Environmental water quality

Our water quality services and standards

We work to provide advice and education to industry and the community to help prevent pollution, as well as a water testing and response service.

How does the water quality testing service work?

The quality of beach water is tested at our popular harbour swimming beaches.

If you observe any kind of pollution, make sure you report it to us! We provide a service in conjunction with the Greater Wellington Regional Council that lets you report pollution.

What are Council’s water quality standards?

We take water quality seriously and aim to meet the following standards at all times:

• Providing a 24-hour pollution response service
• Doing weekly beach water quality testing at popular harbour swimming beaches within the city during the summer months (December-February)
• Posting appropriate warning signs at any beach or waterway where there may be pollution issues
• If there’s a major risk posed by pollution, we will provide you with information through the media as well as posting warning signs.

If there’s a pollution incident which seriously threatens health, safety or the environment, we’ll respond to it within an hour.

Where can I find information about fluoride?

We add fluoride to most water supplies in the Hutt Valley. A slight majority of people in New Zealand receive a fluoridated water supply.

You can find further information by:

• Going to the Ministry of Health website
• Calling Regional Public Health on 570 9002 and ordering pamphlets
• Contacting the Fluoride Action Network New Zealand (FANNZ), call 04 972 6249 or 04 565 1056
• Reading about fluoride-free water options on the FANNZ website  
• Visiting the American Dental Association website
• Visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
• Contacting the Medical Officer of Health Dr Stephen Palmer