The Drinking-Water Assistance Programme (DWAP)

The Technical Assistance Programme (TAP)

TAP is the training-assistance part of the Drinking-Water Assistance Programme (DWAP). It is managed by the Ministry of Health, who have appointed ten TAP facilitators spread throughout New Zealand to run the programme locally.

TAP aims to help water suppliers improve their supplies through expert assistance combined with collaborative discussions with their fellow suppliers. The TAP Facilitator organises TAP Groups, which are local meetings of suppliers in similar circumstances. Through direct advice and these meetings, suppliers will develop local skills and knwoledge about all aspects of drinking water supplies.

Within a year of participating in TAP, it is expected that many supplies will see not only improvements to their drinking-water quality, but also a greater awareness of potential risks to that quality. And by better knowing the risks, the suppliers will be supported in building a risk management plan showing what hazards are important, how to mimimise the risk of them happening, and what actions should be taken if they do.

Summary: How TAP can help a small supply

For a small drinking-water supply, TAP aims to help the supplier to deliver better water, more effectively, through:

expert talks and discussions about safe water,
experience-sharing with similar suppliers in the district,
help with making a supply risk management plan,
help in using current equipment and resources more effectively,
help in deciding if additional work, equipment and funding is needed to produce good safe water,
if funding for that is beyond community resources, guidance in applying for CAP funding.

Who can participate?

The main focus for TAP is on supplies for 100 to 1,000 people, but people from any supply up to 5,000 people can participate. There is no charge for this.

Participation is also open to communities considering replacing individual property supplies with a communal one.

What if the water is still bad?

Optimising of supplies and plans along these lines may often be feasible within the resources of the community. But if not, a supplier with a good track record in TAP can then apply for funding from CAP.

I want to join TAP. What should I do?

It's as simple as 1-2-3.

Assuming your community is smaller than 5,000 people, check which TAP Region you live in on this map of New Zealand (or just see the full list here).
Click the region and you'll find your region's TAP Facilitator.
Phone or email them and they'll tell you all you need to know to get started.