We all want to know we’re drinking safe water when we turn on the tap.
Who looks after your water?
A number of organisations help to keep drinking-water safe in New Zealand communities.
Water suppliers
Most people are on a water supply owned by their territorial local authority (TLA) – like a district or city council. There are also a number of smaller water suppliers, and some people manage their own household water supply.
The water supplier:
- extracts the source water
- runs the treatment plant to remove risks or contaminants where needed
- pipes the water to your house.
The Taumata Arowai Public Register of Drinking Water Supplies provides information about drinking-water suppliers and the types of supplies they manage.
Public health units
Your local public health unit is part of your district health board. They assess the TLAs in your area and ensure they maintain appropriate water quality.
Public health units investigate any outbreak of a notifiable infectious disease, which includes a waterborne diseases like campylobacter.
Who is responsible when?
Taumata Arowai is the new regulator for safe drinking-water. If you have concerns over the safety of your drinking-water, you should notify your water supplier first. For additional guidance, go to the Taumata Arowai website.