. It’s also one of the most innovative, using custom-designed rain gardens to treat stormwater in a way that hasn’t been done before in this country. Most of the area was developed in the 1940s, following World War II. Back then, combined wastewater/stormwater networks were common, but can lead to sewage run-off into waterways during heavy rain and flooding. With the planned increased density to Owairaka, upgrading and separating the network was essential. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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The design solution

When designing new stormwater networks, they must comply with stormwater management requirements such as considering treatment and retention options. In other areas where Piritahi is working, the solution to managing new stormwater capacity issues is often found in installing large stormwater treatment devices. However, space confinement meant this was not an option in Owairaka, so Kane Willcox, Piritahi’s design lead for this project, and his team had to get creative. The design solution came in the form of 32 industry-first, custom-designed Filterra rain gardens, to be installed alongside new 1.65-metre-wide stormwater pipes. The most significant difference between standard rain gardens

and Filterra concentrated rain gardens is their size. Where a normal rain garden is around the size of a car park, a Filterra rain garden requires about a third of that space.

Two-part rain garden design

A Filterra rain garden would usually discharge treated stormwater directly into the wider stormwater network. In Owairaka, the treatment devices are being stacked on top of a second concrete box which is empty and bottomless. This lower box acts as a retention device, allowing water to soak into the natural basalt rock layer, recharging the groundwater network below. Combining the Filterra rain garden with retention below in this concentrated way is not just a first for Piritahi, but also the first time this has been done in New Zealand. The protection of mature trees had to be considered with this project and the unit’s smaller footprint allows the trees their best chance at survival. Ongoing maintenance of the rain gardens is also minimal with fewer maintenance costs associated with it. Concentrated devices treat and retain stormwater simultaneously in a far smaller space than traditional rain gardens. This means they require less rock breaking and excavation and can be installed faster with less disruption to surrounding residents. The installation of these rain gardens is now underway and the Piritahi team is now exploring their use across other neighbourhoods and projects. The design solution for space confinement came in the form of 32 industry-first, custom-designed Filterra rain gardens, to be installed alongside new 1.65-metre-wide stormwater pipes.

44 www.waternz.org.nz

150 YEARS: PEOPLE. PASSION. PERFORMANCE.

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wastewater, general industry and energy industries. With over 10,000 KSB pumps commissioned in the past 30 years, KSB New Zealand are reaching another great milestone this year, with the launch of KSB SupremeServ. A service brand focussed on delivering classic and digital service concepts that cover everything from consulting to planning, installation, operation and maintenance: KSB New Zealand will now be there for you during every phase of your system’s life cycle. With over 3,500 KSB specialists located in over 190 service centres worldwide, KSB New Zealand are now part of a global network equipped to provide solutions to not only KSB pumps and valves but also for other makes.

From 21-23 September 2021, KSB will be exhibiting at the Water New Zealand Conferece and Expo, in Hamilton, at stands 007 and 008. Get the chance to meet KSB New Zealand, discover the latest generation of water and wastewater pumps, be introduced to KSB SupremeServ and celebrate with the team at New Zealand’s biggest water and wastewater event of the year! KSB New Zealand 2/5 Civil Place, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand

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PIPELINE DESIGN WATER NEW ZEALAND

Better HDD design and execution The Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) pipeline installation method provides economic, environmental, safety and social benefits over traditional open-cut installation. Although these benefits can be significant – poor design, methodology, implementation, and lack of planning can lead to undesirable outcomes. By Sam Rowdon. HDD in New Zealand has developed significantly over the past 30 years. However, much of the early work had contractors operating with new technology and trying to achieve results, without a clear understanding of the factors that made success more or less likely. In recent years HDD has become an effective installation solution. Risk is mitigated through better design methods, better tools, and processes utilised by experienced contractors. By drawing on technology and processes developed in the oil and gas industry, HDD specialist consultants and contractors can consistently design and execute more reliable outcomes. Asset owners and design consultants need to consider several key criteria when taking on an HDD project:

Before design

The focus should be on producing a geotechnical investigation that captures soil and rock properties that are important to HDD design and project planning. Having the right information allows for optimised drilling fluid design for hole cleaning, borehole stability, correct downhole tooling selection, hydro-fracture risk evaluation, fluid recycling equipment specification, and strategies for sealing any pre-existing fractures.

Design

HDD installations range from straightforward road crossings, to single drill profiles spanning kilometres. Therefore, determining

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND PIPELINE DESIGN

alignment requires an understanding of the constraints of the rig suitable to do such work. Depth of installation is also critical. HDD pipeline designs are often based on operating pipeline hydraulics and maintenance, with little consideration given to the hydraulic pressures required to install the pipeline. It is critical to maintain borehole pressure above the formation bore pressure, to mitigate the possibility of borehole collapse. Equally critical is ensuring the borehole pressure does not exceed the formation pressure, to the point where hydraulic fracturing results in drilling fluid at the surface. For a complex project, hydraulic modelling software is required to improve outcomes. This can be utilised before tendering or can be a requirement of the tender. In either case, this enables analysis of drilling fluid, tooling properties, and drilling parameters to provide more effective hole cleaning, whilst also simulating downhole circulating pressures.

Collaborative partnerships

Providing close links between asset owners, designers, contractors, and specialist partners, allowing them to work together in real-time during project design and execution, enables proactive decision making. Field data capture allows stakeholders to review the root causes of successful or failed installations. This is critical to any claims concerning deviations of the Geotechnical Baseline Report or contract specification. The data captured should relate to the scale of the project, but can include torque and drag, pipe rpm, rate of penetration, pump flow rate, pump pressure, downhole sensor pressure, drilling fluid properties and cuttings evaluation. Good field data capture ensures adherence to the contract specification and allows quick and fair dispute resolution. The sheer volume of work required – to maintain and build the three waters network over the next 20 years – will only be possible with an improved process at all stages of a project. With an industry that has developed so quickly, working with specialist partners at all stages of a project will be key to delivering successful HDD outcomes consistently.

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Engineering for HDD Seminar Blick and M-I Swaco are proud to present the inaugural one day seminar on the engineering, investigation and design factors that lead to HDD success. This seminar is for consultants, design engineers and project managers. Course content:

You will understand:

•

The HDD drilling process

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Recognise the influence of alignment

The value of good quality geotech information, to allow hydro-fracture modelling to inform the design

•

What value does good quality geotech reporting add?

•

How methodology influences the success of the bore

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Pressure in the hole, too little or too much

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Why does pipe get stuck?

How an effective fluid system can mitigate risk and improve outcomes

Spaces are limited - enquire today, or chat to the team at the Water NZ Conference Presented by Sam Rowdon (HDD Project Lead for Asia and South Pacific, M-I Swaco). Supported by Blick technical experts Tim Babbage, Jon Speedy & Clay Adams.

•

Investment: $1250 + gst

•

Date: 19 October 2021

•

Time: 8:30am - 5:00pm

•

Location: Blick, 21 Kahu Crescent, Te Rapa Park, Hamilton, NZ

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RAINWATER TANKS WATER NEW ZEALAND

Rainwater tanks: Opportunities, implementation, challenges, and a way forward

Water New Zealand insights and sustainability advisor Lesley Smith, spoke to a range of experts and members of the Water Efficiency Group about the benefits and barriers of using rainwater tanks as a water network resilience measure. Here is what they said.

What a winter. While much of New Zealand has been inundated by flooding rains, water storage levels remainly stubbornly below average in our largest city. Intuitively, rainwater tanks would appear to have a role to play in both scenarios; not only relieving urban drinking water supplies, but also relieving pressure on the stormwater system. Rainwater tanks are the major supply source for many rural and some urban homes and they have been with us for a very long time. Professor Peter Coombes, of Urban Water Cycle Solutions, says “Rainwater harvesting is an ancient practice that evolved over thousands of years in most cultures. Early Egyptian, Indian, Korean, Chinese, and Roman settlements collected and stored rainwater to sustain human settlements, animals, and agriculture. “These civilizations – and many others – learned to harvest and store intermittent rainfall from different surfaces, and to manage catchment systems to protect human health. Rainwater harvesting succeeded in drought-prone regions for millennia, and time-tested practices were developed.”

Christine McCormack,

director, Water Cycle Consulting

The opportunities Christine, you’re a big advocate for rainwater tanks. Why? We need to be thinking about how our urban water environment can mimic the natural water cycle. When you start thinking with this holistic integrated water perspective is when you really start to see the benefits of rainwater tanks. Not only do they offset the need for centralised supply, but they also provide stormwater attenuation. There are some great international examples of where this is

Why, then, are there not more of them in our urban environment? The reinvigoration of the Water New Zealand’s Water Efficiency Special Interest Group is breathing new life back into the role of alternative supplies and demand management. It is the perfect opportunity to examine the role of the humble rainwater tank in helping us through both the wet and the dry. The Water Efficiency Group is a network of passionate professionals who have come together to lead a much needed national conversation on water efficiency and conservation. Spearheaded by Christine McCormack of Water Cycle Consulting and supported by a team of professionals in policy, service supply, consulting, and operations, the group offers a well rounded perspective on most things to do with water efficiency. Here, members of the group share their perspectives on the benefits, the implementation and the challenges of using rainwater tanks. In addition, international expert Peter Coombes speaks about the obstacles we need to overcome for rainwater tanks to become a part of an integrated water future.

happening. One example is Vancouver, Canada, where they have approved an ambitious green rainwater infrastructure and urban rainwater management initiative called the Rain City Strategy. The strategy includes a performance target to capture and clean a minimum of 90 percent of Vancouver’s average annual. In New Zealand, an additional and increasingly important driver is the need to uphold Te Mana o Te Wai. The Urban Water Working Group’s Phase 1 report sets out principles for upholding Te Mana o Te Wai of urban water ecosystems. Rainwater harvesting is linked to several of these urban water principles including Tiakina mō āpōpō, “In building future resilience, our connectedness with the environment is our strength”. Depending on location specifics, rainwater tanks can have lower energy requirements than centralised networks, so there can be a greenhouse gas saving compared with more distributed supplies. Building resilience to natural hazards and climate change is the other big one. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND RAINWATER TANKS

How do rainwater tanks contribute to resilience? Most of my experience with rainwater harvesting design is from a Green Climate Funded project for climate change adaptation in the Marshall Islands, where rainwater tanks provide the main water supply source. This project aims to improve the drought and climate change resilience of remote villages in the outer atolls. We still came back to rainwater tanks as the most suitable supply source, despite needing to design for long drought periods. The Marshall Islands are a very remote location, and in the absence of skilled professionals, low maintenance solutions with minimum moving parts, win the resilience equation. With our urban networks in New Zealand the resilience benefits look different. Take Wellington as an example. After a reasonable seismic event (i.e. a 7.5 magnitude earthquake), Wellington Water's stated goal is to have a “80-30-80” resilient water supply network. That is a network that will supply 80 percent of drinking water needs, within 30 days of the seismic event, to 80 percent of it's customers. In the emergency response stage following an earthquake, people will still need water for drinking, cooking and hygiene.

