WELLINGTON, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government approved a dedicated watchdog and new water regulations on Thursday to ensure water safety and help clean up New Zealand's wastewater and stormwater systems.
"The government has reached a critical milestone in drinking water safety and protecting the environment by moving to overhaul this country's water regulations," said Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta, who is leading the Three Waters Review alongside ministers of health and environment.
Minister of Health David Clark, who has spearheaded the government's response to the Havelock North Campylobacter outbreak in 2016 where 5,000 people got sick from their drinking water, said public safety is a non-negotiable priority.
"Access to safe, clean drinking water is a birth-right for New Zealanders and a key concern for communities up and down the country. Wherever they live, consumers and communities expect to be able to turn on the tap and drink the water without fear of getting ill," Clark said.
The dedicated water regulator has been established to build New Zealanders's confidence that "their drinking water is demonstrably safe," he said.
Mahuta said oversight of water has been split between a number of agencies and legislation for a long time, and measures to improve drinking water safety has been ineffective.
