Government lays groundwork for safe drinking-water
17 July 2018
NZ Government:
The Government is amending the Health Act to
allow for significant improvements to the safety of drinking-water in
New Zealand, the Health Minister Dr David Clark has announced.
“This is the legislative groundwork we need to put in place ahead of
tackling the big changes recommended by the Havelock North Inquiry,”
David Clark said.
The Inquiry which followed the outbreak of gastroenteritis in Havelock
North in August 2016 estimated that up to 100,000 Kiwis were getting
sick from drinking-water
every year.
The amendments to the Health Act 1956 are an interim step which improves
the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing drinking-water safety
regime and allows for faster implementation of major reforms to come.
The key change is the removal of the requirement for a five year
consultation and notification period for changes to drinking-water
standards.
“These changes to the Act will ensure that drinking-water standards can
be improved and implemented faster and more efficiently.”
The bill will still require the Minister to ensure adequate consultation
with stakeholders including local authorities before any changes are
made.
The bill also makes it clear that water suppliers must implement
approved water safety plans in accordance with an agreed timetable and
streamline the process for appointing Drinking-water Assessors.
“These are good interim steps to help protect our people’s health while
we deal with long-standing drinking-water issues inherited by the
Government and which were tragically illustrated in Havelock North.”
Cabinet has directed further work on the Government’s response to the
inquiry’s recommendations, including its substantive findings that:
-
Require water supplies to be treated, including with a residual disinfectant in the reticulation
-
Make compliance with the Drinking Water Standards mandatory
-
Establish a dedicated drinking-water regulator
-
Create aggregated, dedicated water suppliers.
The Government will consider
advice on these matters later this year.
Much of this work is being jointly undertaken in the context of the
Government’s cross-agency Three Waters Review, which is looking at the
broader arrangements for drinking-water, waste water and storm water.
“We recognise that the shift to ensure safer drinking water for everyone
will require considerable effort and resources. Drinking-water supplies
are largely run by local government and we need to have a conversation
with councils and other suppliers and other stakeholders including Māori
about how we get there,” David Clark said.
--ENDS--
Source: New Zealand Government - www.beehive.govt.nz
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