Safe water every day for everyone Kia tiakina te wai hei oranga mō te katoa
Schools across the country are working to provide safe drinking water
Schools that operate their own drinking water supply – e.g. through bores or rainwater tanks – account for over half of all E.coli contamination incidents reported to the Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai.
Te Waha o Rerekohu Area School, in the rural township of Te Araroa on the East Coast, experienced frequent E. coli contamination in its drinking water supply. Through system upgrades, regular maintenance and water testing, the school now consistently provides safe water for students and the school community.
Check out their story and find advice to help school leaders improve drinking water safety on our Safe water for schools page.
Latest news and events
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New rules introduced for lead-free plumbing products
1 May 2026The Water Services Authority is pleased to see the introduction of new requirements for lead-free drinking water plumbing products.Find out more -
Wastewater standards - separating myth from fact
10 March 2026New Zealand’s first national wastewater environmental standards became law late last year. As the standards begin to be implemented, some questions and misconceptions have emerged. Here are the facts.Find out more -
More than 432,000 people now have access to safer drinking water
5 March 2026Since late 2023, 432,000 more New Zealander have safer drinking water after council suppliers have installed essential treatment barriers in locations across the country.Find out more -
Nitrate in drinking water - facts and figures
18 December 2025Find out about nitrate in drinking water, how the maximum acceptable value of nitrate in New Zealand's Drinking Water Standards is set, and how suppliers know their water is safe.Find out more
Wastewater standards - separating myth from fact
New Zealand’s first national wastewater environmental standards became law late last year.
The standards are designed to balance affordability with protections for the environment and public health as well as reduce the uncertainty and cost that has historically accompanied the consenting process. Case studies indicate consenting costs could be reduced by up to 40 percent per treatment plant - that’s around $300,000 to $600,000 - and up to 60 percent for smaller plants. Once granted, consents would last for 35 years which gives owners and operators the certainty they need to invest in better-performing infrastructure.
As the standards begin to be implemented, some questions and misconceptions have emerged.