New Zealand's compliance with drinking water standards is poor compared to the UK and European countries, and an independent regulator would assist in improving water quality, the Havelock North water inquiry heard today.
The final stage of hearings into the state of New Zealand's drinking water regime resumed yesterday and turned to considering whether creating one, independent water regulator that had ensuring drinking water safety as its sole function would improve current issues with water quality.
International drinking water expert Colin Fricker, who was one of panel of five drinking water experts, talked about what he had seen overseas.
Where there was an independent regulator, featuring inspectors with the ability to prosecute, compliance was better, he said.
This was the case in the UK, which had a drinking water inspectorate, and as a result some of the best compliance levels in the world.