Building a better future for water infrastructure in Aotearoa requires a strong understanding of the systems, water and opportunities.

Everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand should be able to trust and rely on the performance of their public drinking water, wastewater and stormwater networks. People should have confidence that these networks are being operated in a way that reduces negative impacts on the environment and people’s health.

Under the Water Services Act 2021 Taumata Arowai are responsible for monitoring and reporting on the environmental performance of public drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater networks and their operators.

To ensure ongoing improvement, Taumata Arowai engaged Morphum to perform an in-depth review of the methodology, data and analysis underpinning the national environmental performance measures and report.

‍

Network Environmental Performance Measures

‍

Taumata Arowai, as the water regulator in New Zealand, were given powers and responsibilities under the Water Services Bill 2021. One of those responsibilities is the monitoring and reporting of networks and network operators environmental performance. Taumata Arowai developed the Network Environmental Performance Measures that are collated and analysed with reporting through the National Environmental Measures Report. A phased approach to implementation is being undertaken with an increasing number of measures being implemented each year.

The first report was developed following the 2022/2023 financial year, which highlighted some fundamental issues in reporting on specific measures. For the 2023/24 reporting Taumata Arowai decided that external input and guidance would be beneficial to ensure ongoing improvement in the industries understanding of measures as well as quality assurance review of data and analysis.

‍

‍

The Analysis

‍

The project would undergo three primary stages:

1. Review of the analysis methodology that Taumata Arowai were intending to use to assess the data responses

2. Verification and quality assurance of the submitted data, along with direct discussions with a sample of councils on measures relating to water supply network asset condition and water loss measures.

3. Reviewing the subsequent analysis that Taumata Arowai undertook to draw comparisons across several metrics between respondents of various sizes and financial capabilities.

This project would need to be undertaken in a tight timeframe without compromising the quality of the analysis.

Over the course of the process stakeholders would have large input to improving the methodology and validation, with Morphum interviewing 20 councils to gain a stronger understanding of their submitted data.

‍

‍

The Outcome

‍

With the performance report being prepared, Taumata Arowai has been able to report with increased understanding and confidence in the data included in the review. With Morphum’s quality assurance, data verification and analysis review, our water regulators have actionable recommendations for the future of the reporting process.

With the tight timeframe and budget for the project, Morphum was able to deliver rapid and comprehensive analysis to ensure that Taumata Arowai received a fit-for-purpose and valuable review.

‍