This is one of the main reasons Wellington Water has been encouraging the installation of rainwater tanks to provide households with an emergency water source to improve their local resilience. Given there are so many benefits, why do you think we are not seeing more rainwater tanks in our urban landscape? I know through my own home building experience, taking away the barriers is important. The building consent process can be a real barrier, both in terms of time and money. Design considerations are also needed up front to ensure that downpipes from the roof catchment are in the right location for easy installation of a rainwater tank. Rainwater tanks do not work well as an operational tack on. We also need incentives to encourage rainwater tanks on existing buildings. Rates rebates are one alternative for urban water supplies without volumetric charging. This does not necessarily have to sit with water supply, a rebate could apply to stormwater charges if the tank is also designed for stormwater attenuation. Ultimately though, we need lower targets for water consumption and government policy to drive large scale change.

“We also need incentives to encourage rainwater tanks on existing buildings. Rates rebates are one alternative for urban water supplies without volumetric charging.” Christine McCormack,

52 www.waternz.org.nz

director, Water Cycle Consulting

Julian Fyfe

programme manager – sustainable water supply & demand, Wellington Water:

The implementation Your involvement in water efficiency work has spanned both academic and water service delivery organisations. What has this taught you about the factors that dictate successful rainwater tank installations?

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Whilst planning policy around rainwater tanks often (and by necessity) takes a ‘cookie cutter’ approach to encouraging or mandating rainwater tank adoption, sucessful rainwater tank installations require design customised to the location and characteristics of the property they are to be attached to. There are a few things to think about here: Matching supply and demand – The primary consideration should be selecting an appropriate size tank and roof catchment area to produce a yield suitably matched to the end use demand. A large tank is not necessarily going to provide a good yield if the roof catchment or the connected end uses are too small. Similarly, a small tank attached to a very large roof catchment will provide only limited benefit. A common rule of thumb though, is that plumbing a tank to indoor end uses that are consistent throughout the year (toilet flushing and laundry) will maximise the yield from most tank configurations. The sizing, positioning and plumbing of a tank should ideally be determined with the assistance of an experienced designer/installer and a rainwater tank model or calculator. Gutters and downpipes – It’s also important to pay attention to the gutters and downpipes that a rainwater tank draws from. Not only should they be in good shape and minimally impacted by debris from overhanging trees (gutter guards can help), but they need to be suitably sized and well-installed to catch the runoff from the roof. First flush systems and protective screens on the tank are important to water quality, but they also need regular maintenance to ensure that they allow free flow of water into the tank. Potable water top-ups – Potable water trickle top-ups need careful configuration to make sure that the top-up does not overwhelm rainwater inputs. The depth range over which a top-up should kick-in is a function of flowrates and the nature of the end uses that depend on the tank, but it should be as low and narrow as possible to ensure space is always left in the tank for rainwater to fill. Again a system model helps to optimise this aspect of the design. Pump sizing – Lastly, a common oversight is the impact that pressure pumps have on the energy footprint of a rainwater tank. The wrong type of pump or an incorrectly

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sized or fitted pump can result in wasteful power consumption. Cheap is almost always bad and will lead to higher operational costs that quickly negate any upfront savings. The size and power of a pump should be appropriate to the end use – unless the tank feeds a large irrigation system, flow rates and pressures can be as low as or even lower than typical potable network minimum values (25 litres per minute and 200 kPa, respectively). Pressure tanks attached to pumps are always a worthwhile investment as they provide a buffer that both reduces the frequency of pump cycling and protects plumbing from pressure shocks. How would you suggest rainwater tank savings can be measured? There are a variety of approaches to measuring or estimating rainwater tank savings and the choice of which to adopt will depend on the objectives and the availability of various forms of data. Rainwater tank savings can be measured directly using water meters attached to the outlets of a tank. Alternatively, mathematical modeling can be used to predict savings at an individual property level or across an entire planning district/region. And finally, water savings can also be estimated using statistical analysis of customer billing data.

Central Hawke's Bay Water Supply and Stormwater Bylaws Earlier this year Central Hawkes Bay implemented two new bylaws to deliver on an integrated approach to Three Waters management, reflect the principles of the Te Mana o Te Wai, and reflect feedback received from the community. The resulting Water Supply Bylaw has new requirements for a rainwater (retention) tank of 3000 litres minimum volume for all new residential builds in urban areas. Rural areas, or places considered to be ‘outside of the area’ from potable water supplies continue to require a storage tank with minimum volume of 30,000 litres. Rainwater tanks will provide relief to the potable water network in times of peak demand and allow people to continue watering their gardens when and if water restrictions are imposed. In addition, there is also a benefit from the retention of rainwater, reducing the amount of water entering the stormwater network during rainfall events. The Stormwater Bylaw requires the determination of stormwater detention volumes, over and above any requirement of storage from the Water Supply Bylaw. Minimum stormwater detention volumes are calculated using an online tool based on the proposed level or area of development on the site.

Dan Stevens

business director – water, Beca

The challenges You have worked with water suppliers up and down the country. What do you see as the major challenges holding back their adoption? For rainwater tanks as a water supply augmentation tool, benefits exist in terms of a reduction in overall annual household reticulated water supply. However, these benefits are often outweighed by the barriers, compared to other water demand management options available. The potential benefit of rainwater tanks is reliant on the uptake rate, size of the rainwater tank and rainfall. Why do you think there has not been more uptake of rainwater tanks here? The uptake rate of rainwater tanks is an important factor in assessing their ability to provide an alternative source of supply. For ‘greenfield’ developments (new dwellings) the most effective method to achieve uptake is to require their use through planning rules (which requires a strong business case for their benefit). In order to achieve uptake rates in existing homes, the main method used is incentivisation (rather than requiring all existing homes to have devices by a certain timeframe). Research has shown that even with incentives, following an initial flurry, the uptake of these systems tends to decline over time.

New Plymouth District Council case study As part of the long-term consultation process of the water conservation plan, many submitters commented that the council should encourage, incentivise, or make compulsory the installation and use of rainwater tanks, stating that they are a better solution than water meters to save water. Follow-up investigation showed if all properties had rainwater tanks, the average daily demand would reduce by around 10 percent (three million litres per day) but Level 2 restricted demand would only reduce by about five percent (because no garden watering is permitted under Level 2 restrictions). We calculated that installing water tanks on every existing house would be prohibitively expensive (estimated at circa $220 million and the annual operating cost would be approximately $255 per property, or around $6 million per year) and would limit urban intensification.

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Professor Peter Coombes managing director, Urban Water Cycle Solutions

We are hearing that rainwater tanks are prohibitively expensive to be considered a water supply alternative. Are there ways to account for the wider benefits that can help us overcome this? There is a need to fully account for the direct and indirect costs of utility water services to better understand the opportunities of distributed water supplies and water efficiency. Economic discussion that invariably compares alternative water sources to the partial average costs or price of utility monopoly supply of water can be misleading. As my colleague Professor Quentin Grafton highlights, “the price of water is not equal to its cost and certainly does not represent its value”. Our long-term monitoring results show that the local cost of rainwater supply is low (<$0.20/kL) and the whole of society benefits are strong (>$3/kL). Analysis of historical water resources and economic big data reveals that household rainwater harvesting and water efficiency generates net benefits of up to $7 billion to 2050 for the operation of water supply and stormwater management in Sydney and Melbourne. So why do we keep hearing that rainwater harvesting is more expensive than mains water supply? It is difficult to measure and analyse a complex system that involves multiple linked scales and solutions. We also have seemingly limited information to inform this question. As a systems scientist, I believe this is a fantastic challenge. We discovered that integrated systems (distributed and centralised solutions) are poorly understood using conventional top-down centralised methods or by partial analysis in isolation. These methods of analysis are limited by the assumptions we make and the scale of investigation and can produce an illusion of little or no benefits from distributed water sources and water efficiency. A bottom-up systems analysis that combines centralised with distributed solutions at the actual scales of operation reveal that integrated systems are more economically resilient.

International Water Association rainwater tank system guidance

This discussion is also about volumes of water demand and stormwater management, and how these volumes vary with time across the scales of urban areas. This is quite different to water and stormwater peak demands as highlighted in the Urban Book of Australian Rainfall and Runoff. There is a greater need for measurement of utility water and sewage systems, urban stormwater and waterways and distributed behaviours in households and businesses. Do we really know how many rainwater tanks and water efficient appliances are in our urban areas? Similarly, we need to count the full costs of any solution in the water sector and to incorporate the whole of society and ecosystems services benefits in our understanding. We must ensure that methods of comparison are valid. What needs changing if we want to see rainwater tanks become a feature of an integrated water management landscape? Rainwater harvesting may already be a feature of our integrated water management landscape and we need to find ways to measure the magnitude of this contribution. Our methods of measurement and comparison must be suitable. Clarity about a simple treatment train design is needed for rainwater harvesting. This simple design needs to be underpinned by the key drivers of success that include understanding that rainwater harvesting is mostly driven by small rain events and has a higher relative efficiency than water supply catchments. Importantly, volumes and low flow demands (for example toilet flushing) are also key considerations which avoids oversizing pumps to meet unrealistic peak demands. There needs to be policies for reducing water demands and stormwater runoff volumes that include measurable targets. Incentivising these targets would benefit from adequate pricing policies. A volumetric charge is required for water supplies and there are strong benefits to abolishing all fixed charges which assigns a value to saving water. Similarly, a stormwater volumetric charge could be based on impervious area tariffs that are mitigated by reduced volumes of stormwater discharges. Finally, the future of integrated water management requires enquiring and curious minds to answer questions that are new to the water industry. The New Zealand Water Efficiency Group is to be congratulated for starting this journey.

An excellent resource for those considering rainwater tank installations is the International Water Association book, ‘Rainwater Tank Systems for Urban Water Supply’. The book has been informed by a multi-million dollar research programme and contains detailed analysis of design, modelling, implementation, operation, energy usage, economics, management, health risk, social perceptions, and implications for water quality/ quantity of roof water runoff.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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Independent rainwater guide for residential housing

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by Urban Water Cycle Solutions and the Rainwater Harvesting Association of Australia This guide provides independent design specifications for above ground rainwater harvesting systems connected to residential dwellings in urban areas. It was developed in Australia and applies to dual water supply, using rainwater from roof catchments and mains water supplies. To download the guide, go to: bit.ly/3yanXZx

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Research to

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In late May, parts of Canterbury were heading towards recording their driest year on record. But at the end of the month the drought was suddenly broken by two days of torrential rain. Several rivers burst their banks, extensive areas of farmland were flooded, many people evacuated, and a regional emergency was declared. By Dr Emily Lane, hydrodynamic scientist and programme leader: resilience to hazards, NIWA.

