The Establishment of an Indigenous‐Led Drinking Water Monitoring Program Leveraging qPCR and Metagenomics Testing in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

An Indigenous‐led monitoring program was established in partnership with the South Island Māori (Indigenous population of New Zealand [NZ]) tribe of NZ to understand and improve local drinking water safety. The aims of the project were to: (1) establish an Indigenous‐led drinking water monitoring program; (2) utilize a full suite of monitoring tools to understand source water hazards and treatment efficacy; and (3) test the effectiveness of advanced water sampling techniques in Indigenous communities. Advanced sampling techniques were used for fecal source tracking to identify existing public health hazards and to provide assurance that any remedial interventions were effective. The program trained a total of 27 individuals from 16 different Indigenous communities in water quality sampling and helped to identify and address six microbial water quality issues. This project underscored the benefits of engaging Indigenous Peoples in governance and decision‐making processes and in alleviating systemic barriers that prevent Indigenous communities from realizing safe water quality and sufficient water infrastructure.