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