SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation

Wastewater treatment 

Lincoln University has an established system where its wastewater is managed by the Selwyn District Council (SDC). The existence of the Selwyn District Council Wastewater Drainage Bylaw 2016 established clear standards for wastewater management, ensuring the integrity and safety of the wastewater system - protecting public health and the environment. The bylaw mandates qualified oversight of the design, construction, and maintenance of pressure drain systems, promoting best practices and regulatory compliance.

These efforts reflect the university's commitment to sustainable wastewater management. The wastewater generated by Lincoln University (LU) is directed into the Selwyn District Council's network, which ultimately feeds into the Eastern Selwyn Sewerage Scheme (ESSS), treated at the Pines Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The compliance for the Pines WWTP is governed by resource consent conditions set by the Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury).  

Preventing water system pollution 

The University actively seeks to prevent polluted water from entering its water system, including pollution resulting from campus accidents and incidents, through various strategies. During the year, the water supply at Lincoln University was tested 223 times at multiple locations, and a turbidity meter was installed to monitor water clarity. A Source Water Safety Management Plan was implemented in 2024, mapping the area of the University’s water supply (underground) and possible risk factors and mitigation. As part of the Campus Redevelopment Programme, the Landscape Masterplan included the installation of swales in car parks and paved areas to facilitate efficient drainage and filter polluting runoff.  
 
In addition to the University's efforts to prevent water pollution, the Selwyn District Council Wastewater Drainage Bylaw 2016 outlines robust procedures to prevent polluted water from entering the wastewater system. It mandates that all reasonable steps be taken to avoid stormwater and groundwater infiltration, ensuring compliance with standards that protect water quality.  

Free drinking water provided 

Lincoln University is committed to maintaining public health through its Drinking Water Management Policy, which ensures the safety and accessibility of drinking water supply and access across the campus, in line with Taumata Arowai’s new Water Services (Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand) Regulations (2022) and Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules (2022). 
 
The Property Services Team is responsible for the development, management, documentation and updating of Lincoln University’s Drinking Water Safety Management Plan- to meet the requirements of Taumata Arowai, the rules for which were finalised and accepted in 2022. The plan must include evidence of a maintenance schedule, standard operating procedures (SOP’S) and applicable emergency procedures, including:  

1. Procedures/SOP’s for managing incidents or emergencies  
2. Preventative and regular maintenance plan carried out on water provision systems  
3. Pathways to notifying Taumata Arowai in case of testing/health concerns  
4. The parameters of regular water tests carried out across our network  
5. Procedures for managing external communications and requests for information  
6. Definitions of roles & responsibilities, delegations and communication pathways.

The university provides free drinking water for students, staff and visitors, emphasising the importance of quality and management in line with national regulations. Water is freely accessible to all on campus via drinking water traps and filtered hot and cold water in kitchen facilities.  

Water-conscious building standards 

Lincoln University has established clear guidelines in its Campus Environment - Water and Biodiversity framework within the Sustainability Plan, which emphasises water conservation in capital infrastructure projects.  
 
The implementation of water sub-metering, retention ponds, greywater systems, and water-efficient building components demonstrates a commitment to minimising water use. Furthermore, the focus on behaviour changes and education supports a sustainable approach to water management across the campus, aligning with best practices in water efficiency standards. 
 
Lincoln’s Sustainability Policy clearly states the University’s commitment to actively promoting energy and water conservation practices on campus. Lincoln University seeks to apply the highest environmentally sustainable design principles wherever possible on all building projects, to adopt building management systems, and to minimise water wastage. 

Water-conscious planting

Lincoln University’s Campus Environment - Green Infrastructure framework of the Sustainability Plan emphasises the use of environmentally sustainable design principles, including the planting of drought-tolerant landscapes to minimise water usage. By adhering to Level 4 Green Star standards and implementing sustainability checklists, the University demonstrates its commitment to minimising water usage through landscaping practices. Additionally, incorporating metrics to assess costs and sustainability reinforces Lincoln’s focus on long-term environmental stewardship. 

As part of the Campus Redevelopment Programme, the Landscape Masterplan includes an overall strategy for native vegetation to minimise water use and, where possible, support and attract indigenous wildlife. This includes areas incorporating both new and existing landscapes, with planted swales and raingardens designed to utilise rainfall for watering plantings. 

Water reuse measurement 

As part of Lincoln University’s commitment to being an exemplar of sustainability in the land-based sectors, the university continues to invest in research and initiatives that promote responsible water reuse—both on campus and across its demonstration farms (used for research and teaching). 

Opened in 2023, the Waimarie Science Facility was built to Green Star building standards and showcases sustainable design in action. A standout feature is its rainwater-powered toilet flushing system, which collects stormwater runoff from Waimarie and neighbouring buildings. This collected, non-potable water is stored in two 10,000-litre tanks, then piped into the plant building and reused for flushing toilets—reducing reliance on potable water and supporting circular water use. 

Lincoln University, in partnership with Ravensdown, is leading the EcoPond project—a breakthrough in effluent management on farms. The system is currently being demonstrated on the Lincoln University Research Dairy Farm (LURDF) as an operational example for the sector.

