What are we doing with WSP’s in New Zealand? An overview of water safety planning, success and failure and why the Havelock North WSP didn’t prevent the outbreak?

The first water safety plan prepared in New Zealand was for the Masterton DWS after the identification of Cryptosporidium oocysts in the supply in 2003. In preparation for WSPs becoming a legislative equirement, the Ministry of Health prepared a series of resources including a framework booklet, WSP guides and a DVD. From 2007 the requirement for water suppliers to prepare WSPs under the Health Act has been phased in. A range of differing approaches to WSP preparation have been taken and improvements to drinkingwater supplies has been an observable result, but a number of outbreaks including at Darfield in 2012 and Havelock North in 2016 have highlighted some failings in the approach taken in New Zealand. What has gone wrong and why didn’t the Havelock North WSP prevent the August 2016 outbreak? This presentation will provide an overview of the Havelock North drinking-water supply, its vulnerabilities and how the supply water safety plan considered with them. Proposed changes to the way water safety plans are prepared in New Zealand will then be discussed.