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Frequently Asked Questions


Trade Accounts, Ordering and Customer Support

Please click here to input your information and one of our team will contact you within 48 hours. 

Note that we only open credit accounts for businesses who are going to be a reseller partner, or a commercial entity that will be buying on a regular basis. For one-off orders, please contact us to discuss. 

Please refer to the Deliveries and Returns section of our website. 

Only trade customers who have been pre-approved can utilize our online shop. If you are a trade customer and wish to get access to our great products and prices then please click here to fill out your information. For other queries, please fill out our enquiry form here. 

We are a wholesale provider of product to trade/commercial customers; whilst we do provide guidance to our resellers for Recommended Retail Prices, they will determine their own sale prices to retail customers based on their local circumstances. 

We accept the following payment methods:

  • Online bank transfers, please see the bottom of your invoice for our banking details. 

  • Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, and Amex. Please call us to provide your credit card details over the phone. We can also accept payments in-person at our branches.

Sorry, but we are a wholesale product distribution company so we do not do site visits. Your local reseller should be able to assist and is your first point-of-call for servicing your water treatment equipment. If you have just purchased a house and are unable to tell who previously installed and serviced your water equipment then please send us some photos of your existing setup and we are happy to refer you to one of our resellers in your region

Water Quality

Just because your water is “clear” doesn’t mean it’s clean. Some drinking water contaminants are colorless and odorless. Water quality varies around the country by region, depending on the source and how it is treated and distributed.

Most people connected to a town supply can contact their local council for information on water quality. Whilst town supply is acceptable to drinking water standards, we do also have many customers in towns and cities that prefer to have even greater purity in their homes for the health benefits and peace-of-mind that it provides. 

If you live rurally or outside of a town mains supply (including some of the newer city suburbs) then you may wish to get a water test performed. Here are some IANZ accredited laboratories for water testing that some of our customers have used (we receive no benefit from sharing these names): 

    If you wish to discuss the results of your water test, please send a copy to sales@taylor-purification.nz and we will be happy to review it with you, and also refer you to a local specialist who can help.

    All New Zealanders deserve safe and reliable water services that support good health and sustainable environmental outcomes. 

    Taumata Arowai is the Crown entity who became responsible for regulating drinking water from 15 November 2021 when the Water Services Act 2021 came into effect. As well as regulating the delivery and quality of drinking water, they will also have oversight of wastewater and stormwater systems in late 2023. 

    Taumata Arowai has been developing new drinking water standards for water suppliers, which will replace the current Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ). The Ministry of Health will remain as the organisation in change of drinking-water policy, and will work closely with Taumata Arowai. More information about Taumata Arowai and their regulatory role can be found on the Taumata Arowai website. The new drinking water standards were published here in June 2022 and come into effect in November 2022, until which time the existing drinking water standards remain in effect. More information and guidance should be forthcoming.

    Three Waters Reform is the Government’s proposal to replace the 67 council-run three waters services (drinking, waste and stormwater) with four new publicly-owned regionally-based entities.

    Here at Taylor Purification, we stand ready to supply our customers with water treatment solutions. We support a more consistent regulatory approach to help improve the safety and quality of drinking water across the country.

    The new Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ) come into effect on 14 November 2022. 

    A simple way to think about the new drinking water standards is to make a distinction between large suppliers and smaller suppliers:

    • Large suppliers will generally be government and council-controller suppliers. Due to the population size local government suppliers serve, there are more rigorous rules, standards, monitoring, and reporting requirements they will have to meet. We expect the initial focus will be on those suppliers currently registered with the Ministry of Health.

    • Smaller suppliers serve a smaller population (less than 500 people) and could include a community water scheme, a farm providing water to several households, a marae, community hall, rural school or holiday homes sharing the same water supply. As these can be less complex than a large supplier, there are mechanisms built into the legislation to provide a pragmatic approach to managing their risks. One of these mechanisms is called Acceptable Solutions: click here for further info. Small suppliers who are not currently registered will have up to four years to register their supply (November 2025), and up to seven years to comply with the new standards and rules (November 2028).

    Taumata Arowai is responsible for maintaining a register of drinking-water suppliers, and will also be able to take enforcement action when a supplier fails to meet its duties. Testing laboratories are required to report non-compliant samples relating to smaller suppliers to the regulator.  

    Taylor Purification has water treatment solutions available to assist small drinking suppliers. We can also assist you with understanding the new regulations once they are finalized, and can provide advice and treatment solutions.

    It is only those persons who are defined as suppliers to others who are subject to the NZ drinking water standards. If you supply water only for your own personal usage, then it is your own responsibility to check your water quality and have an appropriate treatment system in place for your own health and that of your family and visitors.

