Water Treatment for Rural Schools
Safe water for schools and ECE centres.
Trusted by schools across Rodney
We look after the water at schools across Rodney, from small country schools to large colleges. We’re also working with the Ministry of Education to upgrade rural school water supplies, so schools meet the Water Services Act ahead of the registration deadlines.
Why it matters: in 2025, 71 schools on their own water reported E. coli contamination, and about 24 of them had more than one incident. Source: Water Services Authority (Taumata Arowai)
We take care of the whole job: onsite visit, water testing, system design, installation, registration and ongoing servicing. Principals and boards get one point of contact. Property managers and the Ministry get a system designed to the rules, with the documentation to match.
Key dates: existing schools, kura and early childhood education (ECE) centres on their own water must register their supply with Taumata Arowai by November 2028 and fully comply by 2030. Most will need an upgrade to get there, and we can handle it for you.
Planning an upgrade?
Call Steve on 0800 278 296.
Working with the Ministry of Education
Upgrading rural school water supplies
We’re working with the Ministry of Education to upgrade rural school water supplies in Northland and Auckland, so schools meet the Water Services Act and the Acceptable Solution ahead of the registration deadlines.
On these projects we work alongside the Ministry’s project managers and designers, and bring together the plumbing, drainage, tanks, treatment, electrical and telemetry each school needs.
The rules for schools
If your school is on its own rainwater, bore or stream supply, this is what applies.
Water Services Act
Your school is a drinking water supplier. Existing supplies register by November 2028 and fully comply by 2030.
Acceptable Solution
The simplest way for most rural schools to comply: a fine filter plus validated UV, whatever the size of your roll.
Drinking Water Safety Plan
Larger schools that don’t fit an Acceptable Solution follow the Quality Assurance Rules and submit a Drinking Water Safety Plan.
What the rules ask for
Under the Self-supplied Buildings Acceptable Solution, a school’s water treatment must include:
- a cartridge filter of 5 microns or finer before the UV
- validated UV delivering at least 40 mJ/cm², whatever the size of the school
- flow kept within the UV unit’s rating
- backflow prevention, installed by a registered plumber
- regular checks, servicing and records
It covers supplies of up to 10 buildings and 500 people. UV installed before 17 October 2022 doesn’t need to be validated if you have written proof it delivers 40 mJ/cm².
One team, start to finish
We already look after the water at schools across Rodney. We can take care of:
Onsite visit and water testing
Tanks, pumps, plumbing and drainage
Filtration and validated UV
Treatment sheds, electrical and telemetry
Registration and Acceptable Solution set-up
Servicing planned around the school day
24/7 emergency call-outs
From first visit to ongoing service
One local team for the whole job, with as little disruption to teaching as possible.
1
Onsite visit
We look at your source, storage, buildings, roll and any treatment you already have.
2
Water testing
Accredited lab testing, so you know what’s in your water and have the proof you need.
3
Design and pricing
A system designed to the rules, with a clear scope and price for your board or the Ministry.
4
Tanks and pipework
Storage, pumps and plumbing sized for your roll and your busiest times of day.
5
Treatment
Filtration and validated UV, plus extra treatment if your water test shows it’s needed.
6
Installation
Our registered plumbers install it, planned around the school day and the holidays.
7
Registration
We register your supply and set you up under the Acceptable Solution.
8
Servicing and records
Lamp changes, filter swaps, testing and the records your school needs to keep.
Safe water for every student
Clean water at the drinking fountain
For country schools on their own supply
Want peace of mind that your students are drinking safe water?
Call Steve. We’ll check your school’s supply and tell you what it needs to meet the new rules.
Don’t just take our word for it…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Excellent experience. Technician turned up on Sunday am, within 90mins of call out, which included him going to the store to pick up the parts. This was so important, as without their help the Childcare center would not have been able to open on the Monday. Thanks to Sherrie, Richard and the team.”
Barry Larman, childcare centre, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“We got a new UV water treatment system installed by Aqua Works. Very happy with the result. No more boiling water to ensure it’s safe to drink. Great customer service from start to finish. Great communication. Everybody in the process was incredibly polite and an absolute pleasure to deal with throughout the entire process. Thanks Jakob, Troy, Sherrie and Steve. We are very happy customers.”
Ruth Jones, UV water treatment, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Outstanding service. We have been with Steve and his team for over almost 20 years now and feel secure in the expertise and support they have provided to us in the past and going forward. Absolutely your go to for safe water provision.”
A. B., long-term customer, 2026
Why schools choose Aqua Works
We already look after the water at schools across Rodney, and we’re working with the Ministry of Education on rural school water upgrades. We also provide commercial water treatment for cafés, farms and other businesses.
- One point of contact, from first visit to servicing
- Systems designed to the Acceptable Solution
- Work planned around the school day and the holidays
- Documentation for your board, the Ministry and the regulator
- 24/7 emergency call-outs
Schools we work with
- King’s College, Ahuroa campus
- Ahuroa School
- Horizon School, Snells Beach
- Mahurangi College, Warkworth
- Matakana School
- Rodney College, Wellsford
- Tapora School
- Wainui School
Local expertise. Local trust.
Four of our team have passed the NZQA small drinking water supplies course, and four have passed the NZQA course on writing Drinking Water Safety Plans.
School water FAQs
Is our school a drinking water supplier?
Yes, if your school has its own rainwater, bore or stream supply that students and staff drink. You’ll need to register your supply with Taumata Arowai.
When does a school need to register its drinking water supply?
Supplies operating before 15 November 2021 have until November 2028 to register and until 2030 to fully comply. A new school must register its supply before it starts operating.
Does a small school need validated UV?
Yes. Schools have a community purpose, so the Self-supplied Buildings Acceptable Solution asks for validated UV whatever the size of your roll. UV installed before 17 October 2022 is exempt if you have written proof it delivers 40 mJ/cm².
Can our school use an Acceptable Solution?
Most rural schools can. The Self-supplied Buildings Acceptable Solution covers supplies of up to 10 buildings and 500 people. Larger schools follow the Quality Assurance Rules and submit a Drinking Water Safety Plan to the regulator.
Does Aqua Works work with the Ministry of Education?
Yes. We’re working with the Ministry on rural school water upgrades in Northland and Auckland, and we’re happy to work with your school’s property advisor on your project.
Can Aqua Works help with our school’s 10 Year Property Plan?
Yes. We can scope and price the work for your 10 Year Property Plan, and talk it through with your board and property advisor.
Can you work around the school day?
Yes. We plan installations for the holidays or quieter times where we can, and keep work areas safe for students. Our 24/7 emergency team is on call if something goes wrong.
What if our school’s water test fails?
Stop students and staff drinking it and give them a safe supply in the meantime, such as bottled water. Then find and fix the cause. The Ministry asks for three clear tests after a positive result, and we can help with all of it.
How often does a school water treatment system need servicing?
Change the UV lamp as the manufacturer recommends, usually once a year, and replace the filters regularly. We can book servicing for the school holidays and keep the records for you.
Do the same drinking water rules apply to ECE centres?
Yes. An early childhood education (ECE) centre on its own water is a drinking water supplier too. Most will need filtration and validated UV, and we can set it up the same way.
Safe water, and compliant by 2030
Existing schools on their own water must register by November 2028 and fully comply by 2030. Book an onsite visit and we’ll plan your upgrade, install it and look after it for you.