Select Page

Drinking Water Acceptable Solutions

Safe drinking water – an essential right for all New Zealanders

The severe gastroenteritis outbreak in Havelock North in 2016 showed the state of drinking water safety in New Zealand. More than 5,500 residents fell ill due to unsafe drinking water caused by the water-borne bacterium Campylobacter. The impact on the population and the consequences of the disease were staggering. Ultimately, this outbreak and subsequent investigations resulted in a change in the history of drinking water regulation in New Zealand. Finally, there was a call for an independent service regulator, which led to the establishment of Taumata Arowai in 2021.

Taumata Arowai has the key responsibility of ensuring that all of Aotearoa has access to clean and safe drinking water. The new Water Services Act came into force in November 2021 and thus, provides the legal basis for this mission. The new regulatory Crown entity sets standards and offers guidelines for drinking water suppliers to support them in achieving potable water delivery. In the future, everyone in New Zealand should trust the water from the tap.

Drinking-Water Risk Management under Water Services Act 2021

Over 34,000 New Zealanders fall ill yearly due to unsafe drinking water conditions. A large number of communities throughout Aotearoa are beset with Boil Water Notices.

With the Water Services Act 2021, all drinking water supplies are obligated to supply safe drinking water to their communities. The resulting responsibilities stipulate a duty of care to deliver potable water. Furthermore, they must provide effective methods to identify and manage risks to ensure drinking water is safe for human consumption.

unsafe-non potable-drinking-water

The new Water Services Act 2021 gives drinking water suppliers two options to manage drinking water safety risks. The first option is preparing and establishing a Drinking Water Safety Plan for submission to Taumata Arowai to meet the legal requirements. Applying the Drinking Water Acceptable Solution prescribed by Taumata Arowai is the second choice to comply with the legal, due diligence obligations. Both alternatives aim to lift the performance of New Zealand’s drinking water supplies and deliver safe drinking water.

Taumata Arowai’s Drinking Water Acceptable Solutions

Drinking Water Acceptable Solutions in compliance with Taumata Arowai

Instead of implementing a drinking water safety plan NZ, small drinking water suppliers can also comply with an Acceptable Solutions provided by Taumata Arowai. It is supposed to be a practical and cost-effective alternative to provide safe drinking water for their community. With this, the new water service regulator is taking a novel approach to designing workable, pragmatic and practical solutions for water suppliers. This innovative guideline is about using or adapting an acceptable solution depending on the water source. The acceptable solution describes what the water supplies must do regarding the water supply’s treatment, management and operation.

However, the drinking water supplier must still comply with the regulations, but not all parts of the Act. A distinction is made between 3 water sources.

Roof Water Supply

Spring and Bore Water Supply

Rural Agricultural Water Supply

gutter rain harvesting

The drinking water is supplied to a building or group of buildings sharing the same roof water source.

It applies to up to 500 people.

Acceptable Solution Spring Bore Water Supply

The drinking water is retrieved from a bore or spring water supply.

It serves a population of fewer than 500 people.

Acceptable solution Rural Agricultural

A water supply at a restricted volume or trickle feed to the point of supply storage tank on a consumer’s property with no population limit.

Acceptable Solutions & Taumata Arowai

At Aqua Works, we are passionate about safe and healthy water.

Get our water experts on board to offer you the best advice on applying the Drinking Water Acceptable Solutions and complying with Taumata Arowai and the Water Services Act 2021.

Drinking Water Acceptable Solutions for Roof Water Supplies with Aqua Work’s Water Treatment Solutions

Roof Water Supplies

In its Drinking Water Acceptable Solutions, Taumata Arowai illustrates the requirements for the design, configuration and installation of rooftop water supplies. It also determines the requirements for source water testing, operations, maintenance, monitoring and Emergency management for all roof water suppliers.