    Note: the above information is a point-in-time update and the situation is still evolving so you should do your own research and ensure you are using the most recent information available from government departments and water bodies.


    The hardness of water depends on the amount of naturally occurring minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

    Maintain Healthy Looking Skin: One of the biggest advantages of installing a water softener in your home is the fact that soft water is better for cleaning. That goes for your clothes and dishes as well as your skin. Soft water makes it easier for water to form a sudsy lather, and rinse it away just as thoroughly. That means your soap works more efficiently, and you aren't left with that pore-clogging soap residue all over your body.

    Save time and money: If there is no limescale to scrub away, cleaning time will be reduced. Plus, you won't need to buy as many cleaning products. If the water you use is free of calcium and magnesium, it won't leave behind any limescale. The result is all of your water-using appliances - such as dishwashers and washing machines, boilers, coffee machines, water boilers - will last much longer and work more efficiently. 

    Softened water tastes and feels better: Just compare it to the way towels washed in hard or soft water feel on your skin.Those ‘hard’ towels are the ones people are most familiar with. The same goes for the rest of your laundry. Washing with soft water means your clothing and linen will last longer. Everything feels softer and you’ll need less detergent to achieve the same result.

    Our range of water softeners is here: Water Softeners We can arrange a local reseller partner to assist you. 


    Please refer here to our Water Guide. Another useful guide is provided at healthed.govt.nz. Many rural customers (and town customers not connected to council mains) are utilizing UV treatment systems for their drinking water. We can put you in touch with a local reseller to assess your needs.

    Iron and manganese are metallic elements present in many types of rock. Both are commonly found in water and are essential elements required in small amounts by all living organisms. Concentrations of iron and manganese in groundwater are often higher than those measured in surface waters. The New Zealand drinking standards for iron in drinking water is less than equal to 0.2 milligrams per litre (mg/l), while for manganese in drinking water, is less than or equal to 0.04 mg/L. The presence of iron is troublesome in many industrial, agricultural and domestic situations. In domestic situations, manganese will cause staining to laundry or plumbing even in very low concentrations. Manganese salts may impart an astringent taste to drinking water and may produce a displeasing brown colouration to the water. Manganese, along with calcium and magnesium, contributes to the hardness in water.

    Rainwater collection and storage is typical in many rural households with delivery to usage via a pressure pump. Faecal matter from birds, opossum, etc., on exposed roofs and guttering are likely to contain pathogenic organisms. Stream/Spring gathered drinking water is typical in many rural households. Run-off from rain water on both reserve and grazing land into streams, open springs and shallow bores can contain faecal matter from animals and birds; both domestic and wild. The quality of water from these supplies in terms of mineral/ chemical content is naturally good, however there is always potential for biological contamination.

    If tested, water from the above sources would be reported as containing “faecal coliforms” and this is totally unacceptable for a domestic supply. The most efficient method for treating this is filtration followed by Ultra-violet disinfection.

    How Does Ultraviolet Disinfection (UV) Work? UV water disinfection is a natural, environmentally friendly process which does not add any chemicals into your water and does not change the water chemistry. Ultraviolet light energy inactivates harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, effectively preventing them from causing illness. The pathogens are destroyed in the time water passes through the disinfection chamber.

    Transmitted UV light dosage is affected by water clarity. Pre-filtration of the water is necessary prior to the UV disinfection process. The following is generally quoted guidance regarding the maximum contaminant levels that should be entering a UV treatment device: • Hardness < 120 mg/L (parts per million) • Iron < 0.3 mg/L (parts per million) • Manganese < 0.05 mg/L (parts per million) • Turbidity < 1 NTU • pH 6.5-9.5 Typically at least a 5 micron pre-filter is recommended. In most of our pre-assembled kitset systems we include pre-filters that provide filtration down to 1 micron which is an even finer level of filtration.

    A micron is a measurement of particle size, often invisible to the eye. In terms of scale, a micron is 1/1000th of a millimetre, or said differently 1mm = 1000 microns. Hence 10 microns = 0.01mm, and 1 micron = 0.001mm. For context, a human hair is roughly 75-100 microns in size and bacteria are typically in the range of 0.2 to 10 microns. The smaller the micron size of a filter, the more that is taken out of the water and the better the filtration. A 1 micron filter will catch parasites and most bacteria, however certain bacteria (for example a 0.4 micron size) will pass through a 1 micron filter. For most, 1 micron is sufficient to remove the majority of bacteria from water.

