Everybody should be able to get drinking water from the tap, knowing that it is safe, no matter where they live in Aotearoa. We should be able to swim or gather kai in our rivers, lakes, or at the beach without fear that our whānau will become sick. We should be confident that our drinking-water sources are protected and that the environmental impact of waste-water and stormwater systems is acceptable. We should be confident that drinking-water standards, which reflect the standards set by the World Health Organization, are being met by our drinking-water suppliers, particularly those which are publicly owned and operated. In many areas, sadly, this is not the case.