Zoo wins national award for conservation of precious resource

Auckland Zoo is delighted to have won the FMANZ (Facilities Management Association of New Zealand) 2022 inaugural Sustainability and Environmental Impact award for its conservation and sustainable use of freshwater.

The new national award, ‘Te Tohu Whakaaweawe Whakauke me te Taiao’ recognised the Zoo’s innovative practices in water management and commitment to ‘Whakawhanake i te tōpūtanga kia ora – evolving our organisation sustainably.

“Freshwater is essential to all life on Earth, making it one of our most precious natural resources” says Monica Lake, the head of Zoo environment, design, and construction.

“Our unique freshwater biodiversity depends on healthy aquatic ecosystems to survive and thrive, as do terrestrial species and ecosystems. For us humans, freshwater is also vital for our wellbeing, for food, electricity production and a myriad of other everyday uses and needs –and our Zoo feels a great responsibility to conserve and use it wisely.”

In working with external suppliers, engaging teams across the Zoo, and with the help of upgraded infrastructure in recent years, the Zoo’s highly skilled and dedicated facilities team, has been able to continually improve water monitoring and leak management. It has reduced potable water use in the Zoo, moved the Zoo to more non-potable sources like rainwater and improved water quality and reliability of non-potable water.

“Through continuously evolving our on-site operation, our team has achieved cumulative water savings of 146,576m3 ($586,304) since 2017, and over the past year, achieved forecast annual water savings of 26,000m3 (over $100,000),” explains the Zoo’s environmental initiatives advisor, Claudine Gibson.

“Additionally, with all buildings in our new South East Asia Jungle Track (SEAJT) having water tanks installed, we’ve been able to increase our rainwater harvesting capacity from 140,000 litres up to 420,000 litres – the equivalent of 5,250 household filled bath tubs!

“The 200,000-litre capacity aquarium in the Jungle Track’s Indonesian swamp forest is a great example of the benefits of harvesting rainwater. As any good aquarist will know, aquariums require regular water changes. From an animal care perspective, rainwater is exceptionally clean and soft and helps maintain the delicate balance of the water chemistry – keeping the water perfectly balanced for the health of the animals – like the freshwater crocodiles, who get to live in the very best freshwater,” says Claudine.

Auckland Zoo, a net carbonzero (Toitū) certified organisation since 2016, and home to more than 2,200 animals and 137 different species within a great diversity of habitats, has a complex operating environment, including visitor and staff facilities across its 16.5 hectares. Along with potable (Watercare) mains water and rainwater harvesting, thanks to Auckland Council’s Wai Ora Healthy Waterways, the Zoo is able to draw and recycle water via a gravity loop from neighbouring Western Springs lake – a natural spring.

Upgraded infrastructure with smart technology, which includes an extensive network of metres installed across the Zoo, enables us to very closely monitor, track and trace our water use, to then quickly identity and resolve any issues - like leaks.

Monica Lake says thanks to the facilities team sharing the Zoo’s water journey, there’s now huge awareness, understanding, appreciation and buy-in from the Zoo’s 400+ team of staff and volunteers, of water use and management.

“It’s exciting to see the progress we’re making in our commitment to keep evolving our organisation sustainably, and these results inspire us to keep improving.”