Drinking Water Quality Standards
Official agencies, like the government, set the drinking water quality standards based on scientific advice. However, government organisations, local councils and water supplying businesses must monitor their water quality and follow guidelines to ensure safe drinking water.
What is Acceptable Drinking Water Quality?
The Drinking Water Guidelines in New Zealand explain the development of the Standards and provide advice for achieving high levels of water quality management, providing high quality and safe drinking water. The Guidelines help water suppliers to achieve the standards.
Is New Zealand Water Safe?
As a developed country, New Zealand is fortunate that the majority of the population has access to clean drinking water. Safe and adequate sanitation is what makes most of New Zealand drinking water drinkable.
Alkaline Water
Alkaline water and the alkalinity level is determined by mineral content. Alkaline minerals include calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium, and the higher the mineral levels, the more alkaline the water will be. The New Zealand Drinking Water Standards value drinking water pH between 7-8.5. Drinking water outside of these ranges isn’t necessarily bad. The standards just provide a guideline for water suppliers to follow. On the other hand, bottled spring and mineral water tend to range in pH between 5-10.
pH Levels
pH is the potential hydrogen ion concentration, a measure of acidity and alkalinity ranging from 0-14, with a pH of 7.0 being neutral. Alkaline water, opposite to acidic water, has a pH of 7 and above.
What is in My Water?
A lot of New Zealand’s drinking water has chlorine added to kill certain bacteria, viruses and other organisms that make water potentially unsafe to consume. Other common things present in New Zealand drinking water include fluoride and lime.
Fluoride
Fluoride is a natural element often added to public water supplies to reduce tooth decay. The fluoride amount is often 0.7-1.0 parts per million in water.
Chlorine
Chlorine is added during the treatment process to kill harmful bacteria. It evaporates quickly and has been used around the world for over 100 years.
Lime
Lime is often added to drinking water to protect the water supply pipes from corrosion.
What is in My Water?
A lot of New Zealand’s drinking water has chlorine added to kill certain bacteria, viruses and other organisms that make water potentially unsafe to consume. Other common things present in New Zealand drinking water include fluoride and lime.
Fluoride
Fluoride is a natural element often added to public water supplies to reduce tooth decay. The fluoride amount is often 0.7-1.0 parts per million in water.
Chlorine
Chlorine is added during the treatment process to kill harmful bacteria. It evaporates quickly and has been used around the world for over 100 years.
Lime
Lime is often added to drinking water to protect the water supply pipes from corrosion.
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