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Water Services Act 2021

Provisions relating to supply of drinking water - Duties of drinking water suppliers

22: Duty to comply with drinking water standards

You could also call this:

"Water suppliers must provide safe drinking water that meets standards"

Illustration for Water Services Act 2021

You must get drinking water from a supplier that meets the drinking water standards. If the water does not meet these standards, the supplier must act quickly to protect public health. They must also tell the Water Services Authority about the problem and fix it. You can find more information about this in the Water Services Act. The supplier must investigate why the water is not meeting the standards and take steps to stop it happening again. They must also advise people who are affected by the problem and tell them what to do to stay safe. The supplier is responsible for the water up to the point where it is supplied to you.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS374693.

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Topics:
Health and wellbeing > Public healthEnvironment and resources > Food and water safety
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21: Duty to supply safe drinking water, or

"Water suppliers must give you safe drinking water"

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Part 2Provisions relating to supply of drinking water
Duties of drinking water suppliers

22Duty to comply with drinking water standards

  1. A drinking water supplier must ensure that the drinking water supplied by the supplier complies with the drinking water standards.

  2. If a supplier’s drinking water does not comply with the drinking water standards, the supplier must—

  3. take immediate action to ensure that public health is protected; and
    1. notify the Water Services Authority of the non-compliance; and
      1. investigate the source or cause of the non-compliance; and
        1. take remedial action to rectify the situation; and
          1. identify and implement measures required to ensure that the event does not reoccur; and
            1. take all practicable steps, to the satisfaction of the Water Services Authority, to advise affected consumers and drinking water suppliers that drinking water does not comply with the drinking water standards and what measures should be taken to protect public health (for example, boiling).

              1. The duty under subsection (1) does not apply beyond the point of supply.

              Compare
              Notes
              • Section 22(2)(b): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
              • Section 22(2)(f): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).