Beyond ageing pipes. Urban water systems for the 21st century
15 April 2001
This report contains the findings of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's investigation into urban water systems. It follows the discussion paper Ageing pipes and murky waters. Urban water system issues for the 21st Century (PCE 2000) and the summary of submissions made in response to that document (PCE 2001).
The report addresses:
- the ecological context of an urban water system - including water supply, wastewater disposal and stormwater management;
- the water system infrastructure and technologies - now and in the future;
- the legislation, regulations and institutional arrangements for managing water - barriers and opportunities;
- community views and values - concern for equity and social justice; and
- tangata whenua and water - recognising cultural links and Treaty obligations.
Four major areas of challenge are identified and addressed by specific recommendations:
- The fragmented nature of water systems management and the lack of a clear central government 'home' for the necessary policy and legislation that underpin this essential resource and its infrastructure.
- The lack of stakeholder awareness and understanding of urban water systems and involvement in their management. One of the biggest challenges will be reaching consensus between the various stakeholders on the environmental, social and economic goals of urban water systems. There is a need for a more detailed understanding of community and business expectations and provision of information to promote awareness and understanding of the issues. More research is required on technologies, including those that can be adopted from overseas, as well as social and economic research into urban water systems and options.
- The community and political tensions surrounding the way we currently construct our water businesses: who owns, who manages and how water is valued and priced. The issue of pricing and charging for water dominated the submission responses with widespread support for flow-based user charges. This support was coupled with recognition that community concerns about equitable access to water and privatisation of water systems were a major impediment to the implementation of flow-based charges.
- The lack of appreciation of the need to manage waters in an integrated way according to ecosystem principles. This includes recognition that water is not an unlimited resource.