ESR Water Group

ESR

ESR is the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, a Crown Research Institute with science centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. It provides consulting, research and analytical services to government and industry, especially in the areas of environental health and forensic sciences. About 400 staff perform this work.

Within environmental health, ESR has major capabilities in the areas of water quality, food safety, population and environmental health, and communicable diseases.

The Water Group

The ESR Water Group is located in Christchuch, has around 40 scientific staff, and has recognised expertise in drinking water regulation and policy, surface and groundwater protection, information systems, effective water treatment and supply technologies, and working with local communities. Disciplines include chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, and social sciences.

Water Group Projects especially related to drinking-water in New Zealand include:

Health and Environment Public Policy

Development of model public health risk management plans
Developing guidelines and resources to address the risk to public health from drinking water quality in small communities
Technical input into the development of the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards 2000, Public Health Grading 2003, and the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Management
Determination of the effectiveness of on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems

Water Quality Surveillance and National Reporting

Programme for the identification of Priority 2 determinands
Annual Review of the Quality of Drinking-Water in New Zealand
Register of Community Drinking-Water Supplies in New Zealand

Information Systems Development and Management

The Water Group plays a key role in developing and managing the following systems:

WINZ (Water Information New Zealand). Used by ESR, Ministry of Health, District Health Boards and Water Suppliers throughout New Zealand to investigate and demonstrate the health status of supplies.
SWSS (Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme). Facilitates the prioritization of applications for subsidies in line with government-specified criteria.
CoSINZ (Community Sewerage Information New Zealand). Identifies and describes all communities applying for SWSS subsidies.
NZMTD (New Zealand Microbial Typing Database). This development will establish a harmonised subtyping methodology and a national database for the subtyping of zoonotic micro-organisms for New Zealand.

Water Supply Assessment and Treatment

Investigation of Campylobacter transmission processes
Risk assessment projects for sewage outfalls, drinking and recreational waters
Technical solutions to drinking-water source or treatment problems

Research

Characterising faecal indicator and zoonotic pathogen reservoirs in grazing animals and waterfowl
Developing methods of faecal source identification and quantification in waters with respect to its human, bird, farm or wild animal origins.
Groundwater systems contamination modelling, including pesticides and land-use impacts.
Improved water management through integrating scientifc and social values.
Removal of microbial indicators and pathogens at different stages of wastewater treatment.

Many of these projects involve joint approaches with other organisations, while all involve a combination of scientific knowledge combined with working directly with those affected by the outcome.

If you would like to know more about one of these areas, check first for contacts on the ESR website or contact us in the Water Information Systems team and we will forward it to the relevant person.