Overview

We want your help shaping two proposed wastewater standards

The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai (the Authority) is consulting on two additional wastewater environmental performance standards (wastewater standards).

The two proposed standards aim to complement existing wastewater standards to reduce duplication and uncertainty in consenting, improve transparency, and make requirements clearer and more proportionate for councils, wastewater operators, and communities.

Understanding the proposals
The two proposed wastewater standards cover:

1. odour from discharges to air from wastewater treatment plants
2. the presence of metals in discharges of treated wastewater from wastewater treatment plants.

The Authority has published a discussion document. We encourage you to read the document before making a submission. You can also visit our website for more information on the proposals and the technical advice that provides additional evidence and analysis for the proposed standards (link to add).

How to submit your views
Consultation will be open for six weeks from 10 September 2026 and closes at 5:00pm on 22 October 2026. You can provide feedback by:

• completing this online survey, with the option to attach a separate document if you want to provide additional feedback.
• sending your responses to the questions via post to Level 2, 10 Brandon Street, PO Box 628, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.

Please include your name, and/or the name of your organisation, and contact details with your feedback. If you start responding to the questions online and want to return to it later, select the ‘save and come back later’ option at the bottom of the page to save progress. Not all of the questions are required and some answers can be left blank should you choose to do so.

Questions?
If you have any questions about this engagement or providing a submission, please email us at stormwater_wastewater@taumataarowai.govt.nz.