Taumata Arowai Instrument Upgrade

In 2023, Water Treatment Engineers NZ helped Watercare install more than 60 new water quality analysers required to meet the updated Taumata Arowai Drinking Water Assurance Rules.

Water Treatment Engineers NZ provided project support and engineering services to help co-ordinate the installation and commissioning of the 60 new analysers across 13 operational water treatment plants. It was a highly collaborative project with key sections of the works being carried out by Watercare Process and Commissioning Engineers alongside the contractors.

Given the critical nature of compliance analysers and the large number of stakeholders across operations and maintenance departments this was a particularly challenging project. Thankfully the Watercare operations department and contractors were very driven in completing the works.

Project Background

Watercare installed new instruments at all their water treatment plants to comply with the updated Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules (2022). The project included multiple stages to meet strict deadlines including new UVT analysers, Raw Water Quality monitoring, Chlorine/pH analysers and Fluoride Analysers.

Project Objectives

The primary objectives of the project were to:

1. Install new analysers/instruments promptly to meet compliance deadlines.
2. Comply with newly issued regulations.
3. Complete installations that are safe to operate and maintain.
4. Ensure relevant controls and compliance monitoring is implemented.

Role of Water Treatment Engineers NZ

Water Treatment Engineers NZ’s Benjamin Demmer-Knight acted as Project Management Support/Project Engineer, working alongside the internal Watercare Projects, Operations and Commissioning Teams. Our responsibilities included:

1. Collaborating with the Watercare Projects and Operations teams managing 13 sites including area managers, process engineers, maintenance controllers, operation controllers, commissioning engineers, mechanical contractors, software contractors and electrical contractors.
2. Troubleshooting issues that arise during the fast-tracked process and managing rapid changes.
3. Acting as a Project Engineer providing technical support and quality checks throughout the construction phase.
4. Scoping and planning 1 of the phases including a scope of works document and procurement.
5. Collating and filing documentation.

Project Outcomes and Successes

Thanks to the close collaboration between the contractors, project team, operations and commissioning team the new instruments went in rapidly meeting key dead-lines and avoiding non-compliance. Key project outcomes included:

1. Prompt project completion minimizing costly lab sampling and avoiding non-compliance.
2. Careful balancing of a very large number of stakeholders across a large number of sites and across the entire Auckland region.
3. Instruments installed were safe to operate and maintain.
4. Installed over 60 new instruments across 13 operational water treatment plants.

Conclusion

The Taumata Arowai Instrument Upgrade Project showcases Water Treatment Engineers’ ability to collaborate effectively with clients and stakeholders to deliver high-quality outcomes. By working closely with contractors and operations throughout the project, the commissioning and handover process was seamless.