Development & Infrastructure

Answers before they become problems.

Every development project has a water dimension. Where will supply come from? What happens to wastewater? How does the groundwater behave on site? What are the potential effects on other users? The earlier those questions get answered, the better the project goes. We work from feasibility and due diligence through to design, consenting and compliance, connecting the water science to the project at every stage.

What we do.

Development projects need water expertise at multiple stages, before purchase, during design, through consenting and into operation. We work across all of those stages and across the full range of development types including residential and commercial subdivision, infrastructure projects, industrial facilities and rural developments.

Development site assessment.

Assessment of groundwater depth, variability and quality for proposed development sites. The data on groundwater issues potentially affecting foundations, services and building design that’s needed before a project commits to a site.

Water supply feasibility.

Assessment of water supply options for developments without municipal supply access. How many bores, what yield, what quality and can the effects on other users be managed? Straight answers before design begins.

Well-field design.

Design of bore-field infrastructure for development water supply, including supervision of drilling and aquifer testing to confirm yields and water quality before handover to the building or infrastructure team.

Infrastructure water impacts.

Assessment of how subsurface drainage, waterway realignment and earthworks affect local surface water and groundwater. Used for effects assessment in consent applications and managing impacts on neighbouring properties and downstream users.

Heat pump assessments.

Hydrogeological feasibility assessment, thermal effects modelling and resource consent preparation for commercial and residential ground source heat pump (GSHP) installations. We liaise with building project managers and services engineers throughout the process.

Land-based wastewater disposal.

Feasibility, irrigation design and groundwater assessment for land-based treatment and disposal of wastewater. We have contributed to the NZ Guidelines for Utilisation of Sewage Effluent on Land and peer-reviewed proposals across the country.

Vadose zone modelling.

Modelling water and contaminant movement through the unsaturated zone. Critical for assessing the assimilative capacity of land treatment sites and predicting effects on groundwater quality below the surface.

SWRMA delineation.

Delineation of Source Water Risk Management Areas for new development water supplies using default or bespoke methods, depending on the complexity of the hydrogeological setting and regulatory requirements.

Compliance monitoring.

Design and implementation of monitoring programmes for baseline data collection and ongoing consent compliance covering water levels, water quality and flow. Managed from installation through to reporting.

Every water challenge starts with a conversation.

Tell us what you need and we’ll connect you with the right person.

Get in touch

Who we work with

Property developers working on residential, commercial and infrastructure projects. Civil and environmental engineers who need specialist groundwater input within a wider project team. Planners and lawyers supporting clients through development consenting processes. We’re often referred in by lawyers, real estate agents and civil engineers when a project needs specialist water input. We work directly with developers and as sub-contractors to lead consultants and we’re flexible about the engagement model.

Learn more

How we approach it

Development projects move fast and the water questions don’t always get asked early enough. We aim to get involved at the feasibility stage, when the answers can still shape the project, not just document its risks. Data and dirty hands: we do the site work and the technical analysis, and we communicate clearly with engineers, project managers and planners who need the water piece to fit into a bigger picture. Straight answers, delivered early enough to be useful.

Learn more

Related services

Groundwater Management.

From aquifer testing and monitoring to complex numerical modelling. We build the complete picture of what's happening below the surface and what it means for users, regulators and the environment.

Resource Consents & Compliance.

Our on-farm water management services cover irrigation performance, effluent and farm water systems.

Water Modelling & Hydrology.

Hydrological assessments, catchment modelling, flood and drought analysis. The science that underpins good water management decisions at every scale – from a single farm crossing to a regional catchment.