A year after the 2017 flooding in Edgecumbe, almost 80 homes were still unliveable. Photo by : Dave Allen NIWA

Locations in the Canterbury foothills recorded quantities of rainfall over those 48 hours that are only expected to occur, on average, once every 200 years. However, while this statistic is useful in providing a sense of scale, as the figure from the recent IPCC 6th Assessment Report makes clear, events like these are expected to become much more frequent. Just two months later, the Canterbury event was eclipsed by severe flooding in Westport and Marlborough. The Buller River reached its highest level since 1926 and Westport was completely cut off by the flood waters. More than 2000 properties were flooded, with over 70 houses red stickered and over 300 yellow stickered. It was only because of accurate forecasting and prompt action by the regional council and emergency services that people were evacuated in time and worse outcomes largely avoided. Scientists are clear that the likelihood of the flooding seen in Westport has increased significantly as a result of climate change. While the most recent flooding has predominantly affected the South Island, flooding is a national issue and there are few parts that have been untouched in recent decades. It is our most frequent natural hazard, beaten only by earthquakes in terms of dollar losses.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND FLOODING

Costs continue to rise – and the Insurance Council of New Zealand called 2020 the costliest year ever for severe weather claims, with almost $250 million in insurance paid to customers. But the true cost of flooding goes beyond the statistics – social costs can be even more devastating. NIWA and Deep South Science Challenge research in 2019 showed that around 700,000 people and 400,000 buildings are exposed to flooding – a figure that is expected to rise as climate change and urban development activity change risk profiles. Having to clean up and re-start your life is incredibly hard. For many people, this may not be the first time they have been flooded and the psychological costs are huge. Coupled with fears of insurance retreat and disinvestment in hard hit regions could leave whole communities feeling forgotten. These stresses can flow on into health and other social problems that aren’t usually considered ‘flooding’ issues. Mā te haumaru ō nga puna wai ō Rākaihautū ka ora mo ake tonu (Mā te haumaru ō te wai for short) is an MBIE-funded 5-year multidisciplinary Endeavour programme designed to bring together different strands of flood research to help increase flood resilience into the future, bringing together researchers from NIWA, Wairewa Rūnanga, the University of Canterbury, University of Waikato, University of Auckland, Weather Radar, WSP and Tonkin + Taylor. The wider team also includes representatives from key government departments, local government, insurance and banking.

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FLOODING WATER NEW ZEALAND

The responsibility for flood management rests largely with the regional councils. It is their job to assess and provide information on flood hazard, maintain flood infrastructure and issue flood warnings. Local bodies control building and land-use and provide flood information via hazard registers or local plans, but there are different practices and processes across the country, which means that gaining a consistent national picture of risk and risk management is difficult. There are also vastly different capabilities and capacities, where larger councils can invest in much better information than those with smaller ratepayer bases. Flood managers face an extremely difficult task trying to balance many disparate factors, including aging infrastructure, a housing crisis, and the escalating effects of climate change. Stop-banks protect five percent of our population and yet, most were built before 1980 during the Ministry of Works era. Many of these assets are nearing the end of their lives and considerable investment is needed to maintain them. Stop-bank breaches in Edgecumbe in 2004 and 2017 are sobering reminders of the residual risk of flood infrastructure. A year on from the 2017 floods, almost 80 homes were still unliveable. The current housing crisis in many parts of the country is increasing strain on councils by putting them under considerable pressure to open up new areas to development and increase density in urban centres. But many prospective undeveloped areas are flood prone, and densification can increase flood hazard because of greater run-off on impermeable surfaces. This means that solving our housing problems without significantly increasing our flood risk will involve much greater integration of flood risk assessments with long-term economic and social aspirations for places. Compounding the current pressures of managing flooding is the

The current housing crisis in many parts of the country is increasing strain on councils by putting them under considerable pressure to open up new areas to development and increase density in urban centres. spectre of increased flooding due to climate change. Warmer air tends to hold more moisture. Short, intense rainfall events, such as those that caused flooding in Napier and New Plymouth late in 2020, are expected to become more frequent and more intense. In coastal flood plains, sea level rise can also increase freshwater flooding hazard by raising the water table and slowing the drainage of rivers out to sea. The repeated flooding in Flockton Basin after the Christchurch Earthquakes graphically illustrated how this might play out. The country is facing many difficult decisions as we negotiate this space, try to help communities to become more flood resilient and develop adaptation plans that are fair and equitable. One of the things we’re lacking is the nationally-consistent, high-quality information needed to support decision-making. This means we risk making inequitable choices that could lock in maladaptation. Solving these problems requires a national approach. Just understanding the full scope of the problem needs consistent datasets that tell us about flood inundation risks across the country as well as information about wider systemic social repercussions. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND FLOODING

It requires researchers, modellers, social scientists and urban planners to work alongside central and local government, iwi, banks and insurers, and decision makers to better link science to policy and practice. We also need to link information about what our climate will look like in the future with development aspirations to ensure we don’t impose escalating risks on future generations. Mā te haumaru ō nga puna wai ō Rākaihautū ka ora mo ake tonu (Mā te haumaru ō te wai for short) is an MBIE-funded 5-year multidisciplinary Endeavour programme designed to bring together different strands of flood research to help increase flood resilience into the future. It is the first broad collaboration in a national-scale research programme into flood risk, bringing together researchers from NIWA, Wairewa Rūnanga, the University of Canterbury, University of Waikato, University of Auckland, Weather Radar, WSP and Tonkin + Taylor. The wider team also includes representatives from key government departments, local government, insurance and banking. The research will be guided by international best practice and overseas experience through a number of international collaborators and peer review. The programme will provide cutting edge science on: • A nationally consistent understanding of the flood inundation hazard under current and future climates; • Free, open-source, flood hazard maps and risk information for the whole country;

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What's in a name? Our programme name acknowledges Rākaihautū, an ancestor of our research partner, Wairewa Rūnanga. Stories tell of his traversing the South Island, digging and naming lakes as he went. By keeping his waters safe, we will have ongoing life and health. We are working with Wairewa Rūnanga to understand flooding and climate change from a Mātauranga Māori perspective. Together we will co-develop tools to assist iwi and hapū throughout Aotearoa understand their own flood risk and the options they have to keep themselves, and what they value, safe while retaining their data sovereignty.

• The changing flood impacts on our land, properties and infrastructure networks; • Societal vulnerability to floods – especially in places that are becoming more flood prone; • The ways that we can make better decisions on long-term future development aspirations under conditions of climate change; • An understanding of the uncertainty in our research, and how we can use this to make better decisions; • Co-developing Mātauranga Māori tools so iwi and hapū can assess their own flood risk; and, • How to apply this knowledge to practice and policy to enhance our resilience in fair and equitable ways. This research will contribute to a more flood resilient country by developing a nationally-consistent way of modelling floods. This will enable like-with-like comparisons across catchments. The programme will develop a semi-automated process and methodology to develop the underlying data layers and calculate flood inundation using a range of open-source tools. This will allow us to take advantage of iterative improvements in understanding as we gain more data (e.g. new LiDAR, climate change scenarios, land use changes, flood infrastructure). Following the example of other countries such as the UK, the initial results will be suitable for national level comparisons and screening and will form the basis for national level guidance. Where higher resolution investigations are needed, we envisage environmental consultancies undertaking this work following our consistent methodology for modelling and climate change. The project will also investigate the cascading impacts of flooding on communities, so that economic, ecological, social and cultural impacts can also be planned for and mitigated. Collectively, this research will fill knowledge gaps which are critical to inform current and future policy, legislation and guidance for managing flood risks at regional and national scales. It will also provide a platform, Te whāriki ō te wai, that will span between research, policy and end users, weaving together the different strands of research and allowing the wider flooding community to work together to ensure a more flood resilient Aotearoa. If you would like to receive updates about our work, or get involved in Te whāriki ō te wai, please contact Belinda Sleight, belinda.sleight@waikato.ac.nz. Information can also be found on our website: bit.ly/3B0fLwL

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REGULATION WATER NEW ZEALAND

Source water protection:

The first barrier Enhancing the protection of source water is a key change taking place under the Three Waters Review. As water resource engineer, India Eiloart says, these changes have the potential to bring in a new era of catchment management for the benefit of all water users. Protecting the body of water that you drink from is not a new concept to the industry, nor to human populations globally. However, there is about to be a renewed emphasis to do just this, with legislative requirements to not only produce documented management plans for source waters, but also prioritise Te Mana o te Wai, the vital importance of water. Currently, water suppliers are required to provide safe drinking water to their consumers and protect their abstraction points. However, the standards focus on using a suitable water source to start with and then adapting appropriate treatment, rather than to actively protect the body of water or improve it. Current regulations include the National Environmental Standards for Sources of Human Drinking Water, which comes out of the Resource Management Act 1991 and focus on the regional authority considerations of consents, permits and activities with respect to the location of any drinking water abstraction points. Other policies and standards which cover precise methodologies to prevent contamination of water sources (e.g., NZS4411:2001 Environmental Standard for Drilling of Soil and Rock, National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020, New Zealand Drinking Water Standards, revision 2018) are designed to adjust the treatment requirements to meet the source water risk, rather than protecting and enhancing the source water itself. Responsible water suppliers are already aware of the value in protecting the water body that they abstract from, and mana whenua and local communities are passionate kaitiaki of their local water bodies for a variety of reasons, ranging from protecting local ecosystems, protecting their own health, and protecting their tīpuna. However, in the current system, there is still frequently a disconnect between the health of the water body and all its users. The currently proposed Water Services Bill has introduced the Source Water Risk Management Plan to the drinking water safety planning process. These plans will be centred on the drinking water source, recognising the risks posed on the source water’s ability to provide safe drinking water, and then identify actions required to manage, control or eliminate these risks. The recent Select Committee report on the Water Services Bill has also recommended to adjust the definition of a source water

to also include rainwater, therefore encompassing water suppliers big and small in this aspect of the Bill. In addition to the management plans, the source water protection approach will also require local authorities to share information and take action to address risks on behalf of drinking water suppliers. Regional councils will take part in regular assessments on the effectiveness of interventions relating to source water, and there will be a renewed emphasis in the Resource Management Act 1991 for consent authorities to regard source waters when considering applications for resource consents. What would be included in these source water risk management plans is completely unique to each individual water supply, depending on the type of source water, its location, and the scale of the water supply. Guidance is not yet publicly available on what will be specifically required; however, the following presents some points to consider in the context of your own water supplies.

Water resource engineer, India Eiloart,

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND REGULATION

Delineate your catchment

Whether it is groundwater, surface water, or even roof water, understand where your water is coming from. While this may seem obvious to many, it is entirely necessary to review and confirm. In the 2018-19 Water New Zealand National Performance Review, less than half of water supplier respondents had identified their source water catchments. Land uses and environments can also change with time, and so it is worth reviewing previous catchment risk assessments alongside updated information. In a surface water catchment, check whether there are off-grid settlements with on-site wastewater storage, or potentially high erosion areas increasing turbidity in the water. The same considerations go for groundwater sources. There tends to be a preconception that groundwater sources are protected since they access water stored below ground, and the water has originated from superior upstream catchments in mountainous terrain. However, many aquifers have contaminating land uses within recharge

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zones of these aquifers, and with countless bores and wells accessing the same aquifers, any one of them has the potential to transport contaminants into the groundwater, which can then be extracted and enter a water supply. For those collecting roof water, consider the materials used in the roof such as lead nails, whether debris such as leaves and dust deposit on the roof, and other users of the water, such as any pest animals that could be leaving microbiological contaminants in your collection system.

Collect and analyse data

Collect and analyse data relating to the quality and quantity of water in your source water. Water suppliers will already be collecting water quality data as it relates to their water treatment processes; however, there is a lot more information required to confidently understand the risk profile of a source water. Some of this data is available from regional authorities who will monitor surface water flows and levels, alongside regular water quality tests and cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin monitoring.

