surface water quality surface water quantity - taranaki · surface water quality clean and healthy...

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FRESH Surface water quality Clean and healthy water is arguably the region’s most precious natural resource. Taranaki’s rivers and streams are vital for the regional economy, for recreation, and for community water supplies. Ensuring that the quality of the region’s fresh water remains excellent is of paramount importance. Ecological health Physical and chemical state Popular swimming spots Lake water quality THIS CHAPTER COVERS: WATER Surface water quantity Flow characteristics Rainfall and water levels Surface water allocation Allocation by catchment Groundwater Groundwater abstraction Groundwater levels Groundwater quality Maintaining and enhancing the mouri and wairua, or life force and spirit, of water is also a fundamental part of the kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, role that the tangata whenua have in relation to water. The Council and others have managed the region’s freshwater resources for more than 40 years to ensure that good quality water is available for the varied needs of the region. 59 Fresh water 3

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Page 1: Surface water quality Surface water quantity - Taranaki · Surface water quality Clean and healthy water is arguably the region’s most precious natural resource. Taranaki’s rivers

FRESH

Surface water quality

Clean and healthy water is arguably the region’s most precious natural

resource. Taranaki’s rivers and streams are vital for the regional economy,

for recreation, and for community water supplies. Ensuring that the quality

of the region’s fresh water remains excellent is of paramount importance.

Ecological health

Physical and chemical state

Popular swimming spots

Lake water quality

THIS CHAPTER COVERS:

WATER

Surface water quantityFlow characteristics

Rainfall and water levels

Surface water allocation

Allocation by catchment

GroundwaterGroundwater abstraction

Groundwater levels

Groundwater quality

Maintaining and enhancing the mouri and wairua, or life force and spirit,

of water is also a fundamental part of the kaitiakitanga, or guardianship,

role that the tangata whenua have in relation to water. The Council and

others have managed the region’s freshwater resources for more than

40 years to ensure that good quality water is available for the varied

needs of the region.

59 Fresh water

3

Page 2: Surface water quality Surface water quantity - Taranaki · Surface water quality Clean and healthy water is arguably the region’s most precious natural resource. Taranaki’s rivers

‘Latest Council monitoring shows the ecologicalhealth of our rivers is the best yet measured.’

Page 3: Surface water quality Surface water quantity - Taranaki · Surface water quality Clean and healthy water is arguably the region’s most precious natural resource. Taranaki’s rivers

1442647 MB Final Draft.

61 Fresh water

Fresh waterWhatever happens on the land affects the region’s streams, lakes and wetlands. Intensive agriculture can

affect freshwater quality. Surface run-off can carry soil, excess fertiliser, or dung and urine into waterways.

Discharges to waterways from various effluent systems can impact stream health and water quality, as can

draining or diverting streams and wetlands to improve land production.

The management of waterways has considerably improved in the past 40 years. Up until the 1970s,

untreated dairy farm effluent was routinely discharged directly into the nearest river or stream, turning the

waterways green. Many wastewater treatment systems were inadequate compared with today’s standards

and greatly affected water quality. A number of industrial and municipal wastewaters were discharged

directly into small streams without any treatment.

Today, results indicate the best-ever trends in the health of

monitored waterways. All farm effluent systems are now licensed

and monitored. Long reaches of rivers and streams are fenced and

planted. Industrial waste treatment systems have been upgraded

and almost all town waste discharges into rivers have been

eliminated. The latest Council monitoring shows the ecological

health of rivers is the best yet measured. Since trend analysis began

in 2005, total nitrogen levels have either reduced or shown no

significant change, with reduction becoming more and more

widespread. The number of nutrient measures showing a long-term

deterioration is steadily declining—down from 32% to 25%. In

recent years, only one of 11 sites shows deterioration in any nutrient measure.

These results reflect the effectiveness of the Council’s policies and programmes. They also reflect the

enormous investment made by the community to protect and enhance the region’s waterways—the benefits

becoming more and more apparent.

The main pressures on our freshwater quality today still stem from intensive agriculture. However, dairy cow

numbers in Taranaki have remained relatively static after reaching a peak about 15 years ago. Today dairy

cow numbers total 493,361 cows—an increase of only 2.5% since 1998/1999. Dairy cow densities have also

not markedly changed, averaging 2.85 cows per hectare, compared with 2.8 in 1998/1999—below the

national average. The quantity of fertiliser being applied has also declined overall in the last 10 years,

particularly the quantity of nitrogen fertiliser which peaked in 2006/2007 and has since plateaued. Although

the demand for fertiliser tends to reflect milk prices, applications of superphosphate have remained relatively

stable with greater use made of imported animal feed. Continuing overseas demand for New Zealand’s dairy

and beef products means the outlook for agriculture in Taranaki remains strong.

Fresh water is vital to the well-being, livelihood and lifestyle of everyone in the region and the demands on

fresh water are large and varied. Taranaki has plenty of rain, but it is also home to a number of large-scale

petrochemical, dairy and meat-processing operations. There is ongoing demand from these industries to

take and use more water. There is also demand from agriculture for pasture irrigation. This demand for water

from agriculture and industry, alongside a growing population, means we must pay careful attention to how

water is allocated—particularly during drier periods and droughts, when water resources can be stretched.

For a number of years, the Council has worked successfully with both landowners and

industry in the region to improve and enhance water quality. We also work to ensure water

allocation is fair and equitable. The results of our programmes make it increasingly clear

that what we’re doing is working. As a council, we are firmly focused on caring for the

rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands in the region in a way that continues to ensure good

quality water is available for everyone’s needs.

‘Today, results

indicate the best-ever

trends in the health

of monitored

waterways.’