Legal obligations

As a water supplier, you must comply with the Water Services Act 2021. Your key obligations are to:

• supply safe drinking water
• provide enough drinking water
• meet the drinking water standards
• comply with the rules and directives of Taumata Arowai as water services regulator
• take reasonable steps to supply water that looks and tastes pleasant
• protect against backflow risk
• make sure officers, employees and staff do not put the water supply at risk.

Water Services Act 2021 – New Zealand Legislation

Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand Regulations 2022 – New Zealand Legislation

Taumata Arowai regulations

Your key obligations are to:

• update your registration with Taumata Arowai each year
• regularly test your treated and source water to confirm it is safe
• notify Taumata Arowai if your water supply is disrupted for an extended period or is contaminated
• respond promptly to incidents of contamination including advising water users about the potential of contamination
• prepare, lodge and regularly update a drinking water safety plan
• show and keep records of regular maintenance
• confirm that your water treatment plant has the treatment and monitoring equipment required to comply with the rules and standards.

For water suppliers – Taumata Arowai

Meet your requirements as a water supplier

As a supplier, you need to understand your water supply system. You must collect and document this information in your drinking water safety plan.

Your water system includes:

• the water source
• treatment system
• the nature and layout of your pipe network.

Schools should have 20 to 25 litres of water available per person per day.

Drinking water safety plan (DWSP)

Schools with their own water supply must have a drinking water safety plan. Use our templates and guidance to create the plan. You may need a professional to help.

The plan needs to be uploaded to Taumata Arowai on their Hinekōrako portal.

Rainwater

Groundwater and springs

Rainwater, groundwater and springs

Surfacewater

Test for E. Coli and total coliforms monthly

All self-supplying schools must test for these bacteria every month, including during the school holidays. If E. coli bacteria are detected, you will need to:

• immediately restrict access to water
• arrange an alternative safe supply
• follow up on and eliminate the possible cause of contamination
• do 3 consecutive re-tests to confirm that the water is safe to drink again.

You will also need to test your source water. Download our guide for more information on how and when to test your water and what to do if your water is contaminated. Using this guide is a requirement if your water is contaminated.

Day-to-day maintenance

You must complete routine cleaning and maintenance of your water infrastructure to keep it safe and healthy. This includes:

• flushing water pipes at the start of each term
• regularly cleaning gutters and roofs when they are used for drinking water collection
• cleaning leaf screens and first flush diverters
• checking and cleaning any filters.

Scheduled maintenance

You must undertake regular, scheduled maintenance of your water source, storage and treatment infrastructure. You need to employ a suitably qualified professional for this work.

Download the drinking water maintenance tool for more detailed maintenance and service guidelines for your water supply.

We will reimburse costs associated with supplying water

Costs to meet compliance, maintain and test your water supply should be paid for from our heat, light and water operation grant. When costs are more than your grant you can claim excess costs from us.

More support

Contact the Water Services team for advice if you are considering upgrading your equipment or employing consultants.

Email: [email protected]

Contact your property advisor at your regional office if you need help.

Regional offices