Changes in the ecology of the coastal lagoon on Rarotonga and Aitutaki have stimulated initiatives to monitor lagoon water quality in an attempt to determine baseline (or "normal" water quality) and identify the cause of ecological changes. This monitoring is being done by the Cook Islands Ministry of Marine Resources. The results of this work are important to the Cook Islands Ministry of Health because of its role in identifying potential health risks in recreational waters. Lagoon water samples are analysed at the Ministry of Marine Resources laboratory with considerable technical and financial assistance provided by NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research New Zealand). The Ministry of Health monitors drinking water quality at the 12 water intakes and at the factories that produce bottled drinking water and has these samples analysed at the hospital laboratory. The Ministry of Works also monitors drinking water quality at the 12 intakes to determine the effectiveness of their water supply infrastructure. They do the analyses at the Ministry of Works and are currently seeking to upgrade their facilities. The Ministry of Marine Resources would like laboratory analyses performed on fish to determine eligibility for export to international markets. The Ministry of Health, Tourism Industry Council and wastewater industry would like laboratory analyses performed on treated wastewater effluent in order to determine the effectiveness of wastewater treatment systems. Tests on treated wastewater effluent will be mandatory under the Public Health (Sewage) Regulations from January 2011.
While the demand for laboratory testing has increased, problems have occurred with duplication of effort, lack of resources and quality of some data. This has brought about the need to investigate the possibility of centralizing laboratory services and expanding capability to allow for testing of fish and wastewater. The Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd of New Zealand (ESR) has completed a scoping report for such a laboratory. To download a copy of this report, please click here.
