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Prevention

A national burden of disease analysis of water-borne disease from community drinking water infrastructure

This project aims to establish a Māori-led audit and surveillance programme for drinking water systems on marae in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā; estimate the burden of AGI attributable to community drinking water supplies in Aotearoa that assesses differences by ethnicity and deprivation; assist Taumata Arowai to estimate the potential health and equity benefits of improvements to community drinking water infrastructure. 

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Principal Investigator
Dr Tim Chambers and Connor Redmile
University of Otago, Te Kura Taka Pini, University of Canterbury
Public Contact
Tim Chambers
tim.chambers@otago.ac.nz
Project Timeframe/Status
2024-02-02 -
In Process

Whakarāpopoto Rangahau Summary of Research

It has been estimated that between 18,000 and 34,000 people in Aotearoa develop acute gastrointestinal disease (AGI) each year from contamination of drinking water supplies. However, this estimate was completed in 2006 and has a number of limitations. 

Taumata Arowai, the new water services regulator, is introducing new rules that will require registration for marae and other small water providers.

Te Kura Taka Pini (TKTP), the freshwater entity of Ngāi Tahu, has highlighted that some marae within the Ngāi Tahu Takiwā where unaware of potential issues with their water supplies, prompting the development of a Māori-led testing and monitoring system to track water quality over time and intervene and provide support when necessary.  

This project aims to establish a Māori-led audit and surveillance programme for drinking water systems on marae in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā; estimate the burden of AGI attributable to community drinking water supplies in Aotearoa that assesses differences by ethnicity and deprivation; assist Taumata Arowai to estimate the potential health and equity benefits of improvements to community drinking water infrastructure. 

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Te Hiranga a Rangahau Research Impact

We will estimate the current burden of AGI attributable to community drinking water supplies in Aotearoa. The methodological approach is based on that utilised to estimate AGI attributable to contaminated drinking water in Canadian and US community water supplies. In brief, the approach involves two main steps: assessing AGI risks for each water distribution zone (WDZ) from source water to tap, using data on source water contamination, treatment methods and efficacy, and reticulation system quality; and assessing international epidemiological evidence for AGI risks in relation to the quality of drinking water system components (source, treatment, reticulation). 

In partnership with Te Kura Taka Pini, researchers at the University of Otago support the expansion of a testing programme for nitrate in drinking water and formalise the training of people within each Rūnanga to take ownership of and become champions for drinking water quality. We will extend the current testing to quarterly testing for pathogens (e.g. E. coli) and establish a monitoring programme so that drinking water quality can be tracked over time.

The training will include provision of information on how to collect, store and transport samples for testing, how to interpret the results of any tests, how to store and analyse water quality data and potential interventions when water quality is degrading.

We will carry out an audit of drinking water systems at each marae and estimate the potential AGI risk, based on results of pathogen surveillance (see below). This audit will include supporting marae to make any improvements needed to either meet compliance obligations under the Water Services Act 2021; to meet their own community aspirations, mana motuhake, for drinking water quality. 

The results of this project will help better understand the public health burden of contaminated drinking water in Aotearoa New Zealand. It will help identify aspects of our water infrastructure are most likely contributing to this burden, what areas are most affected and who is most affected. The new information will provide insights into where is best to intervene to ensure all New Zealanders have access to clean drinking water. 

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Te Niwha

Kairangahau Research Personnel

​​Dr Tim Chambers
University of Otago 

Mr Connor Redmile, Ngāi Tahu
Te Kura Taka Pini  

Dr Hana Royal,Ngāi Tahu    
University of Otago 

Professor Simon Hales
University of Otago 

Professor Michael Baker    
University of Otago 

Dr Alice Kim
University of Otago 

Dr Farnaz Pourzand
University of Otago 

Dr Matt Hobbs
University of Canterbury 

Dr Lukas Marek
University of Canterbury 

Mr Mario Puente Sierra
University of Canterbury 

Project Timeframe 

​2 years 

Locations 

National and Ngāi Tahu Takiwā 

Media Contact 

Tim Chambers
tim.chambers@otago.ac.nz
Phone: 021 100 4066