A compliance roadmap helps drinking water suppliers understand their obligations under the Water Services Act 2021 and choose the most suitable compliance pathway for their supply.
One option is to meet the requirements of the Drinking Water Quality Assurance (DWQA) Rules, supported by a Drinking Water Safety Plan (DWSP).
DWQA Rules Pathway
Method 1 involves fully meeting the requirements of the Water Services Act 2021. This requires:
- A Drinking Water Safety Plan (DWSP)
- A Source Water Risk Assessment
This pathway is typically used where supplies are more complex, higher risk, or servicing larger populations.
What is a Drinking Water Safety Plan?
A Drinking Water Safety Plan (DWSP) is a risk-based plan that covers the entire supply chain (source to tap), scaled to the size and risk of the system.
Templates are available for:
- Very small supplies
- Small supplies (26–100 people)
- Medium supplies (101–500 people)
When the DWSP pathway is suitable
Choosing to prepare a DWSP and follow the Rules may be the best option when:
- The drinking water supply serves larger or growing populations
- The supply relies on surface water (rivers, lakes, streams) or higher risk sources
- A centralised treatment system is already in place or planned
- Multiple buildings or a piped network are supplied
- The population is variable or expected to increase for over 60 days per year
- The supplier has the capacity to manage ongoing monitoring, reporting, and plan updates
Key features of the DWQA Rules pathway
The DWSP and Rules pathway:
- Requires active risk management rather than prescribed design
- Allows for tailored solutions specific to each supply
- Involves more planning, documentation, and reporting
- Is often better suited to complex or higher risk systems
Benefits of this approach
For suppliers that are expanding or upgrading infrastructure, this approach can offer greater flexibility than a prescriptive Acceptable Solution.
Additionally, for communities with growing needs or complex systems, a Drinking Water Safety Plan supported by the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules can provide a strong foundation for delivering safe, reliable drinking water now and into the future.
Aimee Snowsill
Environmental Consultant