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Water Services Act 2021

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

25: Duty to provide sufficient quantity of drinking water

You could also call this:

"Water suppliers must give you enough clean drinking water"

Illustration for Water Services Act 2021

You get drinking water from a supplier. They must give you enough water. They must make sure you have water for drinking and keeping clean. If they cannot give you water, it might be because of maintenance or an emergency. You might not get water if the supplier is fixing something or if there is a risk to public health. They can also stop your water if there is a problem with the environment or a cultural issue. If they stop your water, they must tell you and try to fix the problem. If you do not get water for more than 8 hours, the supplier must find another way to give you water. They can do this by bringing water to you in a different way. You can find more information about this in section 26 and the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. If you have not paid your water bill, the supplier can stop your water. But they must still make sure you have some water for drinking and cleaning.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS374697.

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

25Duty to provide sufficient quantity of drinking water

  1. A drinking water supplier (other than a water carrier) must ensure that a sufficient quantity of drinking water is provided to each point of supply to which that supplier supplies drinking water.

  2. In this Act, sufficient quantity, in relation to the drinking water supplied to a point of supply, means—

  3. the quantity of drinking water that is sufficient to support the ordinary drinking water and sanitary needs of consumers at the point of supply; or
    1. if compliance rules have been made prescribing the quantity of drinking water or a formula for determining the quantity of drinking water that is sufficient to support the ordinary drinking water needs of consumers at a point of supply, the amount specified in, or calculated according to the formula set out in, those rules.

      1. Subsection (1) does not prevent a drinking water supplier restricting or interrupting the provision of drinking water to a point of supply if, in the opinion of the supplier, the action is necessary because of—

      2. maintenance, improvement, or repairs to a drinking water supply or related infrastructure; or
        1. risks to public health; or
          1. environmental factors affecting a source of a drinking water supply; or
            1. an emergency; or
              1. cultural factors affecting a source of a drinking water supply (for example, a rāhui).

                  1. Examples

                  A drinking water supplier may need to restrict or interrupt supply of drinking water where infrastructure such as a pipeline or treatment plant is damaged.

                  A drinking water supplier may need to restrict or interrupt supply of drinking water where contamination of the supply occurs and public health is at risk.

                  A drinking water supplier may need to restrict or interrupt supply of drinking water where a drought occurs and the source of the drinking water supply can no longer support continuous supply to consumers.

                  A drinking water supplier may need to restrict or interrupt supply of drinking water in case of a fire emergency.

                  A drinking water supplier may need to restrict or interrupt supply of drinking water where a person has drowned and a rāhui is placed over the source of a drinking water supply.

                1. Any planned restriction or interruption of the supply of drinking water by a drinking water supplier must not exceed 8 hours on any 1 occasion unless—

                2. the supplier—
                  1. has obtained the prior approval of the Water Services Authority; or
                    1. complies with a compliance rule that relates to the restriction or interruption of supply for more than 8 hours and that applies to the supplier; and
                    2. the supplier has taken, and continues to take, all practicable steps to advise affected consumers of the interruption or restriction.

                      1. A restriction or interruption of the supply of drinking water that is unforeseen or due to an emergency must not exceed 8 hours on any 1 occasion unless the drinking water supplier—

                      2. has notified the Water Services Authority of the reasons for the interruption or restriction as soon as practicable and, in any event, no later than 24 hours after the commencement of the interruption or restriction; and
                        1. has taken, and continues to take, all practicable steps to advise affected consumers of the interruption or restriction.

                          1. In any event where the restriction or interruption of the supply of drinking water exceeds 8 hours, the drinking water supplier must make arrangements to ensure that a sufficient quantity of drinking water is available to affected consumers through an alternative supply (for example, by water carrier).

                          2. To avoid doubt, a drinking water supplier—

                          3. may restrict supply to a point of supply if the relevant customer has unpaid accounts for any previous supply of drinking water or has failed to remedy water leaks that the customer is obliged to remedy; but
                            1. must, despite any non-payment or failure referred to in paragraph (a), continue to provide a sufficient quantity of drinking water in accordance with subsection (1).

                              1. This section is subject to section 26 and to any contrary provisions in the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.

                              2. Repealed
                              Compare
                              Notes
                              • Section 25(2)(a): amended, on , by section 236(1) of the Water Services Legislation Act 2023 (2023 No 52).
                              • Section 25(3)(a): amended, on , by section 159(1) of the Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 74).
                              • Section 25(3) example: amended, on , by section 159(2) of the Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 74).
                              • Section 25(4)(a)(i): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
                              • Section 25(5)(a): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
                              • Section 25(9): repealed, on , by section 12(1) of the Water Services Acts Repeal Act 2024 (2024 No 2).