    The term pH stands for "power of Hydrogen" and is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity. Pure water has a Neutral pH of 7. A pH value lower than 7 is acidic, and higher than 7 is alkaline. New Zealand drinking water standards have a guideline from 7.0 to 8.5. The pH can be easily measured with a test paper with an indicator strip, and the resulting colour is then matched to a colour key. The prevailing opinion of medical practitioners is that we should drink water that it neither too acidic nor too alkaline. Water with low pH can be very acidic and may damage your plumbing system and fittings. This often results in higher levels of metal contaminants such as copper, iron, and zinc. This can cause a bitter metallic taste and usually leaves green/blue staining on baths and basins. Failure of fittings is also very common because of this corrosion with copper hot water cylinders being most at risk. Water that is too alkaline may have a soapy taste and leave residues. Rain water is naturally acidic so some people choose to install a Neutraliser alongside the UV.



    Municipal water is cleaned and filtered to a level compliant with the NZ drinking water standards. However, contamination can still occur. Certain contaminants are not considered to be a human health issues so are not removed at all; other contaminants may enter our water supply via cracks and breaks in the water delivery infrastructure. Under investment in water infrastructure and an aging system means contamination is more likely. For this reason, many home owners have invested in a water filtration system as a final barrier for their home. Adding a whole-house solution or a single point-of-use filter to improve the quality of your drinking water is good sense for your own health, your family and visitors.

    Chlorine can make water smell and taste bad; the scent can be recognised as a swimming pool or bleach-like smell. This toxic chemical is a powerful oxidant and is commonly used as a disinfectant in municipal/council water supplies to manage bacteria levels. Chlorine in drinking water will kill other potentially harmful organisms that seep into lakes, rivers, streams and ground water. Treatment plants use chlorine to neutralise waterborne bacteria, parasites, viruses, and various harmful microorganisms before drinking water is distributed to households. The strength of the chlorine scent will usually depend on the distance of which your public water source is from your household. However, the smell can also be affected by the temperature of the water, as colder water can hold on to chlorine for longer. Even at acceptable levels, Chlorine can contribute to dry eyes and skin irritation as well as make conditions such as eczema worse. We have various types of filters available that can reduce chlorine, taste and odour.

    LSI is one of the most commonly used measures used for corrosiveness, measuring the saturation level of calcium carbonate in the water. An out-of-range LSI may be due to source water and/or issues in your water infrastructure such as tank problems, issues with roof/gutters, pipes (aged copper pipes can be particularly problematic), fittings etc. We do not provide a product that solves for LSI issues because Corrosion Chemistry is extremely complex; consisting of many variables such as pH, temperature, calcium concentration, alkalinity, total dissolved solids. We do provide Neutraliser systems which work for correcting pH, but this alone will not be a magic bullet for fixing LSI levels.

    Nitrate (NO3) is formed when nitrogen combines with oxygen, and are a common contaminant in drinking water, particularly in areas of agricultural production. Nitrates leached into water from dairy farming has increased significantly in the last few decades, although farmers are now aware of this risk and many are taking steps to minimize environmental impacts. Studies have found that nitrates in the drinking water can produce health issues for humans, including preterm births, "blue baby syndrome", and increased risk of cancers of the colon and rectum. Parts of Canterbury, Southland, Nelson/Tasman and Wairarapa have the highest rates of colorectal cancer in the country, and NZ has one of the highest rates in the world of this type of cancer. Nitrates can be best removed from drinking water by reverse osmosis, ion exchange or distillation. We can provide reverse osmosis systems (ranging from underbench to large commercial systems), Ion Exchange systems, and a basic underbench point-of-use system with an NRC filter that reduces nitrates in your water.

    Resistivity or conductivity of water is a measure of the ability of the water to resist or conduct an electric current. The ability of water to resist or conduct an electric current is directly related to the amount of ionic material (salts) dissolved in the water. Dissolved ionic material is commonly referred to as total dissolved solids or TDS. Water with a relatively high TDS will have a low resistivity and a high conductivity. The opposite is true for water with low TDS. When various chemicals and salts dissolve into the water, they will turn into negatively charged and positively charged ions. The positively charged ions that can affect water include potassium, magnesium, and sodium. Whereas negatively charged ions include carbonate, chloride, and sulfate. A higher amount of a substance like sulfate can cause scale buildup to occur, which can damage boilers and other pieces of industrial equipment.

