The latest annual Ministry of Health report has revealed 19 per cent of people are exposed to drinking water that doesn’t meet all safety standards The figure is alarming, but Professor Michael Baker, Professor of Public Health, University of Otago, notes the report also contains good news. Continue →

Local Government New Zealand’s Water 2050: Quality – Review of the framework for water quality discussion paper has identified three key issues for New Zealand’s framework for water quality The local government representative organisation’s report points to opportunities for change that could be a focus under the government’s Three Waters Review. Continue →

The growing populations and economies of the Asia-Pacific region place more and more constraints on the maintenance and operation of urban infrastructure – particularly pipes It is becoming increasingly difficult to efficiently manage the many thousands of kilometres of pipelines that are buried beneath cities and towns. Continue →

A new tool empowers anyone with a web browser to observe water’s constantly shifting courses, an International Water Association report reveals A team at Deltares, a water research institute based in Delft in the Netherlands, has unveiled a revolutionary tool that allows anyone, anywhere, to visually monitor the comings and goings of the Earth’s surface water on a timeline from 1985 through to the present. Continue →

Waikato District Council has appointed a contractor to continue the cleaning and inspection of its wastewater network which was started in early 2017 The contractor, HyrdoTech, is also providing vacuum (or sucker trucks as they’re also known) on an as-required basis to assist with the operation of the network, particularly emergency response. Continue →

There’s a chorus of calls for urgent government action following the release of a damning second report by the Havelock North Drinking Water Inquiry. Continue →

Looking after water infrastructure in the face of climate change is a multi-billion dollar challenges facing local authorities says Water New Zealand chief executive John Palfert. Continue →

New Zealand’s leading food innovation network is helping clean-tech company Hydroxsys with its water extraction technologies aimed at mining, dairy and other industries that need water extraction or remediation. Continue →

Water New Zealand is calling for formal collaboration in the drinking water sector to help avoid another contamination crisis. Continue →

Major tourism, conservation and recreation organisations behind the Freshwater Rescue Plan believe Labour’s water policy still has some leaks. Continue →

The mounting public anger over foreign-owned companies bottling and selling water offshore is a signal that a national conversation over water pricing is long overdue, says Water New Zealand CEO John Pfahlert It was clear that the Environment Minister Nick Smith under-estimated the level of concern earlier this year when he labelled the growing public frustration over bottled water as “misguided”. Continue →

Leaders from major tourism, science, health, recreation and environmental organisations have come together to launch an unprecedented plan for solving the country’s freshwater crisis. Continue →

A Freshwater Symposium hosted by Local Government New Zealand last week showed there is a strong platform for improving freshwater quality in New Zealand Over 200 delegates from across local and central government, iwi, the science community and the primary sector gathered in Wellington for the two-day symposium. Continue →

Local Government New Zealand has welcomed the Health Committee’s report on the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill and looks forward to its progress through Parliament The local government representative body believes the bill will bring consistency to the issue of fluoridation and will see the decision-making process rightfully transferred to health experts rather than local government.  Continue →