It is also important to understand existing and historic land uses, consents and activities, and contaminated land records within a catchment area to establish potential contamination risks. Much of this information is publicly available from local and regional authorities. Due to the obscure nature of the groundwater sources, water suppliers are far more reliant on data, documents and studies to ensure they understand their source water. Review of supply bore construction logs and surrounding high risk bores, alongside geological, topographic and aquifer maps would all be necessary to confidently assess and manage the risks posed to the groundwater source. This information will help identify whether the well is confined or unconfined, where is it recharging from, and what is upgradient of the bore, both currently and historically. As Vanessa Dally, Cardno hydrogeology principal, points out, “some contaminants are persistent (especially if the source has not been remediated) and combined with a slow groundwater flow, contamination can persist many years after the contaminating land use has stopped.” In addition to this information and data, cultural health

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND REGULATION

monitoring can also contribute to source water protection efforts. Tangata whenua already implement principles of kaitiakitanga and rangatiratanga in their rohe, and have generational knowledge relating to these water bodies. This knowledge has its own mana and must be respected as such, so well-established relationships between water suppliers and iwi, hapū and tangata whenua are necessary to ensure any knowledge harnessed is protected and respected.

Communicate with other water users regularly

Usually more than one party is accessing a source water, often for activities other than drinking water. This is important not just for monitoring quality and potentially contaminating activities, but also available quantities. As climate change takes effect, rivers that once ran freely all year round can now regularly drop to low flows in dry months. Through the same processes, groundwater levels can also drop as water sources switch in drought, increasing drawdown levels. As these source waters drop in availability, consents will be restricting the ability to abstract water and these need to be factored into management plans. There are numerous tools available that are already implemented across the motu to facilitate this enhanced communication. Working groups and whaitua/catchment committees can bring together local government members for regular catch ups, large water users can interact and discuss, and iwi and community representatives can share their observations, initiatives and concerns.

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Regional planning can also be used to communicate source protection zones widely to any land and water users in the catchment. Many large water supplies have published source protection zones, although there may not often be a collective awareness of these zones by other significant land and water users. There are also tens of thousands of water supplies that will not have these areas established due to the small scale of the supply and the extent of their property ownership. Integrating more source water information in planning instruments could have a significant impact on their source water quality. While being a small component of just one of the pou of the Three Waters Review, source water protection is being elevated from an additional consideration of a diligent water supplier to an extensive component of the requirements for any water supplier in the country. There will still be a teething period as water suppliers and regulators deliberate over what should be included in a Source Water Risk Management Plan, and while available data grows to meet these demands. However, the ultimate goal of ensuring all water suppliers make a conscious effort to protect the source of their water and consider the journey of their drinking water prior to it entering their infrastructure, is achievable under these proposed changes. It is up to the industry to recognise the value in these regulations and to proactively consider them in their own context. India Eiloart works for Cardno NZ. She was Water New Zealand’s Young Water Professional of the Year in 2019.

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RMA REFORM WATER NEW ZEALAND

RMA system reform has critical implications for three waters By environment, planning and resource management lawyers Simon Pilkinton, partner, and Kristen Gunnell, senior associate, at Russell McVeagh.

The three waters reform programme involves structural and regulatory reform rarely seen on this scale, with latest estimates indicating investment of $120 – $185 billion over the next 30–40 years is required to maintain, replace and upgrade three waters infrastructure. Four publicly-owned water services entities (WSE), spanning the length of the country, are proposed to manage our country’s water service delivery. From day one, the new WSEs will need to embark on an ambitious capital works programme. As part of this, existing infrastructure upgrades and new infrastructure alike will require the full suite of designations, resource consents and other approvals under our environmental legislation. Three waters infrastructure will also require protection and enablement in our district and regional plans and national policy documents. The challenges facing WSEs in environmental planning and consenting will be significant. Complicating the picture further, parallel to three waters reform, the Government is repealing and replacing the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), with a new environmental and planning statute called the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA). The NBA will also be accompanied by two adjacent pieces of legislation, the Strategic Planning Act (SPA) and the Climate Adaptation Act. The overall intent of these changes is to stop further environmental degradation, while more efficiently enabling urban development. The NBA regime will be critical to the success of three waters reform, as the new WSEs will immediately be among the largest ‘users’ of the NBA nationwide. There is a real danger the

Government’s aims for three waters will be hindered, potentially to a significant extent, if the WSEs cannot efficiently obtain consents under the NBA.

The risk of absolute ‘environmental limits’ An ‘Exposure Draft’ of the NBA’s purpose and principles (the key provisions establishing the scope and direction of the NBA) has been released and submissions to the Environment Committee closed on 4 August. Simon Pilkinton The NBA Exposure Draft requires that mandatory ‘environmental limits’ are set out in either the National Planning Framework (NPF) or new NBA plans. Activities must comply with these environmental limits. Sixteen outcomes must also be promoted, including an infrastructure outcome, to recognise the “ongoing provision of infrastructure services to support the wellbeing of people and communities”. This outcome does not use directive wording, which is important in resolving conflicts between outcomes, relative to some of the biophysical outcomes that are proposed. We see a real risk that absolute environmental limits and associated Kristen Gunnell promotion of directive biophysical outcomes will ultimately prevail over the needs of three waters infrastructure, in the way the NBA is currently framed. The reality is that, in almost every instance, three waters infrastructure has the potential to infringe an environmental limit relating to freshwater, air, soil or the coastal environment. Absolute environmental limits will make it much harder (and in some cases impossible) for WSEs to obtain the consents they’ll need. The intention is that the NPF will be used to resolve conflicts SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND RMA REFORM

between competing environmental outcomes. Environmental limits can also be set “at different levels for different circumstances and locations”. All of this is potentially helpful for WSEs, however at this stage, there is very little detail as to how the inherent conflicts between the environmental limits and biophysical outcomes on the one hand, and the needs of essential three waters infrastructure on the other, will be resolved. This tension needs to be resolved before the new legislation is enacted.

A potential solution – ‘consenting pathway’ for three waters infrastructure To deliver on the objectives of three waters reform, the WSEs will require a clear and effective ‘pathway’ to consent through the NBA’s environmental limits, with the options including: • Infrastructure outcome strengthened – within the NBA itself, the infrastructure outcome must be strengthened. Directive language expressly requiring decision-makers to provide for the needs of essential infrastructure is required. • Specific exceptions – Clause 12(2), which makes environmental limits mandatory, should also be amended to specify that environmental limits can be set with specific exceptions or different standards for certain kinds of activities allowing a regime similar to what is provided in the current National Environmental Standards for Freshwater. This provides exceptions for specified infrastructure, including three waters infrastructure, in relation to certain rules (those rules are more onerous for other activities). • Directive infrastructure policies – these need to be included in the NPF as the next layer down in the NBA’s hierarchy. The Schedule 1 process for setting the NPF (under which environmental limits sit) must explicitly require WSEs to be meaningfully involved to ensure WSEs can assist Planning Committees in setting environmental limits that are clear and workable for three waters infrastructure, and which do not result in unintended or perverse outcomes. • Mechanisms for timely review and amendment – timely review of and, if required, swift amendment to environmental limits are also needed. Unintended consequences are often identified at the consenting stage following a lengthy planning process so there needs to be provision for these to be swiftly rectified, without putting WSEs and everyone else through the full statutory planning process all over again. • Offsetting and compensation of adverse effects – this will be critical to resolve tensions between environmental limits and the needs of essential three waters infrastructure. The NBA Exposure Draft provides for offsetting or compensation to potentially be made available, through the NPF and NBA plans (or as a consent condition proposed by the applicant). These effects management tools will be key for three waters infrastructure, in circumstances where environmental limits cannot be met through activities undertaken completely on a particular project’s site. The NBA itself must explicitly provide for offsetting and compensation for essential three waters and other infrastructure – it cannot be left to the NPF or NBA plans to potentially enable these critical effects management tools.

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To deliver on the objectives of three waters reform, the Water Service Entities will require a clear and effective ‘pathway’ to consent through the NBA’s environmental limits

Further complicating the picture – the crucial role of WSEs in spatial planning Looking more broadly at the new regime, it will also be crucial that WSEs play a key role in spatial planning processes under the SPA (Strategic Planning Act). Spatial strategies will identify areas that are suitable for growth and development and therefore also where three waters infrastructure is required. No one is better placed than WSEs to assist planning committees in identifying where three waters infrastructure should go, and when it can and should be provided. The demands on WSEs in this regard will be substantial, with 14 regional spatial strategies under the SPA, compared to four WSEs spanning multiple regions. WSEs will be required to be involved in multiple spatial planning processes, at the same time. Many spatial planning processes will involve two WSEs. As currently proposed, ‘stakeholder’ consultation will occur through workshops, with public consultation via a consultative process similar to that provided under the Local Government legislation. This does not adequately recognise the vital role of WSEs or the infrastructure they will operate, and substantially limits the input they can have in the spatial planning processes. A more substantive and defined role for WSEs in spatial planning is essential which needs to be provided for in the SPA.

Further certainty (hopefully) lies ahead

We will have more certainty around whether three waters reform and the new WSEs will be proceeding by later this year, which will be helpful in the context of ensuring the NBA is ultimately fit for purpose when it comes to three waters infrastructure. The full NBA is intended to be introduced to Parliament in early 2022, meaning that by that time, we should have clarity as to whether it will be WSEs that will have responsibility for consenting three waters infrastructure under the new regime. Amendments to the proposed NBA can be pursued with that clarity as to the future structure of the three waters sector in mind. That said, the timing of NBA process still presents some difficulties. As currently proposed, the WSEs will not come into legal existence until mid-2022, and will not take ownership of three waters assets until mid-2024. It will therefore fall to existing asset owners and sector participants to actively ensure the new NBA sets up WSEs for success, in terms of their substantial future environmental planning and consenting obligations.

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LEGAL WATER NEW ZEALAND

Water Services Bill and cases on

Maori freshwater interest In this article we briefly report on the Select Committee report on the Water Services Bill (a more detailed analysis will follow in future articles). We also consider two cases from the resource management world that provide some interesting insights into Māori interests in freshwater.

By Helen Atkins, director and Tom Gray, solicitor, Atkins Holm Majurey.

Water Services Bill – Select Committee report

The Health Committee has issued its report on the Water Services Bill (Bill) ahead of its second reading in Parliament. The Committee recommended passing the Bill with some amendments. The purpose of the Bill is to ensure that drinking water suppliers provide safe drinking water to consumers by providing a regulatory framework for drinking water that is consistent with internationally accepted best practice. Importantly, this framework includes a duty for drinking water suppliers to have a drinking water safety plan and consistently comply with legislative requirements. The Bill also provides a risk management framework for source water, mechanisms for appropriately proportionate regulation, and promotes the sharing and development of knowledge and expertise from suppliers across the sector to improve the quality of our water services. An additional purpose for the Bill is also recommended by the Committee for the establishment of a framework to provide transparency about the performance of wastewater and stormwater.

The Report covers a range of suggested amendments to the Bill including in regard to the definitions of certain terms, end-point treatment devices, duties of drinking water suppliers, drinking water safety plans and the supply register, offences and exemptions, and transitional provisions. The Report also provided the differing view of the National Party, supported by the ACT Party. This includes the view that the Bill should expand the exemption for a domestic supply being for a single dwelling to also include small water suppliers supplying fewer than 30 endpoint users. The report is available on the Parliament website with the second reading and a Supplementary Order Paper expected within the next month, barring any delay from the Covid-19 Lockdown. We will provide a more detailed review in the next article in the journal.

