Is it safe to drink tap water in New Zealand?
I'm living in a highly populated area (at least by NZ standards) in Auckland, but the question goes for the whole country.
Best Answer
Tap water, yes, certainly. NZ has well-defined, strict standards about drinking water.
There was a brief period of concern recently post-earthquake in Christchurch, where the aquifers and supply line got damaged, but that has since been restored.
So short answer: yes, and longer answer: yes, except sometimes immediately after unforeseen disasters.
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Is NZ bathroom water safe to drink?
And yes, the water is drinkable everywhere except at some remote trailheads etc - in which case there will be a sign warning to boil or treat the water.Is bottled water better than tap water NZ?
If bottled water comes from a spring, rather than a tap, it will almost always have less fluoride. New Zealand spring water normally has about 0.1mg per litre and fluoridated tap water 0.6 to 1mg per litre (the Wellington tap sample we tested was low compared with the average over time).Is bathroom tap water same as kitchen tap water NZ?
According to Hafren Dyfrdwy Limited (formerly Dee Valley Water Limited), the water in your bathroom taps has usually been stored in a tank in the loft. Hence, unlike the water in your kitchen tap, this water isn't fresh from the mains.Should NZ tap water filter?
A water filter provides clean, healthy water for cooking, as well as drinking, at the convenience of tap water. Water filters reduce the risk of gastrointestinal disease by more than 80 percent by removing cryptosporidium, e-coli and giardia from drinking water. Drinking pure water is especially important for children.🚱🚰 Can You Drink the Tap Water in New Zealand?
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Answer 2
I'd love to believe all the above thoughts but I have concerns. We travel all over for decades and the safety of NZ water supplies--one of the most advanced countries in the world--never would have occurred to me. (I'm a Prof working in biomedical research at a major University). Then reading chit chat in Tripadvisor I decided to check properly. Bacteria (and likely viruses, due to widespread floridation) are almost certainly not issues. However, NZ MOH standards for protozoa are "not detected" at 80% of the time. 80!! (So one chance in 5 in getting protozoa in your tap water is the goal. Wow.
Checking many locations( primarily rural, where we will be travelling such as Greymouth, Picton, Blenheim, Akaroa etc) shows that they do NOT meet this low standard. I'll skip the risk of crypto or giardia and buy some water. Amazing! See most recent stats for where you'll travel @ http://www.drinkingwater.esr.cri.nz/supplies/suppliescompliance.asp
Particularly for children, elderly or immunosuppressed I'd suggest caution based on what the NZ government offers.
Kudos to them for being transparent and helpful. Buyer beware.
Answer 3
No. i work in this area. There are standards but they are rarely enforced. Unless you are in a major city you should boil the tap water. Esp if you are in a rural area you definately should boil before consumption, using to clean teeth, wash salads or make ice. This also applies to many food places and wineries as they are on their own supplies and untreated. Tap water here is third world except in major cities. But Blenheim is fully compliant now.
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