What We Did
With new rules and regulations introduced in September 2020 as part of the Government’s Essential Freshwater package of reforms, water treatment plants will be required to bring their facilities up to standard to meet the more stringent water discharge guidelines. Associate Professor O’Sullivan’s research focuses on creating ecologically sound design solutions for treating polluted waters.
“With Māori and iwi, we are developing a valuable project which has the potential to disrupt the water treatment sector – and most importantly return Te Mana o te Wai to our ecosystems and tangata whenua,” A/Professor O’Sullivan says. “We are going to produce the next generation of wastewater treatment media that are 3D-printed to precise specifications and made from biomaterials, including some waste resources”. The Science for Technological Innovation (SfTi) Spearhead project, ‘Clean Water Technology for restoring Te Mana o te Wai (CWT)’, is a nationwide, multi-institutional, three-year project.
Who Was Involved
The Science for Technological Innovation (SfTi), Māori research advisor including Craig Pauling (Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha and Ngāti Mutunga) and during the research proposal stage were supported by Troy Brockbank (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi), who is an urban stormwater engineer/Kaitohutohu Matua Taiao and on the board of Water New Zealand.
Why It Matters
We all rely on the wellbeing of our water. Rivers and lakes are integral to Māori cultural identity especially. Their health and wellbeing is intrinsically connected to the health and wellbeing of whānau, iwi and hapū. New Zealanders want to swim, fish, gather mahinga kai and enjoy freshwater as our whakapapa did. We also need clean water to drink and irrigation to support a sustainable economy. However, its deterioration, in both the rural and urban landscapes, is a critical and global challenge. This has caused substantial ecosystem decline and ultimately impacts on our food security and mauri (health).
Learn More
- www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/2018781953/engineering-new-ways-to-treat-dirty-water
- www.sftichallenge.govt.nz/news/ko-te-wai-ko-te-ora-tackling-fresh-water-pollution/
- Centre for EcoLogical Technology Solutions (CELTS): www.celts.org.nz/
- https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/engineering/schools/cnre/research/osullivan/