Te Whanau a Kai Trust V Gisborne District Council (2021) NZENVC 115 This was an appeal to the Environment Court by Te Whanau a Kai Trust (Trust) against the Gisborne District Council’s (Council) decision on the proposed Gisborne Regional Freshwater Plan (Freshwater Plan). The Freshwater Plan is to provide for the sustainable management of Gisborne’s rivers, lakes, groundwater and wetlands, as well as its integration with land and the coastal marine area. It forms part of the Council’s single planning document, Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan, which includes the Regional Policy Statement and regional and district plans. The Trust sought recognition of their customary interests (including proprietary interests) in all freshwater within their rohe and that those interests be taken into account in all decision making. In essence, the Trust claimed that it maintained an unextinguished native title in the freshwater bodies within its rohe, from which its proprietary interest in the water is said to arise. Relying on s6(e) of the

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND LEGAL

RMA, it claimed the Environment Court could recognise and provide for the Trust’s relationship with its freshwater by making provision for that proprietary interest in the Freshwater Plan. The Court distilled the appeal into a determination of three substantive key questions. The first issue the Court dealt with was whether the Court could direct the inclusion of provisions in the Freshwater Plan which recognised and provided for the exercise of proprietary interests in freshwater. Ultimately, whilst the relationships provided for under Part 2 of the RMA must be engaged with by councils, the Court held that the statutory framework of the RMA as it is currently drafted does not extend to enable the Court to recognise and provide for such a proprietary right in freshwater as claimed by the Trust. Whilst a Māori claim to customary proprietary rights in freshwater can be recognised under New Zealand common law in principle, the Environment Court lacks the jurisdiction to recognise those proprietary rights and interests. The second question was whether the Trust had an unextinguished native title (and proprietary interests) in the freshwater bodies in its rohe. The Court began by stating that, even if it accepted the recognition of and provision for an unextinguished native title, there was still insufficient evidence to support a proprietary title stemming from this. The Court also agreed that there was an assumption that section 354 of the RMA was not drafted as though Māori held proprietary rights in water. The final issue considered by the Court was whether it could direct the inclusion of provisions in the Freshwater Plan that would require the Council to provide technical and financial assistance and resourcing to the Trust. The Trust asserted that Council has an obligation to make decisions in accordance with the Local Government Act 2002 (specifically section 81(1)), even if those decisions are made pursuant to the RMA. However, the Court held that it was not for the Environment Court to enshrine in plan provisions any direction on how to allocate a local authority’s resources, including any obligation to resource the Trust with technical and financial assistance. The Court held that it had no jurisdiction to recognise, and therefore to provide for, proprietary interests in freshwater as proposed by the Trust. Additionally, the Court held that even if it did have such jurisdiction, there was insufficient evidence to support any claim of such an interest. The Court then found that there is no legislative authority to direct that local authorities provide resourcing to the Trust.

Te Runanga O Ngati Awa V Bay of Plenty Regional Council (2021) NZCA 354 This decision is the latest in a string of appeals regarding the granting of Regional and District resource consents to Cresswell NZ Ltd. Creswell is a subsidiary of a company incorporated and operating in China and held consents for its water bottling operation at Otakiri Springs. The groundwater right was originally granted in 1979 for kiwifruit irrigation with the current total allowable take at 327,000 cubic metres per year. Cresswell sought a variation to its groundwater consent to increase the take threefold – up to 1,100,000m3 per year, and to vary the conditions of its land use consent. Both variations were granted but appealed in the Environment Court. Te Runanga o Ngati Awa (Runanga) appealed the variation of the groundwater take on the basis that it would result in adverse effects on te mauri o te wai (the metaphysical spiritual essence of the water) and on the ability of Ngati Awa to be kaitiaki of the water resource. Sustainable Otakiri Inc appealed against the district council consents to vary conditions applying to the existing land use consent. However, the Environment Court

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dismissed both appeals, upholding the consents. On appeal to the High Court, it was held that the Environment Court had considered the evidence of cultural effects, making factual findings not available for challenge, and that the effects on the environment both of using plastic bottles and of exporting that water overseas was beyond the scope of consideration in relation to Creswell’s consent application. On the planning framework’s completeness regarding the taking of waters from aquifers, the Court found that the planning framework was not incomplete merely because it did not regulate the export of water. Regarding recourse to Part 2, the Court held that planning framework being in a state of flux did not automatically mean the Court must resort to consideration of Part 2 matters. Leave has now been granted to appeal the High Court’s decision to the Court of Appeal in regard to five questions of law. These questions are to determine whether the High Court erred in finding that the Environment Court: Was correct to conclude that the effects on the environment of 1. using plastic bottles were beyond the scope of consideration in relation to Cresswell’s application for consents to take water, and those relating to land use activities; 2. Did not need to seek further evidence, or decline Cresswell’s application for consent, in circumstances where the Court had evidence as to the scale of the bottling operation but no evidence as to the scale or adverse effects of plastic bottles being discarded; 3. Did not need to have recourse to Part 2 of the RMA and, in particular, that the relevant planning instruments provided adequate coverage of the provisions of Part 2, and that an assessment of sustainability by itself was sufficient to address relevant cultural effects, so that no further reference to Part 2 was needed in that context; 4. Correctly determined that the activity status of Cresswell’s proposal was a discretionary “rural processing activity”, rather than a non-complying “industrial activity” including “manufacturing”, under the terms of the Whakatane District Plan; and 5. Correctly classified the proposal as an expansion of an existing use of land. Of particular interest nationally will be the determination on the first question regarding the “end use” of abstracted water. The two appellants have taken different approaches to this argument. The Runanga have been more promising with their argument that the application is for “too much water to be sold too far away”, raising effects on the mauri of the water under tikanga from taking it so far from its source. For the second question to succeed there has to first be an assumption that the bottles will be discarded rather than recycled and that the bottle remains plastic rather than a more recyclable material. This will certainly be a highly anticipated decision that could apply to a wide range of consent applications.

Commentary on cases

What is evident reviewing the cases coming through the Environment Court and beyond is that the issue of Māori rights and interests in freshwater are at the forefront of our discussions around freshwater management. Those frustrated with the slow progress of the Government in addressing the findings of the Waitangi Tribunal on freshwater are increasingly resorting to litigation in an attempt to get their rights and interests recognised.

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EMISSIONS WATER NEW ZEALAND

A national guideline on greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment By Evie Wallance, Beca process engineer, and Lesley Smith, Water New Zealand insights and sustainability advisor.

When councils began compiling their 2019 greenhouse gas inventories, some were met with a surprising result. Nitrous oxide emissions from the wastewater treatment plants had climbed a whopping 40-50 fold. What had changed? These plants had the same treatment process and the same influent loads. The result could be traced back to emissions factors. These councils got curious. Why did the emissions factor change and how did this relate to their plant? Was there a more locally appropriate way of estimating or measuring their emissions? This was a conundrum that interested many and so a Water New Zealand climate change special interest subgroup was formed to try to get a better understanding and mitigation of wastewater greenhouse gas emissions. Wastewater treatment processes are a source of two major greenhouse gas emissions: methane and nitrous oxide. To figure out just what drives these emissions, and the amount arising from wastewater treatment, is an area of emerging science and international research. They are particularly challenging to estimate due to the highly spatial and temporal variation of these emissions – both within a single

WATER NEW ZEALAND

Standard Methods

Carbon accounting guidelines for wastewater treatment: CH4 and N2O

August 2021

ISBN NUMBER: 978-0-473-58793-2

treatment plant, and across different treatment processes. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing science related to climate change. Their publication, IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, draws case studies from greenhouse gas assessments undertaken around the world to enable countries to estimate their greenhouse gas emissions, including those from wastewater processes. In the absence of local or plant specific information, the IPCC’s national guidance had been reapplied using a patchwork of approaches by treatment plant operators and consultants around New Zealand.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND EMISSIONS

Figure 1: Sources of N2O and CH4 emissions from wastewater and sludge treatment and disposal Note 1: The dashed boundaries above encompass the emission boundaries covered within these guidelines. Note 2: Biogenic CO2 emissions are excluded from Figure 1 (see ‘Biogenic GHG emissions’ section below for more detail). Note 3: Anaerobic digestion (AD) is considered to include all AD-related technologies, includes pre-treatments (e.g., mesophilic, thermophilic, temperature-phased, acid-phased, thermal hydrolysis). Note 4: Emissions from sewerage (collection) system(s) are excluded. CARBON ACCOUNTING GUIDELINES

WATER NEW ZEALAND

The 2019 refinement to the 2006 guidelines was the reason for the significant jump in nitrous oxide emissions – as the emission factor was updated to be based on 30 full-scale studies of on-site emissions monitoring at WWTPs around the world. This prompted a number of regions, including Christchurch, Nelson, Auckland and Hamilton, to start investigating or considering emissions monitoring opportunities at their plants. For local councils, wastewater can constitute a significant source in the emissions pie. Earlier this year Wāipa District Council made headlines with the story “Wastewater plants highest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in district”. The council’s inventory showed that 37 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions of the council’s 2019-20 emissions came from wastewater– we could expect a similar proportion to many councils around the country. Given the significance of this emissions source in our communities, and the challenge these emissions face for many councils on a net zero carbon journey, it is important we have a sound basis for calculating them. The Climate Change Group was motivated to address this important gap. With funding from the Water Services Managers’ Group, they have developed a set of emissions calculation guidance which is now available on the Water New Zealand website. This is largely based on the 2019 IPCC guidelines, but has been refined after a comprehensive review of the New Zealand context and the available international research in this field. In a Water New Zealand first, the guideline was delivered by a consortium of consultants, bringing expertise from across the sector and abroad. The lead author of the report, John Andrews of Toitū, and the project manager, Hannah Edmond of Mott MacDonald, coordinated a group of consultants to produce the work. This included

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David de Haas (GHD), Andrew Springer (WSP), Reuben Bouman and Evie Wallace (Beca) and Nick Dempsey (Mott MacDonald), and all of these companies provided significant pro-bono contributions to deliver this important piece of work. For the first time the guide provides a consistent basis for treatment plant operators in New Zealand to determine their emissions. Carbon Accounting Guidelines for Wastewater Treatment: CH4 and N2O are freely available on the Water New Zealand website: waternz.org.nz/Resources/knowledgebase-landing. The guideline is a starting point for wastewater treatment plant operators and service providers to understand the greenhouse gas contribution of wastewater treatment plants. It is also an opportunity to gain a better understanding of wastewater’s contribution to national emissions. The intention is to get all councils completing a baseline or first high level estimate of emissions based on the default emission factors in the guideline. However, the guideline is not the end of the story. The project has unearthed gaps in understanding and has prompted new working relationships to fill them. The Climate Change group is now discussing these gaps with research agencies and looking to build collaboration around the direct monitoring of emissions, which will provide more plant specific and accurate emissions estimates compared to using default factors. If you have an interest in this work, please get in touch. Scientists remind us that this is the critical decade for action on climate change, with the most recent IPCC report declaring the climate emergency code red for humanity. Engineers remind us that you can’t manage what you don’t measure. There has never been a more important moment time to assess the greenhouse gas emissions of your wastewater treatment plant, and begin the journey to reducing them.

