This is a comprehensive section on a key public health issue: Safe Drinking Water. Wairoa District Council (WDC) takes water quality seriously. Wairoa's water supplies are monitored seven days a week and action is taken immediately if contamination is detected.

Click on the highlighted items for information on WDC water management, NZ Drinking Water Standards, Public Health Risk Management Plans and advice for households on their own private supply, including well, river, lake and rainwater sources.

Wairoa District Council's Current Policy Relating To Safe Drinking Water In Rural Areas: This policy outlines Council's current requirements relating to all new residences or public buildings, which are supplied with untreated water - “Provision Of Safe Drinking Water In Rural Areas”.

Drinking Water Standards NZ 2005: This deals with the assessment of the quality and safety of drinking water. Covers bacterial and chemical parameters and sampling protocol: Drinking Water Standards NZ 2005.

Water Grading: The Ministry of Health grades water supplies. This grading is based on the security of a source and the public health aspects of treatment and distribution: Water Grading, how your drinking water measures up.

Annual Review of Drinking Water Quality in NZ 2004: This is the third report and was published October 2005. It gives a general overview of quality of all supplies and summary of  drinking water quality in each Local Authority area and each District Health Board area: Annual Review of Drinking Water Quality in New Zealand 2004.

Public Health Risk Management Plans: Encourage the use of risk management principles from source to treatment to the consumer. This is in addition to water monitoring which is still essential in maintaining quality: Overview of Public Health Risk Management Plans.

Secure Groundwater: This brochure contains information regarding potential sources of contamination, bacteria, chemicals & well-head security: Secure Groundwater - bores and wells for safe household water.

Water Collection Tanks: Points covered are: tank storage, safety of roof collection, disinfection, purifiers/filters and backflow: Water Collection Tanks and safe household water.

Household Water Supplies: Detailed information for people who are not on town water supply is provided in this 18-page book, which addresses the selection, operation, and maintenance of individual household water supplies. Household Water Supplies.

For furhter information relating to drinking water please contact Victor Minter at the Wairoa District Council on (06) 838-7309.