Stopping, reducing or limiting a supply
A decision to stop, reduce or limit a supply could have serious impacts on the people who are connected to it. Keeping them informed is essential.
What to consider before changing a drinking water supply
Permanently stopping or reducing a supply of drinking water can have significant impacts on the people connected to the supply. It can also create risks to public health.
Here’s what to consider before deciding to change your supply arrangements.
Find out how to comply with the Water Services Act 2021
The main purpose of the Water Services Act 2021outbound is to ensure that everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand has access to safe drinking water. When performing its functions under the Act, The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai will take account of the scale of your supply and its complexity. Our approach will be proportionate to the level of risk associated with your supply.
For smaller supplies, we provide pragmatic solutions that you can use to be confident that the drinking water you provide is safe. These include Acceptable Solutions, scaled Rules modules, guidance, and templates. Acceptable Solutions provide drinking water suppliers with a ready-made option to meet their compliance obligations under the Act.
Communicate with the people connected to your supply
It’s important to understand how the change of supply arrangements will impact the people connected to the supply. Some may have alternative sources of drinking water they can use. But some may not and may have real difficulty finding another supply at short notice. There may also be people in your community who can assist you with the management, upkeep and maintenance of the drinking water supply.
Contact your local authority
Territorial authorities and regional councils will have information about the source of your water. They may be able to support you to resolve challenges about the quality or quantity of water available for your supply. They may also be able to help you to find a solution, such as arranging for an alternative supply to all or some of your consumers.
Notify us
If you have a registered supply and intend to stop supplying drinking water to all or some of your consumers, reduce the quantity of water you supply or limit connections to your supply, you must provide at least 30 days’ notice to the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai and your territorial authority.
Thirty days is the minimum notice period. Whether your drinking water supply is registered or unregistered, we encourage you to engage with your consumers and territorial authority as early as possible to enable a good outcome for everyone.
Our role is to ensure that all parties come together to try to find a solution.
Find out how to Notify us
If you intend to stop, reduce or limit a supply of drinking water
If you’re a registered drinking water supplier, you must provide at least 30 days’ notice to us and your territorial authority before you:
- stop supplying drinking water to all or some consumers
- reduce or limit the amount of water that you supply, or
- limit the number of connections to your supply.
If there’s a temporary restriction or reduction of your drinking water supply that exceeds 8 hours, you must:
- arrange an alternative supply of drinking water (for example, a water carrier) for your consumers
- take all practicable steps to advise affected consumers of the restriction or interruption and to keep them up to date about it
- notify us of the restriction or reduction through the Hinekōrako portal.
You do not need to notify us in the following instances
- The restriction or interruption is for planned maintenance. This must not exceed 8 hours unless prior approval has been obtained from us, or a relevant compliance rule has been adhered to.
- The restriction or interruption is unforeseen or due to an emergency. This must not exceed 8 hours unless we have been notified.
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The restriction has been imposed due to unpaid accounts or unresolved drinking water leaks. You must still supply the affected consumers a sufficient quantity of drinking water to support their ordinary drinking water needs.
If your ability to supply is at imminent risk
If your ability to supply sufficient drinking water to consumers is at risk, or is likely to be at risk, you must advise:
- The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand
- local authorities in your area (this includes both your regional council and your city or district council).
Notifying all of these agencies enables collaboration to ensure a sufficient supply of drinking water continues for consumers.
Such a notification might be necessary during a drought or other natural disaster, for example.
Change of ownership of a drinking water supply
If your drinking water supply will operate under new ownership, you must provide at least 30 days' notice to us and every relevant territorial authority.
Your notification must include the name and contact details of the new owner.
It’s important that the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai and territorial authorities can easily contact people who are operating drinking water supplies.