Consultation launched on proposed changes to drinking water Acceptable Solutions

Every day, drinking water suppliers play a vital role supporting the health and wellbeing of people across New Zealand by providing them with safe, reliable drinking water.

To help, the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai (the Authority) provides different options for suppliers to meet their responsibilities and provide the communities they serve with good quality drinking water.

The Authority has begun consulting on proposed changes to the current Acceptable Solutions compliance options for:

• rural supplies that provide water for farm use (e.g. irrigation, stock) as well as for people to drink
• drinking water supplies that serve 500 people or fewer.

For some suppliers, following the requirements of an Acceptable Solution may be a more straightforward and cost-effective way to meet their responsibilities than completing a drinking water safety plan and following the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules.

Acceptable Solutions enable water to be treated at or near any buildings where people will drink it. This could include using an ‘end-point’ treatment system, which uses filters and ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect the water.

Some drinking water suppliers have told us it can be challenging to figure out if an Acceptable Solution is the best approach for their supplies and community.

To respond to this feedback, we’re proposing changes to help:

• make it easier to figure out whether an Acceptable Solution is right for a supply
• simplify requirements for end-point treatment, and in so doing, save suppliers and their communities time, effort and cost, while delivering good quality drinking water to the people who drink it every day.

Public consultation on the proposed changes is open until 5pm on Friday 13 June.

For more information and to have your say, visit the consultation webpage: korero.taumataarowai.govt.nz/regulatory/acceptable-solutions