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MICROBES WATER NEW ZEALAND

Foam fix could better treat wastewater

Foam created by bacteria can create operational difficulties for wastewater treatment plants, but an exciting new discovery from La Trobe University researchers has the potential to solve this costly and hazardous issue. By Cecilia Harris. Having published the finding in Nature Microbiology, associate professor Steve Petrovski said the potential solution was discovered during his research into a particular bacterium well known for causing troublesome foams in wastewater treatment plants. “This foam reduces the quality of effluent and creates a hazardous work environment at the plant. It costs the industry billions of dollars each year and makes the plants inefficient, yet there are no effective ways to control these foams. “One particular bacterium – Gordonia amarae – is notorious for causing persistent and stable foams in wastewater treatment plants. “Through our work to isolate a phage that will target G. amarae, we accidentally stumbled across another potential solution – a previously unknown microscopic parasite attached to the bacterium.” The team identified previously unknown defence mechanisms, explaining why the bacteria is hard to combat with bacteriophages. “But the microparasite, which we have named Mycosynbacter amalyticus, latches onto G. amarae and in fact kills it. This may represent a promising biocontrol strategy to prevent wastewater foaming. “Some organisms related to G. amarae can also cause disease in humans and animals such as nocardiosis and bacteremia, and this novel ultrasmall bacterium could potentially be the cure. “This microparasitic bacterium could have medical implications and be used to control human and animal infections. We may be able to eliminate or control the infectious bacterium generating an alternative treatment option that does not require antibiotics.” Petrovski said the team is now studying the way the newly

discovered organism grows and ways in which it can be applied to wastewater treatment plants. “We already know that it will reduce or eliminate G. amarae and some of its relatives in pure culture in the laboratory. We now need to test this in activated sludge. “The next phase of this research will be understanding how this organism infects and kills the host bacteria. We will also be working with wastewater treatment plants to understand how this organism behaves in activated sludge and determine the best way to apply it to activated sludge systems. “We also have an ongoing collaboration with the School of Pharmacy at La Trobe University and will investigate ways to develop pharmaceutical products to deliver this organism to infection sites.” Petrovski said there are also plans for future commercialisation, which is a promising prospect for wastewater treatment plants worldwide. “Our goal is eventually to create a product containing this microparasite that could be commercially available for use by the wastewater treatment sector to control foaming in wastewater aeration tanks and anaerobic digesters.” To read the full paper, go to: go.nature.com/3ycjIN0 Reprinted with the permission of the Australia Water Association.

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RECYCLING WATER NEW ZEALAND

Making HDPE pipes from waste plastic

Despite the efforts of recyclers, each year New Zealand dumps millions of used plastic milk bottles into landfill or exports this valuable post-consumer resin overseas. A Kiwi company, with a focus on building a circular economy, is tackling this problem by using them in the production of HDPE pipe.

New Zealand’s progress towards re-using and re-purposing its plastic waste is still in a state of infancy. A report published in 2019 revealed that significant volumes are still being exported, while levels of virgin material imports continue to rise to meet ever-increasing demands for a better infrastructure. In that year alone, 15,000 tonnes of post-consumer plastics were shipped to Indonesia and a further 16,000 tonnes sent to Malaysia. Further, a WasteMINZ report released in January revealed that more than 7800 tonnes of dairy containers, including milk bottles, are collected for recycling every year, yet more than 1700 tonnes are still being sent directly to landfill. Many businesses are considering how they can reduce their carbon emissions, and adopting a circular economy approach is one strategy to achieve this. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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A circular economy aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible. Rather than follow a linear economy, where a product reaches an end-of-life state where the material is then lost, a circular one seeks to recover and regenerate those materials into something new. High-Density Polyethylene, (HDPE), is one material particularly suited to this strategy. Auckland firm Solo Plastics has been exploring re-purposing this material for many years now, and has expanded from recycling its own HDPE offcuts and waste, to collecting waste leftover on construction projects and forming alliances with electrical merchants to collect their offcuts as well. This waste HDPE is re-ground and re-extruded into pellets that can be reused in the extrusion process to make new pipes. More recently, Solo has been running trials using plastic milk bottles – the ones with the #2 recycling symbol. The quality of these bottles is so good, it has found the results to be comparable with virgin materials when comparing melt flow and compression characteristics. Solo says trials using blends of milk bottles and other post-consumer resins, like shampoo and detergent bottles, have had very encouraging test results so far. In light of this research, and on the back of successful trials, Solo has decided to invest heavily in new high-tech equipment out of Germany. This technology will allow the production of pipes out of blends of recycled materials on a much larger scale. A new plant in East Tamaki is currently running trials on different recycled grades of post-consumer resins and is capable of manufacturing pipes up to 3.2 metres in diameter. To put things into perspective, it takes more than 3000 two-litre milk bottles to make a standard six-metre length of pipe with a diameter of 800mm. Solo’s investment in this technology uses a ‘spiral wound’ extrusion technique. Rather than producing products made out of solid plastic, this approach uses lightweight spiral wound hollow cores around an inner core. This creates a product that is incredibly strong without being heavy. When producing such large diameter pipes, this process makes them easier to handle, transport and safer install, finally offering a viable alternative to more traditional materials and significantly reducing carbon emissions in the process. Premium grade pipes for big infrastructure projects will continue to be made out of virgin resources in order to meet current New

DES I

WATER NEW ZEALAND RECYCLING

A circular economy aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible. It seeks to recover and regenerate those materials into something new.

High-Density Polyethylene, (HDPE) is re-ground and re-extruded into pellets that can be reused in the extrusion process to make new pipes.

Zealand standards, although Solo believes those standards are due for a revision, based on their latest research and in order to meet the changing global demands on carbon reduction initiatives. Pipes that don’t need that same high level of structural integrity or to meet the standards, can be made out of recycled materials – for example, on farms and in forestry for culverts, and for wastewater, or for temporary run-off on construction projects Re-purposing milk bottles so they can be used to drain the farms that produced the milk in the first place is a beautiful fit for a circular economy. And in a 100 years’ time, those same pipes can be dug up and recycled all over again, providing a much better alternative to export or landfill.

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WATER NEW ZEALAND POLLUTION

Microplastics in the environment: Current status and future directions An abridged version of a paper by Goldy De Bhowmick and Ajit K Sarmah of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auckland University, and Brajesh Dubey of the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology. edited for style and length

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Abstract Plastic pollution has increased exponentially in land and marine environments since the 1950s. Most microplastic studies have been conducted in the Northern Hemisphere with little known about microplastics in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly about the New Zealand and Antarctic regions. Therefore, the aim of this report is to provide the current status of microplastic prevalence throughout New Zealand while analysing associated environmental issues and identifying necessary mitigating actions. It is envisaged that findings from this report would help to understand the current status of microplastic polluted regions in New Zealand with a global context. Studies conducted specifically for New Zealand indicate that small urban streams serve as the major transport pathways for microplastic pollution, and local-scale

Introduction

Plastics are ubiquitous contaminants and have been detected in a variety of media including in surface water, marine water, soils, and sediments in various parts of the world. Plastics have become indispensable in modern day life; substituting many materials such as ivory, silk, horn, cotton and natural fibres over the past 100 years. Desirable properties of plastics – lightness, relatively strength, easy to shape, hypoallergenic nature, easily sterilisable, and inexpensive to manufacture – have made them a competent material used in a multitude of sectors. It goes without saying that the usage of plastics in a diverse range of sectors has contributed to reducing transportation cost while providing cheap food protection options. However, this has also resulted in the accumulation of hundreds of millions of tonnes of plastic waste every year. Once disposed, plastic waste does not fully degrade and may even take centuries to break down and split into tiny fragments. Research on plastic fragmentation indicated that “microplastics” or fragmented plastic particles of less than 5mm in size are widely found in detectable range, starting from mountain tops to the deepest part of the oceans, and even in Artic sea ice creating pollution and disrupting the entire food chain. Microplastics are mainly derived from larger macroplastic debris and are formed by physical, chemical, or biological degradation, primarily initiated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and further exacerbated by physical abrasions caused by sedimentation and hydrolytic breakdown by the seawater. Additionally, small fibre based secondary microplastics derived from washing synthetic clothes add to the problem, as they are not removed during the wastewater treatment process. Generally, plastic polymers such as polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate with a greater density (1.02 g mL-1) than seawater tend to accumulate in sediments, and the concentration rises with close proximity to densely populated human habitats. This sedimentation process provides a ‘sink’ for the prevalence of microplastic in the marine environment. As a result, ingestion of these microplastics by the aquatic organisms leads to harmful effects, such as reduced food intake, oxidative

processing factors have more impact than the overall catchmentscale processes. Additionally, among the various types of microplastics a large proportion of material from wear and washing textile fabric have been adding to the pollution load. These microplastic debris have contaminated waterways and impacted the marine environment and the entire food chain. To reduce the contamination, the New Zealand government banned the use of microbeads in some consumer products that are designed to be washed down the drain. Furthermore, New Zealand businesses have stopped using single-use plastic shopping bags and have been finding alternative solutions to plastics in other, various, sectors of retail. However, to completely eradicate microplastic contamination more research is warranted, particularly around estimating the amount of plastic collected across the country, the types of plastics and their potential risks to humans and the ecosystem health.

stress, gastrointestinal tract damages, and biosecurity risks as aquatic organisms become carriers of contaminants easily transported over vast distances to affect invasive species affecting human life. Findings from recent studies conducted in New Zealand also suggest that microplastics have the capacity to absorb a wide range of hydrophobic organic contaminants (e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: PAHs; polychlorinated biphenyls: PCBs; and organochlorine pesticides such as DDT) and a range of heavy metals that act as a medium of pollutant transfer between prey and predators, resulting in supplementary pathway exposure for aquatic organisms. Among the various types of microplastics, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene have been found to dominate the marine environment. And triclosan, a broad-spectrum anti-microbial agent commonly used in personal care products, and usually added to plastic items, has been widely detected in sediments and aquatics environments, wastewater, and marine plastic debris. Microplastics also act as a vector during the manufacturing process of triclosan, allowing attachment of chemical additives, often resulting in sorption of a wide range of contaminants from water. Triclosan has a high bio-accumulation potential due to its relatively high n-octanol-water partitioning coefficient. Therefore, it is conceivable that the trichlorinated aromatic structure of the triclosans could impart resistance to biodegradation and allow its persistence in the environment, sometimes even for decades. Microplastics along with triclosans have shown significant adverse effects on humans – disrupting organism development, reproduction, and life span – and aquatic organisms, including mussels, by reportedly increasing oxidative stress. The majority of microplastic research has been conducted and welldocumented for the more populous Northern Hemisphere, and there are only a few studies on microplastics in the Southern Hemisphere where the majority of studies have been done on the Chilean and Australian coastlines. Studies in other regions in close proximity to New Zealand are limited. Recently, a few reports have become available on microplastic pollution in Auckland and Canterbury. However, these studies lack comprehensive analysis of the entire country. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND POLLUTION

Origin of plastics

Origin of the plastic term was from a Greek word ‘Pastikos’ meaning capable of moulding into various shapes. The discovery of Bakelite in 1907, as the first mass-produced truly synthetic plastic material and, until the 1930s, plastics were not used very widely, however, due to their versatile applications, they started to replace natural fibres that were in short supply. The mass production of plastics started in the 1950s and the second half of the 20th century witnessed the replacement of household products that were traditionally developed from metal, cotton, glass and cardboard, with plastic. Plastics became foundational touching every aspect of our lives and increasingly so and are generally referred to as wide range of organic polymers based natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic materials, usually formed by the process of polymerization that can be easily remoulded into various interchangeable shapes. The physical properties of synthetic and semi-synthetic plastics largely depend on the type of polymers being used to develop the plastic. Among the large variety of plastics only a few types are manufactured in a major way, including polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PUR), and polyvinylchloride (PVC). Most of the raw materials, such as styrene and ethylene, are procured from the oil industry and around four to eight percent of the total global oil production serves as the provider of raw materials for plastic generation. As of 2015, around 407 million tonnes of fossil-fuel based plastics were produced globally in which packaging sector alone contributed to 146 million tonnes, followed by building and construction with around 65 million tonnes, and textiles with 59 million tonnes. Perhaps, more than 300,000 tonnes of plastic resins alone were imported to New Zealand in 2017.