Research shows that treating effluent with iron sulphate can reduce methane emissions from storage ponds by over 90 percent. The EcoPond system not only cuts greenhouse gas emissions but also reduces freshwater contamination from phosphate and E. coli, which allows the treated water to be safely reused by spreading it on farms for irrigation and nutrient application. The LURDF reported saving at least 50% of the water used to wash the yard in the system's first full month of operation, aiming for a total saving of 6,000,000 litres of freshwater over a 10-month season. 

Water management educational opportunities  

Lincoln University received funding over three years (2022 to 2024) from the Ministry for the Environment for the project “Building the ‘ag’ into the ‘enviro’”, a professional development programme delivered to non-agricultural students studying in areas such as policy, advisory, or regulatory with little knowledge of farm systems and capability, to equip them better to work with farmers to support the implementation of freshwater reform including waterway protection and restoration. Part of the funding has been allocated to the Engage Programme, which is developed and delivered collaboratively by the NZ Rural Leadership Trust and Lincoln University. Held over three days, the programme includes workshops, field trips and presentations from industry leaders. 

Developing a greater understanding of river systems  

Lincoln University’s 100% owned subsidiary Lincoln Agritech Limited led research that revealed the complex relationship between braided rivers and regional aquifers, aiding the future management of rivers through understanding how they store water.

In the paper Conceptualising surface water/groundwater exchange in braided river systems, published in the journal Hydrology and Earth Science Systems, the authors studied Waikirikiri/Selwyn River in Canterbury, the Wairau River in Marlborough and the Ngaruroro River in Hawke’s Bay. Their research discovered the importance of braidplain aquifers and the need to consider a river as a system, rather than just the active channels. Braidplain aquifers are thin deposits of loose gravel that contain less fine material than the surrounding sediments and act as a shallow storage reservoir within a river system, making it distinct from the regional aquifer system. The authors found that a river transfers water to a braidplain aquifer first, and from there, the water is transferred to a regional aquifer.  

Sustainable water on campus

Baseline metrics for water usage in new buildings have been established, and water consumption at Lincoln University continues to be carefully monitored. During the year, the water supply was tested 223 times at multiple locations, and a turbidity meter was installed to monitor the water's clarity. A Source Water Safety Management Plan was implemented in 2024 to ensure the sustainable and safe extraction from the on-campus groundwater bore by mapping risk factors and mitigation measures. 

Cooperation on water security

The Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management is a joint partnership between Lincoln and Canterbury Universities. The Centre highlights Lincoln University’s commitment to research and education on various aspects of water management, including governance, policy, and groundwater interaction. This research initiative supports Lincoln University’s role in promoting effective water resource management, aligning with the goal of utilising sustainable water extraction methods on and off campus.  

Researchers at Lincoln University and Canterbury University investigate a range of water management issues, including:  

• Freshwater ecology 
• River geomorphology 
• Governance and policy 
• Groundwater 
• Urban waterways 
• Lake ecology and restoration 
• Environmental monitoring, including environmental DNA 
• Freshwater biodiversity 

 
The Waterways Centre now has a Google Scholar profile that presents recent publications from the core staff team. 

Promoting conscious water usage on campus

Lincoln University is committed to minimising freshwater and marine pollution from our land-based activities and undertaking practices that promote local aquatic ecosystem health. Lincoln University applies the highest environmentally sustainable design principles wherever possible on all building projects, adopts building management systems and minimises water wastage. These principles are captured in our Sustainability Policy to promote them actively.  
 
In our Sustainability Plan, under the Campus Environment - Water and Biodiversity initiative, specific actions are outlined to promote conscious water usage on campus. By implementing measures such as water sub-metering, rainwater harvesting, and sustainable drainage systems, the university actively monitors and manages water consumption. Additionally, the emphasis on behaviour and culture change fosters a campus-wide commitment to water conservation. The Landscape Masterplan further reinforces the integration of water-efficient practices in infrastructure projects, highlighting the university's dedication to promoting responsible water usage. 

 
Promoting conscious water usage in the wider community

Lincoln University demonstrates its commitment to promoting conscious water usage through its wholly owned subsidiary, Lincoln Agritech. The institution developed a non-contact, radar-based soil moisture sensing technology that allows farmers to monitor soil moisture in real-time beneath centre pivot irrigators. This precision application technology has been shown to deliver water savings of up to 25% without loss of yield.

By licensing the technology for use in the US, Lincoln University is making a global impact on water management while also actively planning for its widespread implementation with New Zealand farmers, directly aligning with the vision of 'trusted science and technology for a better world. This commercialisation and local rollout promote the adoption of water-saving practices by end-users, directly fulfilling the goal of conscious water usage in the wider community. 
 
Lincoln Agritech researchers have developed a method that reveals how much ephemeral rivers recharge regional aquifers, using satellite imagery. 
And they can extrapolate back in time to reveal historical recharge rates from historical flow data. Ephemeral rivers regularly and naturally dry up over part of their course for part of the year. They are an important source of groundwater recharge in regions where water is scarce, set to increase with climate change. This research studied the Selwyn/Waikirikiri and Orari rivers in Canterbury.