Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules
How to check and prove your water is safe.
What are the Quality Assurance Rules?
The Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules set out how drinking water suppliers check, test and keep records to show their water meets the Drinking Water Standards.
They’re made by the Water Services Authority (Taumata Arowai) under the Water Services Act 2021. Which rules apply depends on how many people your supply serves.
Confused by the rules? Call us.
Which rules apply to you?
It depends on how many people your supply serves. Supplies over 500 people follow Level 3 rules. Source: Water Services Authority (Taumata Arowai)
Very small: up to 25 people
The simplest rules. You still need to keep your water safe, and tell the regulator if it might not be.
Small: 26 to 100 people
Level 1 rules. Filtration and UV, E. coli testing every three months, source water testing every three years and a yearly report.
Medium: 101 to 500 people
Level 2 rules. Monthly E. coli testing, more frequent treatment checks, and quarterly reporting for some results.
What the rules cover
The main things you’ll need to do. The details depend on the size of your supply.
1
Source water
Test your source for chemicals like arsenic, boron, manganese and nitrate. Roof water is tested for lead, copper and cadmium.
2
Treatment
Most supplies need filtration and disinfection. Filtration can be skipped only for groundwater from deeper than 30 metres.
4
E. coli testing
Test for E. coli and total coliforms: every three months for small supplies, monthly for medium.
5
Backflow
Assess the backflow risk in your network and test backflow devices every one or two years.
6
Records
Keep records of your monitoring, testing and maintenance, so you can show you’re following the rules.
7
Reporting
Report your results to the regulator every year. Medium supplies report some results every quarter.
8
When things go wrong
If a result goes over a limit, or your water might be unsafe, tell the regulator straight away.
Not sure which rules apply to you?
Call Steve. We’ll work out your rules, set up your testing and keep your records in order.
The Rules or an Acceptable Solution?
If your supply qualifies, an Acceptable Solution can be a simpler way to comply. For the things it covers, you don’t need a Drinking Water Safety Plan or to show you’re following the Rules.
We’ll look at your supply and tell you which pathway suits it best, then set up the treatment, testing and records to match.
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
What’s changing in 2027?
New rules for supplies serving more than 500 people were published in June 2026. They take effect on 1 July 2027, and the current rules apply until then. Rules for supplies serving 500 or fewer people were updated from 1 January 2025.
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.
Quality Assurance Rules FAQs
What are the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules?
Rules made by the Water Services Authority (Taumata Arowai) that set out how drinking water suppliers monitor, test, treat and keep records to show their water is safe.
Who has to follow the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules?
Registered drinking water suppliers, unless they use an Acceptable Solution for the things it covers. A household-only supply serving 25 or fewer people isn’t a drinking water supplier.
What’s the difference between the Drinking Water Standards and the Quality Assurance Rules?
The Drinking Water Standards set the limits for what’s allowed in your water. The Rules set how you check and prove you’re meeting them.
What are Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 under the Quality Assurance Rules?
Level 1 is for small supplies (26 to 100 people), Level 2 for medium supplies (101 to 500) and Level 3 for supplies over 500 people. Supplies of up to 25 people follow the very small community rules.
How often do I need to test for E. coli under the Quality Assurance Rules?
Small supplies test every three months in each part of the network. Medium supplies test monthly. Larger supplies test more often.
Do I need filtration and UV under the Quality Assurance Rules?
Under Level 1 and Level 2, most supplies need filtration unless the water is groundwater from deeper than 30 metres. UV systems must deliver a dose of at least 40 mJ/cm².
What drinking water rules change on 1 July 2027?
The Water Services (Drinking Water Quality Assurance) Rules 2026 take effect. The changes are mainly for supplies serving more than 500 people.
Can I use an Acceptable Solution instead of the Quality Assurance Rules?
If your supply qualifies, yes. Our Acceptable Solution guide explains how it works, or we can tell you which pathway suits your supply.
Can Aqua Works help us follow the Quality Assurance Rules?
Yes. We set up your treatment, testing and records, register your supply and look after ongoing servicing.
Get on top of the Quality Assurance Rules
We’ll set up your testing, treatment and records, and take care of everything from registration to ongoing servicing.
Book a free on-site visit.