Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand 2005 (Revised 2008)

Foreword

I am pleased to release Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand 2005 (Revised 2008). 
The availability of safe drinking-water for all New Zealanders, irrespective of where they live, is a
fundamental requirement for public health.  The revised Drinking-water Standards are a signifi  cant
achievement in New Zealand’s endeavours to maintain and improve the quality of drinking-water.
Since the publication of Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand 2000 the approach to managing
drinking-water quality has changed.  The focus has moved from quality control to a broader approach
of quality assurance.  This has been necessary due to changes in technology, an improvement in
our scientifi  c knowledge and the requirement to address a broader range of issues than previously
covered.

The Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2007 amended the Health Act 1956 to require all
drinking-water suppliers providing water to more than 500 people to develop and start to implement
a Public Health Risk Management Plan to guide the safe management of their supply before 2013.  A
Public Health Risk Management Plan is a tool to help suppliers identify, manage and minimise events
that could cause water quality to deteriorate.
The quality of the water that is provided will continue to be governed by the DWSNZ, which prescribe
the maximum allowable concentrations of potentially harmful contaminants that may be present in the
water.
I wish to extend my appreciation to the many people who have been involved in the development of
this edition of the standards.  I especially wish to thank members of the expert working groups for their
efforts in reviewing and revising the many technical draft proposals that were part of this process.  The
result will signifi  cantly contribute to improving and protecting the public health of all New Zealanders.

Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/code-downloads/13/drinking-water-standards-for-new-zealand-2005-revised-2008/1074/