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Water Services Act 2021

Provisions relating to supply of drinking water - Drinking water safety plans

34: Unplanned supply of drinking water

You could also call this:

"Getting drinking water from a different source when the usual one is not working"

Illustration for Water Services Act 2021

You get drinking water from a supply that is not registered when the usual supply fails or is unsafe. This is called an unplanned supply of drinking water. When this happens, the person supplying the water must follow certain rules. You must follow rules like those in sections 21 and 22 as much as possible. You also need to tell the Water Services Authority about the temporary supply and do what a compliance officer says under section 104. If you supply water from an unregistered supply for more than 60 days in a year, you need to register the supply. You do not need to register the supply if there is a state of emergency or a transition period under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. This means you can keep supplying water without registering it during these times. You still need to follow the rules, though.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS374710.

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Health and wellbeing > Public healthEnvironment and resources > Food and water safety
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Part 2Provisions relating to supply of drinking water
Drinking water safety plans

34Unplanned supply of drinking water

  1. This section applies if drinking water is supplied on an unplanned basis.

  2. In this Act, unplanned, in relation to the supply of drinking water, means the temporary supply of drinking water from an unregistered drinking water supply to any place where—

  3. the usual drinking water supply to that place has failed or is unsafe to drink; and
    1. the persons at that place cannot reasonably access a sufficient quantity of drinking water from a registered drinking water supply.

      1. A person who supplies drinking water on an unplanned basis must—

      2. comply with sections 21 and 22, as far as is reasonably practicable; and
        1. notify the Water Services Authority immediately of the temporary drinking water supply arrangement and comply with any directions issued by a compliance officer under section 104.

          1. If a person supplies drinking water from an unregistered drinking water supply on an unplanned basis for more than 60 days in any 12-month period, they must register the supply and comply with legislative requirements (except if a state of emergency declaration or transition period under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 is in effect).

          Notes
          • Section 34(3)(b): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
          • Section 34(3)(b): amended, on , by section 240 of the Water Services Legislation Act 2023 (2023 No 52).