Working towards safe drinking water for everyone
Safe drinking water – available to everyone – is a fundamental requirement for public health.
Taumata Arowai is the new Water Services Regulatory Agency. They are committed to ensuring all communities have access to safe drinking water every day. They also have an oversight role in protecting the environment from the impacts of wastewater and stormwater.
Most people are on a water supply owned by either their local district or city council. The council is responsible for maintaining the water pipes, running the pump stations as well as the treatment plants to remove risks or contaminants. This may include adding chlorine to comply with the current Drinking Water Standards. So contact your local council if you have any concerns about your water supply.
There are also a few smaller water suppliers around the motu/ country, and some people manage their own household water supply.
Dealing with water-borne disease outbreaks
Drinking water can contain harmful germs such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Campylobacter, Salmonella and E. coli O157 that can cause serious illness.
Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health investigates outbreaks of infectious diseases that may have come from drinking water.
- Find out more about Community and Public Health’s response to waterborne illnesses.
- Find out what to do during water contamination events, including during boil water notices (Ministry of Health).
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.
- View the nitrate risk maps for drinking water in Canterbury (Environment Canterbury 2022).
- Find out more about the risks of nitrate in drinking water (Ministry of Health).
Get your water tested if it comes from a bore or well
Private well owners are responsible for their own water monitoring, and what frequency to test their water. It is recommended that you test your water when you purchase a property with a private well or bore or drill a new well or bore. Follow-up testing is prudent every 6 to 12 months.
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.
Find an accredited laboratory available to test your water 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.
Documents
- Addressing risks associated with nitrates in drinking water (Ministry of Environment and Taumatu Arowai 2023).
- Drinking Water Regulation Report 2022 (Taumata Arowai 2022).
- Annual Report on Drinking-water Quality 2020-2021 (Ministry of Health 2022).
- Household water supplies: The selection, operation and maintenance of individual household water supplies (ESR 2021).
- Fluoride in our drinking water: An update on evidence (Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor 2021).
- Review of the Benefits and Costs of Water Fluoridation in New Zealand (Ministry of Health 2016).
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 – only available to download.
- Water Collection Tanks and Safe Household Water.
Links
- Rural Drinking Water Programme (Crown Infrastructure).
- Taumata Arowai.
- NZ Water Services Reform Programme.
- Drinking Water (Te Whatu Ora).
- Community Water Fluoridation: Get the Facts (Ministry of Health).
- Government Inquiry into Havelock North Drinking Water Contamination (Department of Internal Affairs NZ).
Community and Public Health no longer provides drinking water services within Canterbury, South Canterbury and the West Coast as of Monday 15th November 2021.
For further information, contact:
- Ashburton District Council.
- Buller District Council.
- Chatham Islands Council.
- Christchurch City Council.
- Grey District Council.
- Hurunui District Council.
- Kaikoura District Council.
- Mackenzie District Council.
- Selwyn District Council.
- Timaru District Council.
- Waimakariri District Council.
- Waimate District Council.
- Waitaki District Council.
- Westland District Council.
Taumata Arowai
Ph: +64 4 889 8350
Getting the facts on fluoride
Water fluoridation is 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.
The Director-General of Health can decide whether a community drinking water supply should be fluoridated, after the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill – passed by Parliament in November 2021. This will ensure a nationally consistent approach to community water fluoridation based on its well-established health benefits.
Private water supplies will not be required to be fluoridated.