Taumata Arowai is not part of the Three Waters Reform programme looking to create new publicly owned water entities. Our role is to regulate rather than determine future changes to the delivery of water services.
The proposed documents we are consulting on relate to our regulatory role under the Water Services Act 2021. They are targeted at drinking water suppliers and contain technical content that will guide the way drinking water is supplied safely to people in Aotearoa. We’re currently seeking feedback on the following:
• Drinking Water Standards
• Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules
• Drinking Water Aesthetic Values
• Drinking Water Acceptable Solution for Roof Water Supplies
• Drinking Water Acceptable Solution for Spring and Bore Water Supplies
• Drinking Water Acceptable Solution for Rural Agricultural Water Supplies
• Drinking Water Network Environmental Performance Measures
We’ve developed these documents in collaboration with sector reference groups from various drinking water supply types from across Aotearoa, along with international experts. The reference groups included representatives from Māori communities, rural agricultural water supplies, Federated Farmers and local authorities.
Our focus in the first year will be on transitioning drinking water suppliers previously registered under the Health Act. These suppliers must provide a drinking water safety plan that complies with the Water Services Act 2021 by 15 November 2022. In contrast, unregistered suppliers (operating immediately before 15 November 2021) will have up to four years to register and up to seven years to fully comply with the Water Services Act 2021.
To note: Ministry for the Environment is also currently running a consultation, which focuses solely on the protection of sources of drinking water. To have your say go to
Ministry for the Environment - Citizen Space
To learn more about Taumata Arowai please click here.
Have Your Say
Your feedback will help to inform our decisions on the content of the documents we are consulting on.
Submissions are open from 17 January to 28 March 2022. We encourage you to complete the online submission form for some or all of the documents below.
For further information or questions about our consultations please email korero@taumataarowai.govt.nz
Proposed documents for consultation
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Drinking Water Standards
The proposed Drinking Water Standards (the Standards) will replace the existing Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand (revised 2018). They set limits for contaminants and other characteristics of drinking water. The Standards apply to all drinking water... More
Closed 28 March 2022
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Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules
The Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules (the Rules) set out the requirements a drinking water supplier must comply with to help ensure the drinking water they provide is safe. The Rules are ‘compliance rules’ for the purposes of the Water Services Act... More
Closed 28 March 2022
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Drinking Water Aesthetic Values
The aesthetic values (properties) of drinking water that affect its acceptability to consumers, including its taste, odour, appearance and in some instances feel. Consumers will often be more aware of these values than the health-related limits that influence... More
Closed 28 March 2022
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Drinking Water Acceptable Solution for Roof Water Supplies
This Acceptable Solution can be used to demonstrate that certain roof water supplies comply with the requirements of the Water Services Act 2021. This Acceptable Solution may only be used where a networked community supply is not available to the buildings... More
Closed 28 March 2022
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Drinking Water Acceptable Solution for Spring and Bore Drinking Water Supplies
A number of marae, papakāinga, small communities, and camping grounds take drinking water from springs and bores and reticulate the drinking water to multiple properties. It is not currently known exactly how many of these supplies exist in New Zealand. ... More
Closed 28 March 2022
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Drinking Water Acceptable Solution for Rural Agricultural Water Supplies
Rural agricultural drinking water supplies primarily provide stock water or irrigation water and at least 65% of the total supply must be for this purpose. These supplies can also provide drinking water to houses connected to the stock water or irrigation... More
Closed 28 March 2022
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Drinking Water Network Environmental Performance
The Water Services Act 2021 introduces new requirements to monitor and report on the environmental performance of certain drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater suppliers and their operators. These requirements are designed to... More
Closed 28 March 2022