The Water New Zealand Conference and Expo 2024 and pre-conference symposium was held in Kirikiriroa Hamilton from 24 to 27 September. The latest thinking on innovation and technology, Te Mana o te Wai, resilience, sustainability and three waters and much more was discussed.
Here our team share what they took away from the event.
The value of water and climate resilience
“This year, several panelists and presenters touched on a key issue: the common perception of abundant freshwater and the contrast with the real costs of delivering clean water to our taps. Similarly, when I moved here from the UK in 2021, I was surprised to discover that many areas had unmetered water connections, making it harder for people to grasp the true cost of water and take responsibility for their usage.
“Developing accountability for water use and having a clearer understanding of the value of water will become increasingly important as water sources and infrastructure are stressed by future climatic volatility.
“We all have a role to play in driving efficiency and innovation to help address these challenges, particularly in smaller communities – where we’re aware through our work on water supply strategies – that there are often challenges in providing, reliable, cost-effective water sources on a smaller scale. By growing the understanding of the value of water in our communities you’ll hopefully see more focus on efficiencies and resilience of water supplies; particularly on a local scale.”
– Austin Brewer, Water Engineer
Local water done well
“Tim Cadogan, Mayor of Central Otago District, highlighted how challenging the proposed Local Water Done Well models will be for around 25 so-called ‘orphan’ councils who, without the same financial resources and infrastructure as others, will struggle to find partners under the proposed regime.
“We’re currently working with some of these councils and are seeing first-hand the challenges they face, and we are acting now to help them explore practical, cost-effective infrastructure solutions for their communities.”
– Gary Stevenson, Principal Civil Engineer
Standardising solutions – the good and the bad
“Hon Simeon Brown mentioned in his address that as much as 50% of the cost of new wastewater treatment facilities can be in design and consenting. This is higher than necessary and can be reduced with standardisation.
“While standardisation of engineering codes and implementation of acceptable solutions can significantly reduce consenting and design time and cost, there is a risk that it might make everything average. I saw this first-hand while working on stormwater projects in Australia, where the quality of treatment was not connected to the value and quality of the receiving environment.
“Therefore, even with standardisation, it’s essential for those approving discharges to have the expertise to determine when standard solutions are appropriate and when a deeper understanding is needed to protect our shared and valued environment.”
– Ross Jennings, Senior Civil Engineer
AI and machine learning technologies
“A common theme throughout the conference was AI and machine learning technologies and how they will have a significant impact on the way work is undertaken across the water sector.
“This advancement in technology will help to streamline design process and optimise design solutions and outputs. As Sophie mentioned in her insights from Building Nations 2024 – it’s important to understand how your data is being used and stored.”
– Jacob Anderson, Senior Civil Engineer
The power of stories
“Jehan Casinader, a journalist and mental health advocate, highlighted the power of storytelling in his keynote presentation. He explained that good storytelling captures attention, influences emotions, and can even change behaviour. This makes it a key tool for improving communication and relationships, whether within a team, with clients, or personally.
“There are four key questions you need to consider when telling a story:
“Through storytelling you can create deeper connection and empathy, leading to better understanding and collaboration. It’s not just about sharing content – it’s about building meaningful connections and inspiring positive change.”
– Selwyn Chang – Principal Civil Engineer
For any more insights from our team, feel free to reach out to our team.
