Consultation launched on proposed changes to drinking water Acceptable Solutions

The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai has begun consulting on proposed changes to the current Acceptable Solutions compliance options for:

• rural supplies that provide water for farm use (e.g. irrigation, stock) as well as for people to drink

• drinking water supplies that serve 500 people or fewer.

Acceptable Solutions enable water to be treated at or near any buildings where people will drink it. This could include using an ‘end-point’ treatment system, which uses filters and ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect the water.

Some drinking water suppliers say it can be challenging to figure out if an Acceptable Solution is the best approach for their supplies and community.

To respond to this feedback, Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai is proposing changes to help:

• make it easier to figure out whether an Acceptable Solution is right for a supply,

• simplify requirements for end-point treatment, and in so doing, save suppliers and their communities time, effort and cost, while delivering good quality drinking water to the people who drink it every day.

Public consultation on the proposed changes is open until 5pm on Friday 13 June.