Taumata Arowai has received 10 applications from local authorities in the Canterbury region for exemptions to the requirement to provide residual disinfection for networked drinking water supplies.
Under the Water Services Act 2021, drinking water safety plans for reticulated supplies must show how the supplier will provide for residual disinfection: for example, by chlorination. The alternatives are to adopt an Acceptable Solution made by Taumata Arowai for certain kinds of supply, or to apply for and obtain an exemption to the requirement to provide residual disinfection.
To date, Selwyn District Council (SDC) has applied for two exemptions for the Rakaia Huts and Springston supplies, with further applications anticipated.
Waimakariri District Council (WDC) has submitted six applications for: the Cust, Oxford Urban – Rural No.2, Waikuku, Rangiora, Pegasus-Woodend, and Kaiapoi supplies.
Christchurch City Council (CCC) has submitted two applications, which relate to the Brooklands/Kāinga distribution zone and Christchurch (a partial exemption for chlorine contact time and continuous monitoring across the network).
While residual disinfection, or an exemption, was required for these kinds of supplies from 15 November, not all suppliers will be able to provide it or have an exemption in place immediately. Suppliers will need to invest in the infrastructure and capability necessary to meet the new requirements or to work through the exemption process.
Where exemptions have not yet been obtained or further investment is required, Taumata Arowai expect to see these considerations and anticipated timeframes addressed in drinking water safety plans, along with information about how safe drinking water will be provided in the meantime.
Bill Bayfield, Chief Executive of the new water services regulator Taumata Arowai, said that the provision of safe and sufficient drinking water supplies in Aotearoa is complex because there are so many variables across supplies and the risks they present.
“Drinking water suppliers must plan and manage the risks associated with their supplies and provide us with the assurance that they are providing safe drinking water.”
“As the regulator we don’t give supplies ‘the seal of approval’ that they’re compliant with the Act, instead the supplier must give us the assurance they are managing their risks effectively. This is a new regulatory regime, and we’re in a transition period as suppliers adjust their arrangements so we need to be pragmatic, but this is an opportunity to make sure that everyone can get safe drinking water every day,” said Bayfield.
WDC and CCC have chosen to manage the risks of continuing their current methods of operating with some unchlorinated urban supplies while their exemption applications are assessed. We will be watching their activities closely, as they work to ensure that safe drinking water is provided to their consumers in the meantime. They have the capacity to turn on chlorination for some of these supplies if a safety issue emerges.
SDC has elected to mitigate its risks by upgrading its infrastructure, including investing in the capacity to chlorinate, and introducing residual disinfection while its exemption applications are processed. SDC’s investment approach also supports its current and future exemption applications.
“Taumata Arowai applauds this approach, which provides confidence that Selwyn residents will continue to receive safe drinking water,” said Bayfield.
If residual disinfection or exemptions are not in place straight away, we will engage with suppliers to understand their proposed timeframes for those things and how they intend to respond to drinking water safety risks in the meantime. We have various tools available to us under the Water Services Act that we can use if we aren’t satisfied as to the timeframes involved or that safe drinking water will be provided for the duration.
Media contact
Email: media@taumataarowai.govt.nz
Note for editors
Taumata Arowai is the new water services regulator for Aotearoa New Zealand. Our goal is to ensure people have access to safe and sufficient drinking water every day.