Annual Review of the Microbiological and Chemical Quality of Drinking-Water in New Zealand 2002

Annual Review of the Microbiological and Chemical Quality of Drinking-Water in New Zealand 2002

Date of publication: December 2003

This report covers the second year when the microbiological and chemical quality of drinking-water was assessed using the Drinking-Water Standards for New Zealand: 2000 (DWSNZ:2000) and is the first year when both microbiological and chemical compliance are addressed in the same report.

The information on the microbiological quality of drinking-water was obtained through the public health units of the district health boards (DHBs) using questionnaires that sought data concerning surveillance and monitoring programmes carried out by DHBs and water suppliers, respectively. Water suppliers fall into two groups: local authorities (LAs), including commercial water supply companies contracted by local authorities, and private organisations or communities responsible for the operation of their own drinking-water supplies. The water suppliers are responsible for water quality monitoring, whereas the DHB carries out surveillance of the management of drinking-water quality in the health district.

The survey sought information about both distribution zones and water treatment plants. In addition to microbiological and chemical quality information, the questionnaire sought information about the water treatment processes in use and the means used to demonstrate compliance with the DWSNZ:2000.

The report contributes to the fundamental principles in the New Zealand Health Strategy of ‘good health and wellbeing for all New Zealanders throughout their lives’ and ‘an improvement in health status of those currently disadvantaged’. The report also directly encompases the New Zealand Health Strategy Goal 4: ‘A healthy physical environment’ as
well as Objective 17: ‘Support policies and develop strategies and services that ensure all people have access to safe water supplies and effective sanitation services’.

Document availability

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(PDF, 1991 kB)

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Due to the large size of this file, the publication has been split up into the following smaller files for downloading:

Executive Summary and Chapters 1 - 4, pp i - 25

(PDF, 408 kB)
Executive Summary and Chapters 1 - 4: Introduction; Methodology; Overview of Drinking-Water Supplies; and Drinking-Water Bacteriological Monitoring in the Distribution Zone.

Chapters 5 -14, pp 26 - 89

(PDF, 511 kB)
Chapters 5 - 14: Drinking-Water Microbiological Monitoring at Treatment Plants; Validity of Compliance Monitoring; Microbiological Surveillance of Water Supplies; Bacteriological Monitoring and Surveillance in Schools; Private and Hospital Drinking-Water Supplies; Corrective Action; Disinfection; The Drinking-Water Standards for New Zealand: 2000; Chemical Quality of Drinking-Water; References.

Appendices 1 - 2, pp 90 - 97

(PDF, 386 kB)
Appendices 1 - 2: Health Districts, District Health Boards, Territorial Authorities and Public Health Services; Drinking-water microbiology questionnaires.

Appendix 3, pp 98 - 131

(PDF, 451 kB)
Appendix 3: Notes to the 2002 annual survey of the microbiological and chemical quality of drinking-water

Appendices 4 and 4a, pp 132 - 184

(PDF, 491 kB)
Appendices 4 and 4a: Distribution zone bacteriological monitoring and surveillance, and chemical compliance monitoring; Distribution zone bacteriological monitoring and surveillance (by region).

Appendix 4b, pp 185 - 196

(PDF, 186 kB)
Appendix 4b: Chemical compliance monitoring

Appendices 5 - 6, pp 197 - 200

(PDF, 162 kB)

Appendices 5 -6: Zone compliance transgression allowance; Anomalies between bacteriological quality and grading

Appendices 7 - 12, pp 201 - 232

(PDF, 305 kB)

Appendices 7 - 12: Ministry of Health register of recognised water-testing laboratories; Anomalies between monitoring and surveillance results; School drinking-water supplies; Distribution zones on permanent
"boil water" notice in 2002; Potential secure groundwater supplies; Non-verified "secure" groundwater supplies.