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Drinking water supplies to rural areas may come with increased costs under a possible new law.
Concerns have been raised over the cost and effectiveness of treating drinking water supplies in some rural areas under potential changes signalled in the Water Services Bill. Tasman District Council has outlined those concerns in a submission on the bill, which passed its first reading in December and is now before Parliament’s health select committee. “We believe some of the concerns that we raise in this submission will also be relevant to many other councils in New Zealand, especially those that operate rural or other restricted water supplies,” the Tasman council says in its submission.
Drinking water standards overhaul for rural Northland
3 Feb, 2021 04:00 PM
5 minutes to read
Northland DHB Drinking Water Assessor Keith Turner, second from right, upskilling Northland water suppliers in ultra violet (UV) disinfection at a workshop in 2018. Photo / Northland Age
Northern Advocate (Whangarei)
By: Donna Russell
Turning on the tap for a refreshing glass of water might seem to be something most people should be able to take for granted.
But what if that water makes you sick? An overhaul of drinking water regulations and monitoring is under way this year, which will benefit rural populations.
Untreated water used for drinking can contain bacteria or protozoa that can cause illness, particularly in rural communities that rely on tank water or water drawn from streams.