Three Waters reforms are needed to protect public health and ensure changes are economically sustainable and efficient

Friday, July 22nd, 2022 | cooju60p | 1 Comment

Dr Tim Chambers, Prof Nick Wilson, Prof Simon Hales, Marnie Prickett, Prof Michael Baker*

Chambers T, Wilson N, Hales S, Prickett M, Baker M. Three Waters reforms are needed to protect public health and ensure changes are economically sustainable and efficient. Public Health Expert Blog. 22 July 2022. https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/pubhealthexpert/three-waters-reforms-are-needed-to-protect-public-health-and-ensure-changes-are-economically-sustainable-and-efficient/

Public discourse on the Three Waters reforms has been dominated by anti-co-governance rhetoric and concerns around privatisation. This debate has drowned out the fundamental problem statement justifying the reforms. In this blog, we re-focus the discussion on the critical need to reform the management of drinking water resources which is currently: 1)  inadequate to protect public health and promote health equity; and 2)  economically unsustainable and inefficient.   Continue reading