The new Heath (Drinking Water) Amendment Act came into force on 1 July 2008 and, even though it doesn’t have a direct affect on plumbers and drainlayers, you should be aware of it’s implications.
The new act is mainly aimed at water suppliers. For the first time in New Zealand, it brings in standards for quality of drinking water, with a maximum level of contaminants being prescribed for drinking water supplies.
The Act does not have a direct effect on plumbers. What a plumber does within the property in terms of delivering from that supply to points of use is still covered by G12. Plumbers might be held culpable if there is a water borne disease breakout and need to understand that they have significant responsibility as part of the whole team delivering safe drinking water and looking after public health.
The new Act defines a drinking water supplier as a person who supplies drinking water to people in New Zealand or overseas from a drinking water supply, most significantly this includes that person’s employees, agents, lessees and subcontractors while carrying out duties in respect of that drinking water supply.
Plumbers have a duty of care, particularly with small communities or private supply clients for example, as they are more than likely to be the first point of contact between the customer and the legal or compliance requirements. They should, therefore, be able to pick up on issues where they think there might be a problem and to advise clients to contact the local authority to get the correct information on what standards are required for their drinking water.
If New Zealand had an acute water-borne disease outbreak, it would have a significant impact on this country’s clean green image.
It is estimated that at least 500,000 New Zealanders were receiving water from supplies that do not comply with the New Zealand drinking water Standards.
