Managing the water supply in schools
All schools are responsible for supplying enough safe water for the school population to use, and complying with the relevant water legislation and regulations.
Providing enough water
Schools must make sure they provide enough water for drinking and flushing toilets. If the water supply is disrupted you’ll need to make alternative arrangements, like getting a tanker delivery. You may need to close the school until adequate water supply is restored.
Maintaining the water supply network
All schools are responsible for the safety and maintenance of the water supply within the school boundaries, including:
- flushing or running water at the start of each day to remove any water that may have been contaminated by metal pipes and fittings
- monitoring for leaks and proactively repairing leaking pipes.
Providing safe drinking water
The Water Services Act 2021 requires schools to provide safe drinking water on their site. If you don’t think the water at your school is safe to drink:
- tell the school community right away
- make sure people don’t drink it.
You’ll need to make alternative arrangements for drinking water. For short-term issues this could mean asking parents to supply a bottle of drinking water for their child.
If there won’t be a safe drinking water supply for a longer period of time, contact your property advisor. You may need to organise an interim system to supply drinking water.
Water Services Act 2021 – New Zealand Legislationopen_in_new
You can download the drinking water policy in both English and te reo Māori.
If water is unpleasant to drink
Sometimes safe drinking water still has a taste or odour that makes it unpleasant to drink. The Taumata Arowai Aesthetic Values for drinking water outline the recommended levels for palatable drinking water.
As the supplier you must take all reasonable steps to provide water that complies with the aesthetic values.
Drinking water aesthetic values notice – Taumata Arowaiopen_in_new
Backflow compliance requirements
Schools must make sure that the drinking water network is protected from bacterial and chemical contamination originating from within the school’s own network (this includes backflows or compliant air gap on pool systems) by installing backflow devices. You’ll need to test these every year. You must log the backflow device and record water backflow test results on Argest’s online register.
The Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) have more detail about the compliance requirements for backflow devices.
Designing water supply systems and preventing backflow – Levelopen_in_new
If your school gets its drinking water through the local Council
Read the drinking water code of practice for schools on council water supplies.
If your school supplies its own drinking water
If your school supplies its own water, you have much more extensive obligations.
Using groundwater and surface water sources
Schools using groundwater or surface water sources have legislative and regulatory requirements to meet.
To meet the requirements you must have the right consents and permits in place, and be able to meet the conditions they set out.
Check with your regional council or unitary authority for information on groundwater and surface water consents and permits.
Find contact details for regional, district and city councils – LGNZopen_in_new
Water supply funding
Schools get an operational grant for heat, light and water through the Ministry of Education. Water costs are funded from this budget, and in some cases it will also cover things like water system repairs and maintenance.
You should budget for replacing or fixing ageing water pipes as part of your 10 Year Property Plan (10YPP). You can use the property maintenance grant to cover the cost of repairing pipes.
Property maintenance grant funding
Heat, light and water funding – Ministry of Educationopen_in_new