These prerequisites already start with the fact that no vegetation or trees are allowed to overhang the roof catchment area. Furthermore, applying a leaf screen  (max. mesh size of 1.5mm) and a First-Flush Diverter is needed to decrease the contamination of the storage tank water.

gutter rain harvesting

End Point Treatment System requirements

Taumata Arowai has established a minimum of 13 steps for the End Point Treatment System requirements. It includes a calmed inlet and a floating outlet, a two stage cartridge filtration and a UV filtration system. With these measurements applied, the roof water supplies will be able to deliver safe and potable water to the population (with less than 500 people). 

Finally, Taumata Arowai requires the water treatment system to be professionally installed by a qualified plumber following the manufacturer’s instructions and in compliance with the building code. Additionally, all fixtures and pipes have to meet the regulations of the building code. 

Aqua Works has the solution for roof water supply

Since 2000, our mission has been to empower our communities, local businesses and private households to receive safe and healthy drinking water. Over the years, we have strengthened our position as water specialists in the Rodney, Auckland and South Kaipara area. We are experts in residential and commercial water treatment, water pumps and Aqua filter systems.

Aqua Works has accompanied Taumata Arowai along the way with feedback when developing the requirements for acceptable solutions for roof water suppliers. For the past 20 years, we have been advising, installing and promoting these solutions to our customers. Our service technicians know the challenges and problems that come along with roof water supplies. We have the experience and effective product solutions. This way, Aqua Works is already applying the Acceptable solutions and helping our commercial customers supply potable water in their businesses.

 

Simple steps to comply with Acceptable Solutions for roof water supplies

Benefit from our expert knowledge and experience in designing, installing and maintaining rainwater collection systems. Aqua Works takes care of the entire process. 

1. Our service team will come for an onsite visit. 
2. Together, we will find out which of the 13 steps you already have. 
3. We will advise you how much needs to be done to fulfil the rest.
4. We have developed an 8 steps plan which offers a simple way to find the best solution for you to comply with the new regulations. 
5. Aqua Works has all trades under one umbrella. This way, our plumbers will install and complete the job.

Call us today on 0800 AQUA WORKS to book a free onsite assessment! We are passionate about water and providing the best service to comply with your legal requirements. And above all, the delivery of safe drinking water. 

Call us today for Roof Water Supply Acceptable Solutions

Aqua Works is an expert in rainwater harvesting systems, water treatment, water filtration and water pumps. With us, meeting your legal requirements is a breeze.

Drinking Water Acceptable Solutions for Spring and Bore Water Supply with Aqua Work’s Water Treatment Solutions

Spring and Bore Water Supply

Taumata Arowai illustrates the requirements for the design, configuration and installation of spring and bore water supplies. It also determines the requirements for source water testing, operations, maintenance, monitoring and emergency management for all spring and bore water suppliers.

However, before even considering applying Taumata Arowai’s acceptable solutions, the water supplier must detect if the spring or bore water is appropriate for cartridge filtration and UV disinfection. Specified test series must show that the samples do not exceed the limits set by the manufacturer. If the water is unsuitable for cartridge filtration and/or UV disinfection, the spring or bore cannot be used as a drinking water supply.

Acceptable Solution Spring Bore Water Supply
Spring bore water supply

Bore or spring requirements

The spring or bore has several strict prerequisites to protect the water source. These requirements are in place to ensure that the water source is not contaminated by, e.g. animal effluent, sewage disposal field or waste pond.

The specific bore and spring water treatment system requirements have to include cartridge filtration, UV disinfection and chlorination. Additionally, there are various conditions for the distribution network backflow prevention. All of this must be carried out by a professional and installed according to the manufacturer’s requirements.

Aqua Works has the solution for spring and bore water supply

Since 2000, our mission has been to empower our communities, local businesses and private households to receive safe and healthy drinking water. Over the years, we have strengthened our position as water specialists in the Rodney, Auckland and South Kaipara area. We are experts in residential and commercial water treatment, water pumps and Aqua filter systems.

