New water services regulator Taumata Arowai has opened consultation on a range of key drinking water workstreams.
Requirements to monitor and report on the environmental indicators for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater networks were introduced under the Water Services Act (2021). Water service providers will now be required to meet standards much more stringently than before.
Taumata Arowai’s broad remit means performance reporting across the whole system will provide an evidence base for decision-making, including resource consent applications.
In this first stage of its establishment, the regulatory body is seeking feedback on its proposed drinking water guidance before it moves onto storm and wastewater regulatory roles.
Feedback is sought on proposed:
- Drinking Water Standards
- Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules
- Drinking Water Aesthetic Values
- Drinking Water Acceptable Solution for Roof Water Supplies
- Drinking Water Acceptable Solution for Spring and Bore Water Supplies
- Drinking Water Acceptable Solution for Rural Agricultural Water Supplies
- Drinking Water Network Environmental Performance Measures
These will form the basis of the rules and standards to which providers are held.
Submissions on these concurrent work programmes close on 28 March 2022. Further feedback will be sought as Taumata Arowai moves onto its storm and wastewater regulatory roles in 2023.
You can access the relevant discussion documents and consultation information for each of these topics here.