    There are many factors that can affect the EC of water, including the temperature of the water. In most cases, higher temperatures will equate to higher electrical conductivity. An increase in the temperature of the water by just one degree Celsius will cause an increase of electrical conductivity by 2-3 percent, which is why it’s so important to measure the electrical conductivity of your water. If you need the EC of your water to be at a certain level, even minor temperature changes can cause significant EC fluctuations. Conductivity can be measured in Siemens/metre; milliSiemens/meter; milliSiemens/cm or microSiemens/cm.

    Most laboratory water purification systems contain a resistivity or conductivity meter and cell to monitor the purity level of the water. Resistivity is the reciprocal of conductivity and either may be used to inexpensively monitor the ionic purity of water. Being able to effectively measure the electrical conductivity of water is very important in many industries and for numerous applications. Once these measurements have been taken, the water can be properly treated if necessary.

    Product Support

    Some of our products have downloadable Specification sheets that can be found on the same page as the product description. If a specification sheet is not available then please fill out the Contact Us form with your query.

    Both forms of activated carbon are good at removing organic compounds including volatile organic compounds, THMs, pesticides, herbicides, and chlorine. They are also used for taste and odour improvement. What carbon filters don’t remove however, are mineral salts, dissolved solids, heavy metals, fluorides.

    GAC filters contain loose granules of carbon, while carbon block activated carbon filters have solid blocks of compressed carbon. Solid carbon block filters are more thorough in their filtration than GAC, however, in some applications GAC filters are better because they allow for better flow rates.

    Both types of filters can be a breeding ground for bacteria, which is why they need to be replaced frequently, especially when they become too saturated with contaminants.

    We stock about 25 different types of bulbs, which are compatible with numerous systems. If you aren’t sure, please contact us with a picture of your existing bulb, as well as its length, wattage, and brand, and any other identifying features and we will see if we are able to help you.

    Please contact your local reseller for servicing. The 365 day countdown serves as a reminder for servicing; which is a good time to replace your filters and UV lamp and perform other service checks. 

    It is not recommended to reset the timer without performing a service. However, if you do need to reset the timer yourself, please follow the following steps:

    1. Turn off power/take out cord

    2. You are now going to hold the Reset button continuously for one minute:

    • First 30 seconds with no power

    • Then whilst keeping the reset button depressed, now turn the power back on, and count for another 30 seconds 

    1. Release reset button 

    2. If the counter goes to 365, then it has been reset. If it shows 7, then you haven’t held down the reset button for long enough. For other error messages, please consult your manual or call your reseller or us. 

    A clean quartz sleeve ensures your UV unit is operating at its best. The quartz sleeve should be inspected and cleaned annually, and it is recommended to change the quartz sleeve every 3 years for optimal performance. A lot of care needs to be taken in removing and cleaning the quartz sleeves as they are fragile. Please consult your reseller and product manual for further details.

    Used UV bulbs should be disposed of in accordance with your local council regulations. We strongly support the sentiment of recycling, however we don't run a recycling program ourselves and that is not a cost that is built into our offering. If you wish to recycle your used UV bulbs, there are various third party services available such as this one: https://www.interwaste.co.nz/shop/fluorescent-lights 

    The products we provide are for drinking water purification. There are other companies out there who specialize in waste water treatment. 

    Some people opt for “Point of Use” filtration which is on a single tap(s) for drinking purposes only. Others choose to do Whole House filtration. This decision is based upon what your water quality is, and what you are using your water for, and whether there is additional protection needed for how you are using that water and your family’s health.  
     
    Average Daily Use: A good place to start is to review and understand your own water bills from your local council to see how much water you are using each month, and you can then make calculations of your average daily use. This metric is just a single indicator, be careful not to use this as the sole basis of your calculations as there will be days that exceed the Average Daily Usage.

    Peak hourly usage: There will be differing periods of demand in a household throughout the day, depending on how many people are in the house, when people are showering, when appliances are on, cooking times, usage of any outdoor irrigation, hoses, filling the pool, washing the car/boat, washing your pet etc. The following are estimates of some typical usages of water:

    • A typical shower will use about 15 litres per minute.
    • A bath will use approximately 150 litres.
    • A toilet will use approximately 6 litres for a full flush and 3 litres for a half flush.
    • Tap water runs at about 5 litres per minute.
    • Washing machines can use up to 100 litres per load.
    • Dishwashers can use up to 30 litres per load.
    • People will use around 10 litres each person per day for drinking, cooking and cleaning.   
     
    The above usage/flow information is generic and will vary depending on your own behaviours and efficiency of the appliances and infrastructure in your own home. Gathering additional information will also assist you to understand how much water you may be using, such as: the number of kitchens, number of bathrooms, how many inhabitants/bedrooms, outdoor water usage etc.