Aqua Works has accompanied Taumata Arowai along the way with feedback when developing the requirements for acceptable solutions for spring and bore water suppliers. However, we realised that we are already advising our customers to follow these guidelines to obtain safe drinking water. Our service technicians know the challenges and problems that come along with spring and bore water supplies. Already today, we apply the Acceptable solutions as a matter of fact and help our commercial customers to supply potable water in their business.

 

Simple steps to comply with Acceptable Solutions for spring and bore water supplies

Benefit from our expert knowledge and experience in designing, installing and maintaining water treatment systems especially for spring and bore water sources. Aqua Works will take care of the entire process.

1. The service team will come for an onsite visit.
2. Together, we find out what you already have in place.
3. We will advise you how much needs to be done to fulfil the rest.
4. Aqua Works has all trades under one umbrella. This way, our plumbers will install and complete the job.

Call us today on 0800 AQUA WORKS to book a free onsite assessment! We are passionate about water and giving you the best service to comply with your legal requirements. And above all, the delivery of safe drinking water!

Spring & Bore Water Supply Acceptable Solutions

Our water expert team provides professional advice on water treatment, water filtration and water pumps for spring and bore water sources. This way, you can easily get your compliance with Taumata Arowai’s Acceptable Solutions.

Drinking Water Acceptable Solutions for Rural Agricultural Water Supply

Rural Agricultural Water Supply

A rural agricultural water supply mainly provides storage or irrigation water. However, water can also be delivered to small rural communities. The water is supplied in a limited quantity (trickle water) to a storage tank on the consumer’s property at the point of supply. The water provided by an agricultural water supply may or may not be potable. However, if the water needs to be fit for human consumption, it must meet legal standards.

Taumata Arowai illustrates the requirements for the design, configuration and installation of rural agricultural water supplies. It also determines the requirements for source water testing, operations, maintenance, monitoring and emergency management for all spring and bore water suppliers.

Acceptable Solution Rural Agricultural Water Supply

Simple steps to comply with Acceptable Solutions & Aqua Works

Benefit from our expert knowledge and experience in designing, installing and maintaining water treatment systems especially for rural agricultural water sources. Aqua Works will take care of the entire process.

1. The service team will come for an onsite visit.
2. Together, we find out what you already have in place.
3. We will advise you how much needs to be done to fulfil the rest.
4. Aqua Works has all trades under one umbrella. This way, our plumbers will install and complete the job.

Call us today on 0800 AQUA WORKS to book a free onsite assessment! We are passionate about water and giving you the best service to comply with your legal requirements. And above all, the delivery of safe drinking water!

Rural Agricultural Water Supply Acceptable Solutions

Our water expert team provides professional advice on water treatment, water filtration and water pumps for rural agricultural water sources. Finally, you can easily get your compliance with Taumata Arowai’s Acceptable Solutions.

Water is the elixir of life and our passion

Exceptional support for our business customers

Aqua Works has over 20 years of experience as a local expert in commercial water treatment for many industries. We offer water solutions supporting you to meet your individual needs and legal requirements. The modularity of our product range helps you to optimise investment costs. 

At the same time, it ensures the best purification of your water. We deliver customised water treatment solutions to keep your water safe wherever you need it in your business. Aqua Work’s water filtration systems, UV filter purification, water treatment, ozone systems, and water pumps combine sustainability, high performance and cost-efficiency. 

With years of experience and expert advice, our passionate team is here to help you every step of the way to clean and potable drinking water. Our maintenance service guarantees the continuous, reliable operation of the products used. Therefore, we recommend regular maintenance of all water treatment systems to detect possible malfunctions early.

Simultaneously, we eliminate the triggers and avoid costly replacements. And if something should happen spontaneously, call our 24/7 water pump emergency service. We will take care of your problem immediately and make sure that the water in your business is running again as quickly as possible.

At Aqua Works, we go the extra mile to ensure your water is healthy and fit for its purpose. Hence, all our water treatment products are field tried-and-tested, including our new innovative products and solutions. Want to experience our excellent UV filters, water filtration systems and water pumps or our high-quality UV filter service, water pump repairs or water pump service? Give us a call today at 0800 AQUA WORKS.