Safe water every day for schools 

E. coli is a type of bacteria found in the intestines and poo of people and animals. It indicates faecal contamination in water. 

E. coli can cause serious health complications, especially in young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

If your water tests positive for E. coli, it’s important to act quickly.

Act quickly if E. coli is detected

The rules and requirements of the Water Services Act 2021 outline the responsibilities of drinking water suppliers. Schools must comply with the Act and provide safe drinking water.
Water Services Act 2021 – New Zealand Legislationoutbound

Under law, schools can choose between two compliance pathways.

• Follow the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules and prepare a drinking water safety plan (DWSP).
  OR
• Use an Acceptable Solution – a way to demonstrate compliance that involves using a pre-approved approach to treatment, maintenance and testing.

The Self-supplied Buildings Acceptable Solution will be suitable for most schools with a population under 500 people and 10 buildings or fewer. Using an Acceptable Solution needs extra consideration if your school supplies water to a neighbouring property under different ownership, e.g. a community hall or early childhood centre. The Self-supplied Buildings Acceptable Solution will not cover that property. You will need to install end-point treatment for the separate property under a different solution called the Small to Medium Networks Acceptable Solution.

Acceptable Solution requirements

Ministry requirements include:

• Test for E. coli and total coliforms every month, including during the school holidays. Report results through the ‘water testing results’ tab in the Argest portal. Three clear tests are required after a positive test.
• Prepare a Ministry drinking water safety plan in line with your source water type. Templates and guidance are on the Ministry website.
  Drinking water safety plan template – Ministry of Educationoutbound

If you choose the Rules as your compliance pathway, you need to submit this plan to the Water Services Authority through the Hinekōrako self-service portal. The Ministry plan is the only DWSP you need to create.

If you choose an Acceptable Solution, you don’t need to submit your Ministry drinking water safety plan to the Authority.

Bore water is generally the safest water source, especially if your bore is over 30 metres deep from the surface to the top of the uppermost stone-filtering screen. 

Contamination can still happen in deeper bores and it’s important to be vigilant. Check with your regional council to learn about the depth of your bore.   

Risks to ground water  

• A poorly covered or maintained bore could lead to contamination entering the water you’re collecting. 
• Farm animals nearby could disturb infrastructure protecting the bore and let contaminants in.
• If the top of the bore is covered by flood water, it’s possible for silt, soil and harmful microscopic bugs to seep in.
• Because water is coming from underground, bores can be contaminated by nearby activities and infrastructure including sewage disposal fields, effluent discharge, underground storage tanks, waste ponds, landfills, offal pits and pesticides. 

How to prevent contamination  

• Make sure the bore is sealed, with no holes where contamination could enter through rainwater or surface water. You can concrete around the bore to protect it.
• Keep animals at least five metres away from bore infrastructure like pumps, covers and casing.  
• Be aware of how land around your source water is used and any risks connected with activities or infrastructure.  
• Use an effective treatment system with filtration and UV light.   

Roof water is exposed to risks.   

Risks to roof water  

• Poo from animals like birds or possums could be washed off the roof and into storage tanks when it rains. 
• A bird, mouse or other small animal could get into a storage tank if it isn’t secured and kept in good condition.   
• Tennis balls or similar on the roof can block downpipes and interrupt water supply.   
• Wind can carry contaminants onto the roof. 
• Sediment building up at the bottom of a tank could contain harmful microscopic bugs.
• If there is lead in nails, paint or other roofing materials, toxins could leach out into water.      

How to prevent contamination  

• Keep your roof clean.   
• Stop birds and animals from accessing the roof or getting into tanks. This could include cutting back any overhanging branches.
• Clear leaf screens and flush diverters after rain.  
• Check and clean tanks.  
• Make sure materials used in roofing are lead-free.
• Use an effective treatment system with filtration and UV light.  

Surface water is exposed to risks and needs to be monitored.   

Risks to surface water  

• Farming nearby could mean poo from animals makes its way into water. 
• People swimming or boating upstream of the water intake could poo, dump waste or disturb silt.   
• Heavy rain could wash poo and soil into waterways and cause cloudiness from disturbed dirt, called turbidity. If water is too turbid, filters and UV treatment can’t do their jobs properly. 
• Logging or land clearing could cause soil to slip into water, increasing turbidity. 
• Blue-green algae can introduce toxins that are dangerous to people and animals.
• Pipes carrying wastewater or stormwater could introduce contamination.    

How to prevent contamination  

• Check your water source and surrounding areas often and keep an eye out for any changes that might bring risk.
• Use an effective treatment system with filtration and UV light.
• Make sure your treatment system is equipped to manage turbidity.