Drinking Water Acceptable Solutions
A simpler, ready-made way to comply.
What is an Acceptable Solution?
An Acceptable Solution is a ready-made way to comply with the drinking water rules. If your supply fits one, you follow its set design for treatment, monitoring and maintenance, instead of writing your own plan.
You don’t need a Drinking Water Safety Plan or to follow the Quality Assurance Rules. You do need to follow the Acceptable Solution in full.
Not sure if your supply qualifies? Call Steve on 0800 278 296.
Which Acceptable Solution fits your supply?
There are three, all updated on 4 September 2025. Source: Water Services Authority (Taumata Arowai)
Self-supplied buildings
For schools, marae, community halls and businesses that supply their own buildings. Up to 500 people.
Small to medium networks
For piped networks that supply drinking water to up to 500 people.
Mixed-use rural
For rural schemes where at least half the water is for farm use, like stock water or irrigation. No limit on the number of people.
What an Acceptable Solution asks of you
The main requirements. Each Acceptable Solution has its own detail.
1
Check you’re eligible
Your supply type and size must fit one of the three Acceptable Solutions.
2
Test your source
Test your source water before you start. Roof water is also tested for lead, copper and cadmium.
3
Filtration
At least one cartridge filter of 5 microns or finer.
4
UV disinfection
UV with a dose of at least 40 mJ/cm². Supplies serving 25 or more people, or the public, need validated UV.
5
Backflow prevention
Backflow prevention so water can’t flow back into your supply.
6
Registered plumber
Your treatment system must be installed by a registered plumber.
7
Monitor and maintain
Check, service and test your system as the Acceptable Solution sets out.
8
Tell the regulator
Let the Water Services Authority (Taumata Arowai) know you’re using it, through Hinekōrako.
Does your supply qualify?
Call Steve. We’ll check your supply against the Acceptable Solutions and install everything it needs.
Using an older Acceptable Solution?
Suppliers using the earlier roof water or spring and bore Acceptable Solutions had one year from 4 September 2025 to move to the new versions. That year is now up.
We can check your setup against the 2025 requirements and upgrade your filtration, UV or backflow prevention if needed.
One call, everything sorted
We’ve looked after water systems for Rodney businesses, schools and rural supplies since 2000. We can take care of:
On-site assessment of your supply
Choosing your compliance pathway
Filtration, UV and chlorination matched to your supply
Registering your supply on your behalf
Acting as your water operator
Drinking Water Safety Plans, records and paperwork
Ongoing servicing, testing and maintenance
Why choose an Acceptable Solution?
It’s usually simpler to run: a set design, less paperwork and no plan to write. The trade-off is that you must follow it exactly.
Local expertise. Local trust.
We’re a local Warkworth team with experience in water filtration, commercial UV treatment, water pumps, rainwater harvesting and bore water treatment. Four of our team have passed the NZQA small drinking water supplies course, and four have passed the NZQA course on writing Drinking Water Safety Plans.
Acceptable Solution FAQs
What is a drinking water Acceptable Solution?
A ready-made way to comply, set by the Water Services Authority (Taumata Arowai). If your supply fits, you follow its set requirements instead of writing your own plan.
Which Acceptable Solutions are there?
Three: Self-supplied Buildings, Small to Medium Networks, and Mixed-use Rural. The current 2025 versions took effect on 4 September 2025.
Do I still need a Drinking Water Safety Plan?
No. With an Acceptable Solution you don’t submit a Drinking Water Safety Plan or a source water risk management plan, and you don’t follow the Quality Assurance Rules.
Do I still need to register my supply?
Yes. You still register your supply, and tell the regulator you’re using an Acceptable Solution through Hinekōrako.
I used the old roof water or bore Acceptable Solution. What now?
Suppliers had one year from 4 September 2025 to move to the new versions. If you haven’t checked your setup yet, we can do it for you.
What treatment do I need?
At least one cartridge filter of 5 microns or finer, and UV with a dose of at least 40 mJ/cm². Supplies serving 25 or more people, or the public, need validated UV.
Who can install it?
A registered plumber. Our plumbers install and service filtration and UV systems for Acceptable Solution supplies.
What if my supply doesn’t fit an Acceptable Solution?
Then you follow the Quality Assurance Rules, and supplies serving more than 25 people need a Drinking Water Safety Plan.
Can Aqua Works help?
Yes. We check your supply, install the treatment, register your supply and look after ongoing servicing. Call Steve on 0800 278 296.
Make your supply an Acceptable Solution
Book a free onsite visit. We’ll check your supply, install what it needs and take care of everything from registration to ongoing servicing.