Working towards safe drinking water for everyone
Safe drinking water, available to everyone, is a fundamental requirement for public health. Drinking water can contain harmful germs such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Campylobacter, Salmonella and E.coli O157 that can cause serious illness.
Community and Public Health works on behalf of the Ministry of Health to facilitate improvement in the quality of community drinking water supplies throughout Canterbury, South Canterbury and the West Coast. Staff encourage the protection of drinking water sources and improvements in water quality through the following actions:
- Administering the requirements of the Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2007;
- Assessing water suppliers compliance with the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand;
- Assessing water safety plans from water suppliers;
- Assisting small water supplies via the Drinking Water Assistance Programme;
- Submitting on resource consents and regional or district plans; and
- Contributing to processes related to the Canterbury Water Management strategy.
Download or read frequently asked questions (FAQ) sheet:
- How safe is my drinking water?
- Information for households on their own water supply
- How do I disinfect my water tank?
Read the 2011 CDHB Position Statement on the Canterbury Water Management Strategy [124kB PDF].
Read the 2003 CDHB Position Statement on Water Fluoridation [113kB PDF].
Health risks of nitrates in drinking water from private bores
High levels of nitrate in drinking water may pose a significant health risk for the foetus of pregnant women and formula-fed infants through using drinking water.
- Download or read frequently asked questions (FAQ) about nitrates in drinking water [105kB PDF]
- Download or read the pamphlet “Nitrate in Drinking Water: Blue Baby Syndrome” [135kB PDF].
Regional councils monitor the nitrate levels in groundwater around their region. Environment Canterbury creates and updates maps showing the nitrate levels across Canterbury.
- Green areas are where nitrate concentrations in groundwater are always below the Maximum Acceptable Value (MAV).
- Red areas are where nitrate concentrations in groundwater are above the MAV most or all of the time and therefore alternative water sources should be used for drinking.
- Yellow areas are where it is not known if a sample collected from a well will have nitrate concentrations exceeding the MAV and testing is recommended.
Get your water tested if you live in a yellow nitrate area
It is important to get your water tested for nitrates if you are pregnant, or have a formula fed baby under 6 months and are on a private bore or well in a ‘yellow’ area. Testing is the only way to detect nitrate as it is tasteless, odourless and colourless.
There are several laboratories that are able to test for nitrate. Often the laboratory will be able to provide you with a suitable bottle and instructions for taking the sample yourself. The result may take a few days.
- Download or read about getting your water lab tested for nitrates [225kB PDF] – updated April 2017.
Documents and Forms for Water Suppliers
- Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2007
- Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand 2005 (Revised 2008) – updated May 2015
- Water Safety Plans – formerly Public Health Risk Management Plans
- Registering a new community drinking water supply – updated May 2016
- Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Management for New Zealand (Ministry of Health 2017)
- Application for Water Supply Registration (WS01 Form)
- Water Carrier Registration Renewal (WC03 Form)
Downloads
Download or order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.
- Campylobacter, E. coli and Salmonella
- Nitrate in Drinking Water: “Blue Baby” Syndrome
- Secure Groundwater: Bores and Wells
- Water Collection Tanks and Safe Household Water
Links
- Drinking Water (Ministry of Health)
- Drinking Water Assistance Programme (Ministry of Health)
- Drinking Water in New Zealand (ESR)
- Community Water Fluoridation: Get the Facts (Ministry of Health)
Contact a Drinking Water Assessor for more information:
CANTERBURY
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
Fax: +64 3 379 6125
SOUTH CANTERBURY
Ph: +64 3 687 2600
Fax: +64 688 6091
Contact the Drinking Water Assistance Programme Facilitator:
Kathryn Russell
Ph: +64 3 378 6811
Fax: +64 3 379 6125
Maps of Nitrate Risk in Canterbury Drinking Water
Environment Canterbury creates maps of nitrate risk for the water zones across Canterbury. These maps are current as at July 2015.
Download or view the map to find out the nitrate risk from private wells or bores in your region or area.
- Kaikoura Zone [PDF]
- Hurunui-Waiau Zone [PDF]
- Waimakariri Zone [PDF]
- Christchurch-West Melton-Banks Peninsula Zone [PDF]
- Selwyn-Waihora Zone [PDF]
- Ashburton Zone [PDF]
- Orari-Opihi-Pareora Zone [PDF]
- Upper Waitaki Zone [PDF]
- Lower Waitaki Zone [PDF]
Getting the facts on fluoride
The Ministry of Health strongly supports water fluoridation as a safe, effective and affordable way to prevent and reduce tooth decay across the whole population. Most tooth decay is preventable, and water fluoridation is a simple way to prevent it.
The most recent nationwide New Zealand survey into oral health showed 40 percent less tooth decay on average for children living in fluoridated areas compared with non-fluoridated areas.
The NZ levels of fluoride used in community water fluoridation are carefully monitored and within the guidelines of the World Health Organization and other public health agencies.