Beacon

Integrated water management is the management of water supply, waste water and stormwater, also known as three waters management. 

Use of integrated water management overseas and in New Zealand

Integrated water management is being promoted in many countries and is at various stages of application across the world. Much of the focus is on stormwater management and how that can be a backdrop for improved urban design; working in tandem with nature.  However, it is, as yet, relatively untried in New Zealand.

Current research status

There is a substantial body of overseas research on this subject but only pockets of research in New Zealand, lacking in breadth and geographic coverage. This absence of research-based information is hindering the application of low impact stormwater management alternatives over traditional approaches.

The overseas research, while providing useful background, is not entirely applicable to the New Zealand context which needs to take account of differing climates, regulations and policies and building typologies. The integrated water management research that has been carried out in New Zealand has in the main focused on one individual component of integrated water management at a time, primarily stormwater management. However, there still remain many gaps in research into the integration of the three main water services and their relationship to natural water cycles.

Our research

1) Provision of systems or products

What criteria should the design of an on-site or community based integrated water management system meet to reach maximum water use efficiency?  We’re looking at products such as new pipe systems to reduce leaks, water supply and stormwater storage tanks, greywater recycling systems and other components of low impact urban design.

Many on-site water management systems are available but they do not fully integrate the three water systems nor minimise some of the health and maintenance barriers which reduce current uptake.  We see the potential for products which integrate all three waters and which optimise their efficient management.

2) Making the value case for efficient urban water systems

We believe that there is value for everyone from central government to water suppliers to councils to consumers if our water management is more efficient, and we want to show it. 

We’re developing value cases for both the efficient use of water and for the efficient management of water.  Improving the resilience of our water systems in the face of droughts, storms, floods and earthquakes will benefit all New Zealanders.

3)   Removing barriers and myths which deter the uptake of efficient urban water systems

We’re looking at the barriers that exist to the uptake of water efficient systems, barriers such as regulations, health issues and bureaucracy. 

Our research and much anecdotal information indicates that people may want to include more water efficient features in their homes but can be easily put off by a lack of information, a regulatory/consent barrier, or the lack of integration of aspects of the service being easily available. Information is also often based on misconceptions or lack of research based information, especially relating to health issues or there are concerns about maintenance issues which mean that a conservative less water use efficient approach is taken.

Those are all issues which can be addressed and overcome so that barriers to water use efficiency are overcome.

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  30-Jun-2009 (Report WA7090/3)

  Integrated Water Management Design Criteria Report (PDF 354KB)

  David Kettle

  This project developed a product design criteria methodology to assess water saving products and systems to identify potential commercial opportunities.  The best overall 'score' came from a combined 'system', comprising a low flow shower head, a water efficient washing machine, a 9,000 litre rain water tank and greywater reuse.Two potential commercial opportunities were identified; the installation of a relatively small 200 litre rainwater tank attached to the side of the house to supply toilet water only; and a 'modular' tank system where small storage blocks of 200 to 300 litres each could be connected up in irregular shapes to fit under decks, etc.