Incidents and emergencies
Advice and an explanation of roles and responsibilities when a drinking water supply is (or faces an imminent threat of becoming) unsafe to drink.
For drinking water suppliers
In an emergency
If there is an imminent risk of serious illness or death arising from your drinking water supply, or you need to discuss an urgent matter contact the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai by calling 04 889 8350.
Notify us
As a drinking water supplier, you must prepare for and respond to an incident that puts the safety or amount of drinking water you supply at risk. If you think your water supply may be unsafe you must take all necessary steps to protect the health of consumers. You must advise people who may be affected straight away and notify us about the issue.
For laboratories
In an emergency
If you consider there is an immediate risk to public health, you should alert the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai by calling 04 889 8350.
Notify us
Laboratories testing drinking water samples have a duty to notify us if a drinking water sample does not comply with the Drinking Water Standards or Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules.
Our role in an emergency
In an emergency, particularly where multiple supplies, districts, or regions may be affected, the Water Services Authority -Taumata Arowai will support and coordinate the drinking water component of the broader emergency response.
We will work with the leading agency to help coordinate drinking water resources regionally and/or nationally. As our resources permit, we will integrate into the most affected relief areas. This will ensure suppliers focus on their tasks to restore or maintain safe drinking water supplies for their consumers.
For the public
In an emergency, follow the advice of your local Civil Defence / council.
If you believe your drinking water is not safe or have another concern, you should first contact your drinking water supplier. Not sure who supplies your water? Check our public register of water suppliers.
If, after raising your concern with your drinking water supplier, you believe your drinking water is still unsafe then please let us know using this form: hinekorako.taumataarowai.govt.nz/concernoutbound
Find out more about drinking water in an emergency.
Find out more
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Drinking water in an emergency
Find out about how to stay safe during a drinking water emergency and the role we play.Find out more
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Staying well during a boil water notice
What treated and untreated water can be used for when a boil water notice is in place.Find out more
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Drinking water following a flood
Advice for making water safe following a flood, including for bore water and rainwater suppliesFind out more