Disposal of plastic wastes, microplastic debris, and effects Of the 407 million tonnes of plastics produced globally, 302 million tonnes are discarded as waste – 141 million tonnes in packaging alone. In 2017, New Zealand exported around 41,500 tonnes of plastic as a waste product. Overall, a total production of 8.3 billion tonnes of plastics had been produced on a global scale by 2015. Of these, 6.3 billion tonnes (76 percent) has been discarded. Only nine percent of plastics produced between 1950s and 2015 were recycled. Twelve percent was incinerated and most of the remaining 79 percent have been accumulating in landfills and dumpsites over the years. Though a small island nation with a population just over five million, the daily plastic waste per capita (g/person/day) generated is 159g. This is much higher in comparison to bigger countries like Australia with 117g per person, and similarly populous countries such as Norway with only 26g per person. Additionally, the plastic found in waste streams in New Zealand was eight percent, which is much higher than Canada (3%), Denmark (1.6%), Norway (2.6%), and Australia (7.6 percent). The majority of the discarded plastic not recycled are disposed of as landfill in New Zealand by simply crushing and burying the material. However, these numbers will likely change, particularly after the China ban of recycling material including clean plastics imports in January 2018. Source segregated plastics are still exported to Indonesia and Malaysia, India and other countries, as are plastics from Australia, USA,

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Canada, and other developed nations. Our landfill plastics are going to persist in the environment for decades and usually become fragmented into microplastics, which enter the larger water bodies due to poorly regulated landfills and flood affected areas. The microplastic, along with triclosan, threat to our country has been recognised recently by the study of microplastic being ingested by sea animals. For example, Webb et al., reported for the first time microplastic ingestion by the iconic green-lipped mussel Perna canaliculus from six to nine regional samples containing 700 μm of microplastic. In another study, it was observed that microplastics capable of absorbing hydrophobic contaminants from water and triclosans, both individually and in combination, significantly decreased oxygen uptake and byssus production in green-lipped mussels. And Mitchell Phillips reported on microplastic debris found in the waterways system in the Christchurch area, wherein he examined 30 river sediments collected from six zones and identified different types of microplastics found in those sediments. PET, at 41 percent, was mostly abundant, followed by PP (33%) and PS (29%). The size of the microplastics identified from these regions were between 100-300 μm, mostly red (27%) and blue (26%) in colour. Flow rate, land elevation, and tributary infiltration heavily influenced the microplastic accumulation in the Christchurch area. However, in the stormwater drained sediments, a much lower abundance (3.3 particles per 100 g-1 of sediments) of microplastic debris ranging in 500–1000 μm was observed for that area. Mostly, nylon followed by rubber and PP was found, and the result suggested that landbased sources such as land overflows and road run offs, and stormwater drains, influenced river microplastic pollution. Olivia Grover-Johnson reported that even pristine and remote places, such as the Ross Sea near the Antarctica, are polluted with microplastic debris. This is mostly due to frequent ship travelling in the Southern Oceans for fishing, tourism and research, and support for Antarctic bases. The method developed by Grover-Johnson for microplastic detection in the Southern Oceans at a depth of 10 metres showed that 1.24 × 10-3 and 1.54 × 10-1 particles of microplastics per cubic metre was found for that area. However, what damaged has been caused on Antarctic species is largely unknown. Importantly, Bergamiet et al. (2020) reported the first field-based evidence of plastic ingestion by Cryptopygus antarcticus, potentially entering the Antarctic terrestrial food webs while representing a new threat to the polar ecosystem. The study also found evidences of large pieces of polystyrene foam covered by microalgae, moss, lichens and microfauna along the shores of Fildes Peninsula. All these studies raise concerns on microplastic pollution successfully reaching the most pristine and protected places on the earth.

Case studies and mitigation strategies exclusive to New Zealand Large-scale investigation on microplastic contamination across 39 sites in Auckland was reported for the first time by Bridson et al. The investigation emphasised that the area was mainly contaminated with 459 particles m−2 (9188 particles m−3 or six particles kg−1) and ranged from zero (none detected) to 2615 particles m−2 of microplastics endangering the microenvironments. Streams were recognised as the source of microplastic contamination entering the marine environment, while further adding spatial variation complexities. According to Nadezhda Dikareva’s and Kevin Simon’s

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POLLUTION WATER NEW ZEALAND

Auckland Region • Waitemata Harbour area • Hauraki Gulf area • Tamaki area • Manukau area • Tasman area

Wellington Region • Evan's Bay beach

Canterbury Region • Harbour area • Exposed Beach area • Estuarine area

Figure 1

report, high microplastic contamination was observed in water columns present in Newmarket and Orakei Creeks area that feed into the Hobson Bay. However, Bridson et al. reported only minimal levels, approximately <100 particles m−2, of microplastic contamination in that region. This kind of disparity is consistent with the other regions in New Zealand and could be attributed to high level of heterogeneity in sampling and protocols being followed, or may represent temporal variations in the results due to some changes in the operation. Among the major sites in Auckland region, the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) discharges 116,000,000 cubic metres of treated sewage containing microplastics per year into the Manukau harbour alone. Similarly, Rosedale WWTP discharges around 20,000,000 cubic metres of treated sewage to Hauraki Gulf near the Rangitoto channel, and Army Bay WWTP puts three million cubic metres of treated sewage into the Whangaparaoa Passage. In addition to this there are several other small WWTPs in other Auckland regions that add to the existing microplastic pollution through the sewage treatment alone. Treated effluent and industrial effluent allocated at various sites in the city also adds to the microplastic contamination throughout the region. Fig. 1 shows the some of the major microplastic polluted areas in New Zealand. Microplastic pollution in freshwaters related to human population density and urbanisation of streams were investigated by Aidan MoraTeddy and Christoph Matthaei, and their findings emphasised that small urban streams served as the major transport pathways for microplastic pollution in New Zealand. In total 52 streams across five major agglomerations were studied in 2019 and high concentration of microplastics were found in all the samples. The study also pointed out that the pollution caused by microplastics were proportionately similar to all the urban centres and the urban catchment, or the urban proportion of the stream, and were not the predictors of microplastic concentration in the specific areas. Similarly, Dikareva and Simon examined the variation in quantity and form of plastics occurring in small streams spiralling around urbanisation gradients and found that most of the streams contained approximately

303 particles m-3 in of microplastics in water and 80 particle kg-1 in sediments with fragment size of 63–500 μm. Dikareva and Simon, also identified huge variation in microplastic abundance across the streams that was not explained by catchment scale parameter intrusions, and showed no strong relationship between human population density versus combined stormwater overflow. Although residential land cover was found be related to microplastic abundance, explanatory powers were found to be very low. All these findings indicated that local-scale processing factors had more impact than the overall catchment-scale processes being used to justify micro plastic pollution. Another study conducted by Scion (a Crown research institute in Rotorua) found that Auckland’s waterways and coastlines contained significant amounts of microplastics and the concentration of these plastics were much higher on the west coast than the east. Among the various types of microplastics, a large proportion of plastics were from textile fibres coming from wear and washing adding enormously to the pollution load. Microplastic debris was also abundantly found in Wellington’s Evans Bay. Recently, a study conducted by Caitlyn Shannon on abundance of synthetic particles between New Zealand surface water and the Ross Sea region, revealed that synthetic particle continuously increased in all most every oceanographic zone from a period of 2009–2017. The surface water is commonly associated with plastic debris as the buoyancy of the particle allows it to circulate at the surface and the chance of floating plastics permeating into marine environment and biota is very high. This study also indicated that occurrence of floating micro plastic debris in this remote part of the world is significantly increasing at a very alarming rate and is considered a globally pervasive pollutant. Movement of microplastic debris in the environment is shown in Fig. 2 (see page 98). To iterate, most of the studies on surface water microplastic debris are limited to the Northern Hemisphere and its ocean distribution is poorly mapped and more research needs to be undertaken – particularly for New Zealand and, potentially, the Antarctica region. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

WATER NEW ZEALAND POLLUTION Transportation to land Surface water contamination

Vertical Migration Fecal pellet sinking Biofouling sinking

Microplastic Debris

Marine snow sinking Deep water sediments Land contamination

Long distance travel via sea animals

Figure 2

The useful indicator – the mussel

Yooeun Chae and Youn-Joo An pointed out that bivalves, such as mussels, are very useful indicators for assessing microplastic occurrence in coastal marine ecosystem as they have the ability to detect level of pollutant transfer between surrounding environment and marine biota. Suspension and filter-feeders are more vulnerable to microplastic ingestion due to their limited ability to selectively ingest pollutants, often resulting in large volume of microplastic consumption endangering their habitat. Consequently, the capability of mussels to retain microplastics for longer period could be ubiquitous in understanding the flow and effect of microplastic pollution to the marine environment. In New Zealand the three main variety of mussels are: Ribbed mussel (Aulacomya maoriana), green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), and Mediterranean blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis). A thorough study on microplastic ingestion by these varieties of mussels along the urban and rural coastal waterways could potentially help in understanding microplastic distribution, the type of microplastic ingestion, threat to marine environment, and potentially food chain contamination. Modern technologies can also capture and remove larger plastic pieces and debris from the water via a treatment process, however, these processes are not fully optimised and designed to remove microplastics.

