Using nationwide geospatial data to build a comprehensive understanding of public water supply, quality and inequity in New Zealand

Geospatial Research Seminar Series (GRISS)

 

 

 

 

Speakers:

 

Tim Chamber, Senior Research Fellow at University of Otago

Matt Hobbs, Senior lecturer (above the bar) at the University of Canterbury

 

 

Seminar Summary:

Reliable supply of safe drinking water is vital for human health. Despite this, there is no consistent nationwide spatial dataset of water distribution zones (WDZ) for Aotearoa New Zealand (A-NZ). In this talk, we will outline the development of a nationwide geospatial dataset of WDZ using data compiled from the 67 district and city councils in A-NZ. We will also outline several early use cases for the WDZ dataset. These use cases include 1) a retrospective cohort study investigating the association between maternal exposure to nitrate in drinking water and preterm birth; 2) a retrospective cohort study investigating the association between maternal and child exposure to fluoride in drinking water and oral health and neurodevelopmental outcomes; and 3) an overview of inequities in access to and performance of community water fluoridation schemes. This WDZ geospatial dataset unlocks a huge number of potential research opportunities to investigate the public health and equity implications of drinking water quality in Aotearoa-NZ.

 

 

 

 

Thursday 20 July 2023
Ernest Rutherford 263 | University of Canterbury or Online via Zoom

  • Refreshments & Networking:  12:30-13:00
  • Seminar:   13:00-14:00

 

All are welcome!

 

 

Seminar’s video recording:

GRISS-July-2023-Public water suppy in NZ

 

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