Safety sits at the heart of everything we do. Whether it’s the quality of the drinking water coming out of your tap or the way wastewater is managed across the district, our systems are built to protect your health, safeguard the environment, and meet New Zealand’s strict regulatory standards.
The Water Services Act 2021 sets out the responsibilities every drinking water supplier must meet — including supplying safe and aesthetically acceptable drinking water, maintaining robust risk management, and responding quickly to any potential hazards.
Alongside this, Taumata Arowai serves as the national water regulator, overseeing the quality and performance of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater networks. They set the rules, standards, and reporting requirements we must follow to ensure the water you rely on is safe every day.
Your drinking water is protected through a combination of treatment, monitoring, and regulatory oversight.
We comply with the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand, which set the maximum acceptable values (MAVs) for a wide range of contaminants, based on the World Health Organization’s guidance for safe drinking water. These standards define what safe drinking water should look, taste, and smell like — and the rules that suppliers must follow to maintain it.
The Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules outline how we test, monitor, and report drinking water quality. These rules, issued by Taumata Arowai, detail the required sampling frequency, treatment processes, and laboratory testing expectations for all suppliers — including us.
Our operators monitor the network around the clock, taking regular samples and performing checks at every stage of the treatment and distribution process. When anything looks unusual — for example, a weather event affecting raw water conditions — we act quickly and adjust operations to maintain safety.
If contamination is detected (such as E. coli in drinking water), Taumata Arowai sets clear expectations for immediate response, including public communication and boil‑water notices if required. These protocols help keep our community safe by ensuring timely action and transparent information.
Water safety is more than just meeting health standards — it’s also about ensuring water is pleasant to use. Taumata Arowai publishes updated Aesthetic Values for Drinking Water, covering taste, odour, and clarity. While these do not represent health risks, they guide us in delivering water that meets community expectations for a quality experience.
Backflow occurs when water flows in the wrong direction — potentially drawing contaminants from private plumbing back into the public network. To prevent this, certain properties (such as those with swimming pools commercial kitchens, irrigation systems, or chemical storage) must install approved backflow prevention devices.
This requirement is also supported by local bylaws, such as the Wellington City Council Water Services Bylaw, which defines backflow and outlines the responsibilities of customers and suppliers in preventing it.
Our role is to ensure that:
Your role is to ensure any required device on your property is tested and maintained by approved testers.
Wastewater systems must protect people and the environment from harm. Taumata Arowai has introduced national wastewater environmental performance standards, which require councils and suppliers to:
These standards are being phased in and will help ensure greater national consistency across wastewater systems, supporting improved outcomes for communities and waterways across Aotearoa.
We manage our wastewater network to minimise risks by maintaining assets, clearing blockages, and upgrading infrastructure where needed.
Safety is a shared responsibility. While we manage the public network, you play an important part in helping keep water safe by:
Local bylaws provide further detail on these responsibilities and how they help protect the network as a whole.