In order to reduce the primary source of microplastics entering the water, this country took a very firm step by banning the use of microbeads in some consumer products that are designed to be washed down the drain. Ideally, our primary goal should be to eliminate single-use packaging and beverage containers made from PVC and PS, including meat trays, cups, and takeaway food containers. Local government bodies and industries are currently promoting reliable kerbside collection of recyclables. Business are also signing up new initiatives like ‘New Zealand Plastic Packaging Declaration’ and are trying to find alternatives such as using biodegradable polymers that are more compostable, edible or water soluble, or would be easily degradable. Importantly, replacement of labelling scheme for packaging, including plastics, has been undertaken by primary industries promoting environmental sustainability. The Waste Minimisation Act 2008 of New Zealand aims to reduce waste in landfills through imposing levies on their use and provide stewardship schemes, including recycling schemes exclusive for plasticbased materials required in agricultural and horticultural sectors. The Government aims to invest around $40 million as growth funds to promote and introduce plastic waste based circular economy. It is also

98 www.waternz.org.nz

Food chain

➤ interruption

Long distance travel via wind Adsorbent attracting other pollutants

A step in the right direction

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Soil contamination stimulating innovation and developments to reduce soft plastic problems. The three ‘R’ concept of reducing, reusing, and recycling has been further developed by adding a fourth ‘R’ for recovery of energy where possible, and an additional fifth ‘R’ for redesigning products. Although our plastic pollution is comparatively less on global scale, scientists and government officials have correctly identified the problem and are taking bold steps towards their long-term goal to produce an economy where plastic is not a pollution or waste. Every two out of the three New Zealanders are now very much concerned about the plastic built up in their environment and this concern can be addressed if everyone minimises using plastics in their daily lives to reduced plastic pollution. However, solely relying on personal choices and consumer behaviour approaches cannot be the ultimate solution to make a plastic free environment. Consumer choices and approaches depend on myriad of factors such as education, intellectual freedom, family background, work policy and personal habits. Therefore, it is believed that a collaborative approach between government bodies, industries, scientific advisory board, nongovernmental organisations and consumers can help in mitigating the plastic pollution, not only in New Zealand but also globally.

Conclusion

Despite being a small country, the daily plastic waste per capita (g/ person/day) generated by New Zealanders is much higher in comparison to bigger countries. Although only a few studies have been carried out in New Zealand to date, they reveal that the contributing factors to microplastic contamination are mainly river mouth openings, beach rocks, stormwater outlets, municipal water treatment plants, industrial sites, and recreational use. Some of the studies also indicated that small urban streams served as the major transport pathways for microplastic pollution. Additionally, a large proportion of plastics are from textile fibres coming from wear and washing, subsequently helping in increasing the pollution load in local waterways. Therefore, it would be prudent to investigate the microplastic pollution along the wide stretch of coastal New Zealand, and rivers (especially the Waikato River) to get a clear picture of the microplastic pollution over the entire country. Information gained from a monitoring survey will allow us to understand the extent of this pollution and develop appropriate strategies to tackle it. This paper has been edited and subbed for style. To view the full paper with references, visit doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2020.100076

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Sydney Water digital twins build smarter infrastructure Digital twins are a water infrastructure focal point right now, but while utilities all over Australia are getting involved in this advanced approach to asset management, one digital engineering specialist said we’re not there just yet. By Cecilia Harris. With careful planning and implementation, the greater extent of what digital twinning technology can offer the sector will very soon be a reality. Australian Water Association asset management specialist committee member and Sydney Water digital engineering integration specialist Clarissa Phillips explains how the largest utility in Australia has planned it’s digital transformation. “We provide safe drinking water to more than five million people across Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra, as well as recycled and wastewater treatment services. “Sydney Water is using a digital engineering standard-based framework to improve the way our assets are planned, designed, constructed, operated and maintained throughout their lifecycle in the development of our digital twins. “Digital twins are digital representations of physical assets, processes or systems that connect us with its physical counterpart to optimise value throughout the asset lifecycle.” Clarissa says one of Sydney Water’s core focuses is around building a better life with world-class water services and, therefore, digital twinning is a natural next step for the utility. “Having a digital twin of our assets enables us to build smart cities by building more sustainable and resilient water infrastructure. This also aligns with our focus areas, including asset lifecycle, optimisation and insight-led decision making. “The aim of Sydney Water’s digital twins in the future will be to automate asset management decisions.”

that will be handed over to Sydney Water so that they can be used in a digital operating environment. “We’ll be developing these models in stages over the next 10 years. There’s no way this work can happen overnight. It’s going to take time. A lot of water businesses are preparing to go down this path, some of us have started, but we’re not there yet.” From year one to five, Sydney Water will build up its asset information model, with years six to 10 focused on moving the models over to the company’s digital operating environment. “In the first year we are standardising, which means smart, virtual digital asset management and creation. The second year will focus on collaboration; we’ll be introducing new technologies, coordination practices and improved project performance. “The following year is about integration. It’s about coming up with a common data environment, setting up new processes and managing the information through new technologies and platforms. “The next year will be about visualisation, focused on new ways of working, real-time performance metrics and modelling. The final year is about optimisation, which is about automation, simulation, analytics, machine learning and an insights-driven approach. “Not only are we allowing our delivery partners time to set themselves up for success in delivering in this new way, we are also getting Sydney Water ready to receive this asset information. “It really is a digital transformation for Sydney Water.”

Planning for digital twins

Data driven

With Sydney Water working with delivery partners across the city, Clarissa says the utility has put a lot of forethought into how best to approach such a big job. “We are doing this in conjunction with our delivery partners. We’ve got three consortiums delivering across three different branches: the north, the south and the west. Together, we have developed our digital engineering standard. “We’ve been developing project information models together, we are now in the design phase of our infrastructure projects, and they will become asset information models, or digital twins,

100 www.waternz.org.nz

Collaboration has been essential throughout Sydney Water’s process, Clarissa says, which has required taking a much closer look at how people use data and how to better manage data – a very important step that will underpin success in future. “We want to make sure we set our data up well in the design phase. We are currently at the end of year one – our standardisation phase. We are using the completion of this stage to take stock of the here and now to understand how Sydney Water is capturing and processing its data. “We are going to look at ways that digital engineering can

“We’ve been developing project information models together, we are now in the design phase of our infrastructure projects, and they will become asset information models, or digital twins, that will be handed over to Sydney Water so that they can be used in a digital operating environment." Clarissa Phillips, Sydney Water digital engineering integration specialist.

improve this process by creating more efficiencies and a consistent approach to identifying our assets, and by introducing automation to a lot of the manual handling of data. “Getting this data ready now means we can build a common data environment for all of our project information. “It will help us become a lot better at asset information and lifecycle management. The partners can provide quality data during the project delivery phase that has been automatically verified before it enters into Sydney Water’s system. Getting this right will set us up for success.”

Next wave benefits

While there’s still a lot of work to be done before the best of digital twinning becomes a widespread reality, Clarissa says the wheels are in motion and the utility is looking forward to making the most of the benefits. “This is going to be a game-changer for Sydney Water. More reliable data means more informed asset planning decisions can be made. “We’ll be able to better understand how our assets behave throughout their lifecycle and enable new ways of working, including utilising data analytics for predictive maintenance and planning our infrastructure. We are creating a central source of truth for our data.” In the design phase, Sydney Water will be able to simulate real-world situations digitally before they are built. “This will save on construction costs and make our sites a safer place to work. It’s also a better way to engage with stakeholders, they will be able to visualise what we are planning to build. “We can also use smart live data from our Internet of Things sensors and our smart meters to enhance our existing water infrastructure. We can use this information to design better infrastructure to suit our future customers’ needs.” Sydney Water is selecting specific projects for digital twinning during the five-year development phase. “Our delivery partners are working on about five projects a year, under each of the stages. “But we will be applying this digital engineering approach to any new assets we build, particularly in Western Sydney, in order to build on the smart city approach being taken there.” Reprinted with the permission of the Australian Water Association SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

101

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Oxfam’s Water for Survival Programme Wingke More is a fighter, battling each day to keep his clinic in Papua New Guinea operational and serving his community. Oxfam shares his struggles to access clean water for his medical clinic. The clinic’s roof is collapsing, which covers the floors and walls with water during wet season. What little medicine Wingke has is kept cool as long as his chilly bin is able to, and the lack of water means Wingke is unable to provide a clean space for women to give birth. There is no doubt the odds are against Wingke, but when asked why he perseveres he replies, “I signed on to this job to save people’s lives. That’s why I do this work.” Wingke went to the Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea in 1997. He worked as the aid post orderly treating sick patients as well as attending to mothers who came to him to give birth. With his wife, Wingke has helped many women give birth. But, Wingke says his work is very challenging. Often when sick patients come to the clinic, he is unable to treat them or even transport them to the hospital. However, he says that one of the biggest challenges is the shortage of water at the clinic. “There is no water. We go and wash in the big creek. We also collect water from the creek to drink when it’s dry season. During the rainy season, we use water from the tank at the school as the clinic has no gutter. “When pregnant mothers come to the clinic in the night, my wife

and I take them in. I send boys to collect water from the creek down at the coffee patch which we boil while waiting for the mother to give birth. “We watch over the mothers until they give birth and then we bring the hot water for the mothers to wash before they come and sleep and breastfeed their new-born babies. “In the morning, they take their babies and return to their villages.” It is normal during the dry season when mothers in labour come visit Wingke, that he will need to send his boys down to the creek to collect water. The boys bring it back and boil it. When they can get water from the tank, Winkge says it is not clean enough to drink, so he and his family must go further down to the big river. “If there is water supply, the clinic will be clean. I will also wash and be clean. And everything will be good. There’s no water so sometimes when patients come to the clinic, I am dirty and come and treat them. The clinic is also dirty because there’s no water to clean it.” Many people across the Pacific would be able to relate to Wingke.

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WATER NEW ZEALAND OXFAM

Many families living in poverty spend a significantly greater proportion of their income on water than do those in richer countries like New Zealand. Prices paid to water vendors in poorer countries, like where Winkge is from, are often 10 times more than the tap price. When water and sanitation are provided to communities, they can begin to spend their insufficient incomes on food, healthcare and education. Across the globe, diarrhoea kills more children every year than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. Dirty water is killing more people than wars and other violence as there are over one million children dying every year from dirty water and poor sanitation. When combined, safe water, sanitation and hygiene reduce the number of deaths caused by diarrhoea by 65 percent. The minimum estimated amount of safe water every individual

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needs is 20 to 50 litres every day. The average person in the developing world uses 10 litres of water every day for their drinking, washing and cooking. This is the same amount used in the average flush of a New Zealand toilet. Often the solution to providing safe drinking water is not complicated – the engineering requires just some know-how, a few materials and a bit of hard work. The Oxfam Water for Survival Programme (WaSH) uses technologies that are affordable, appropriate to local conditions, use water efficiently, use local materials and local communities can operate and maintain in the long term. It is with WaSH that we are able to help bring water and sanitation to Winkge’s clinic for him and for his clients he cares for. To help people like Winkge, head to oxfam.org.nz to find out more.

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240

plus GST

CONTACT Debbie Laing M: +64 27 455 0223 Email: advertising@waternz.org.nz

106 www.waternz.org.nz

#LetsSolveWater

WE SOLVE YOUR WATER CHALLENGES

WE CAN HELP YOU TRANSFORM HOW YOU MANAGE YOUR WATER-RELATED ASSETS TO DELIVER BETTER OUTCOMES Xylem is a leading water technology company committed to ‘solving water’ by creating innovative and smart technology solutions.

Why work with Xylem

We are a recognised world leader in the manufacture, supply and service of pumping, mixers, UV disinfection, disc aeration treatment and analytical measurement solutions.

0800 33 19 14 | xylem.com/nz

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We are the largest pure-play water company in the world.

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Our products and services span the entire cycle of water.

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We transport water to where it needs to be, efficiently and safely.

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We track, analyse, and optimise water and wastewater networks.

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We Solve Your Water Challenges.