Water Suppliers

Water Suppliers

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A young boy is leaning under a running faucet and splashing water on his face.

Regulations for Water Suppliers.

There is a lot of change happening in the Water sector to help ensure all New Zealanders have access to healthy drinking water. New laws, rules and governance can be confusing and a lot to understand, so ALS Analytica wants to help simplify what it means to be a water supplier and what new regulations apply to you.

Are you questioning if you are a Water Supplier?

Quite simply, if you supply drinking water to more than your single household, you are considered a drinking water supplier and are subject to the Water Services Act.

What does it mean to be a drinking water supplier?

Drinking water suppliers who were operating immediately before 15 November 2021 but who were not registered with the Ministry of Health do not need to register yet. Unregistered suppliers (except water carriers) will need to register by November 2025 and fully comply with the Water Services Act by November 2028.

If you are a currently registered supplier or you are commissioning a new drinking water supply, the compliance times are different; you must provide Taumata Arowai with a water safety plan prior to supplying water to consumers.

Registered or not, all suppliers currently have a duty to supply safe drinking water to their communities. ALS Analytica and Water Testing Hawkes Bay can provide a regular testing regime to help with this assurance.

There are different levels of drinking water suppliers, and each has a different responsibility when it comes to testing.

Drinking Water Supplier Categories

  • Domestic Supply

    If you are a domestic supply by the definitions below, you are exempt from these testing regulations. Domestic self-supply means a stand-alone domestic dwelling that has its own supply of drinking water.

    Examples:

    • A single property with tenants supplied by a rainwater tank
    • A single holiday house supplied by a rainwater tank
    • Two dwellings each with separate supplies (e.g., one bore, one rainwater)

    Even though you are not required, you may still want to ensure you’re supplying safe drinking water. We can help with this quality assurance; see Domestic Water Testing for more information.

  • Very Small Communities

    A Very Small Community (VSC) provides drinking water to up to 25 people (excluding domestic self-supplies). The population supplied may increase to up to 50 people for up to 60 days in any 12-month period.

    The Assurance Rules require six-monthly testing for E. coli and total coliforms by an IANZ-accredited laboratory. ALS Analytica and Water Testing Hawkes Bay are IANZ-accredited.

    Example:

    • Neighbours that share a water source – farm houses, baches, etc.
  • Self-Supplied Buildings

    Self-supplied buildings are supplies (excluding domestic self-supplies) which provide drinking water to up to ten buildings on one site (or within commonly owned properties) and serve more than 25 people.

    • Small: 26–100 people
    • Medium: 101–500 people
    • Large: >500 people

    Testing will require both microbiology and chemical analyses. For further details visit:

    Taumata Arowai – New Compliance Rules and Standards

    Alternatively, you can contact us, and we’ll be happy to help guide you.

  • Networked Supplies

    You are a Networked Supply if you provide drinking water to more than 25 people via a distribution system, either at pressure/volume to meet demand or at a restricted flow. The supply can include storage within the network to help with demand.

    • Small: 26–100 people
    • Medium: 101–500 people
    • Large: >500 people

    Testing will require microbiology and chemical analyses. For details, visit:

    Taumata Arowai – New Compliance Rules and Standards

    Alternatively, contact us for help and guidance.

  • Other Supplier Categories

    There are also supplier categories for:

    • Water Carrier Services
    • Water Carrier Supplies
    • Community Drinking Water Stations
    • Temporary Drinking Water Supplies

    If any of these apply to you, contact us for more information and assistance.