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Water pollution in Canterbury, New Zealand

January 01, 1970

Water pollution in Canterbury, New Zealand has become a major environmental issue, largely due to pollution from agricultural sources, but also industrial and urban sources.

The Canterbury Region is in the South Island of New Zealand.

Water resources are under the jurisdiction of the Environment Canterbury under the Resource Management Act (RMA); water abstraction and use for irrigation purposes requires a resource consent.

The municipal water supply for Christchurch is sourced from the aquifers beneath the city.

Background edit

Due to the rain shadow effect of the Southern Alps the rainfall in Canterbury is lower than many other parts of the country at 500–700 mm per year.[1] Water from melting snow and ice and from rainfall drain into the predominantly braided rivers on the Canterbury Plains. The rivers recharge the aquifers beneath the plains.

The Canterbury Region was traditionally arable and livestock farming but there have been a large number of dairy conversions in the region. In recent years there has been a huge expansion in dairy farming throughout the South Island.[2] Dairy farming requires the intensive use of water and it is placing a high demand on water resources in the Canterbury Region.

Issues edit

 
A water pollution sign on the Waimakariri River in 2004.

The rivers and groundwater are being polluted with nitrates and E. coli. Nitrate concentrations in the groundwater are above the drinking water standards in around 7% of monitored wells according to 2017 data from Environment Canterbury. According to Environment Canterbury's 2 017 progress report on the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, 71% of the 224 wells sampled in 2015 showed no increasing or decreasing nitrate trend, 25% of wells showed an increase nitrate trend and 4% showed a decreasing nitrate trend.

According to the Ministry for the Environment, 77% of Canterbury rivers and lakes are graded excellent or good for swimming and 4% are graded as poor.

Inorganic nutrients, an indication of water quality, are considered to be low but increase closer to the coast. For 2000-2001 28% of tested sites were classed as "alert" due to the presence of organic pollutants.[3]

Water pollution of the two rivers flowing through the city of Christchurch, the Avon / Ōtākaro and the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote, is of concern. Untreated sewage can flow into the rivers during times of high rainfall. The estuary where the two rivers discharge had received treated water from the sewerage treatment plant that processed the city's sewage. However, a pipeline was constructed to discharge the water into Pegasus Bay. It became operational in 2010.[4]

The Central Plains Water scheme is a large-scale proposal for water diversion, damming, reticulation and irrigation over an area of 60,000 ha.

A large number of resource consent applications for intensive dairy farming in the Mackenzie Basin attracted opposition due in part to the potential effects on water quality.[5] The resource consents were called in under the RMA by the Minister for the Environment Nick Smith.[6]

Cheviot has been on a boil water notice since October 2004.[7]

Mitigation edit

The Dairying and Clean Streams Accord was set up by Fonterra and a number of government agencies as a means of reducing nonpoint source pollution. The Accord is criticised for not achieving its goals.[8]

In recent years, Environment Canterbury has introduced stricter environmental requirements for farms with most farms now required to have Farm Environment Plans as well as many farms having nutrient discharge limits on nitrogen losses. Farm Environment Plans require farms to plan and demonstrate they are actively managing environmental practices such as nutrient application, erosion risk, irrigation, dairy effluent and waterway protection (through fencing off waterways in intensively stocked areas and riparian planting).

Recent assessments of water quality in Canterbury have indicated that the introduction of these new requirements is helping to improve water quality. Nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and e.coli are all now improving at more monitored sites than are worsening. Turbidity is the only measure which showed more sites worsening.

Prosecutions edit

In recent years prosecutions have been made for causing water pollution:

  • 2009 – Philip Curry was fined $5,000 after pleading guilty to discharging effluent onto land that may have resulted in contaminants entering nearby Barry's Bay Stream.[9]
  • 2009 – Corlette Holdings was fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to two charges of discharging effluent from an irrigator resulted in ponding and a second charge of effluent being discharged, which may have resulted in contaminated water.[10]
  • 2010 – A prosecution against Brook Farms and Mosbro Farms in Ashburton was withdrawn after they agreed to mitigate the effects of the effluent discharge.[11]
  • In 2012, Springston dairy farm company, White Gold Ltd, was fined a record $90,000 after illegally discharging 45,000 litres of diluted dairy effluent over a three-day period in 2010. The public reported the dairy effluent flowing into waterways that flowed into Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora.[12]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ State of the Climate 2010: A snapshot of recent climate in New Zealand (PDF), NIWA Science & Technology Series No. 56, NIWA, 2010, ISSN 1173-0382
  2. ^ "Agricultural Production Statistics". Statistics New Zealand. June 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  3. ^ PCE (October 2004). Growing for good: Intensive farming, sustainability and New Zealand's environment. Wellington: Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. p. 46. ISBN 1-877274-51-8. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  4. ^ "Ocean Outfall opens". Christchurch City Council. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  5. ^ Williams, David (30 May 2009). "MacKenzies Basin 'water grab' opposed". The Press. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  6. ^ "Minister calls in Mackenzie Basin dairy discharge consents". Beehive. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  7. ^ (PDF). Canterbury District Health Board. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
  8. ^ *Neil Deans, Kevin Hackwell (October 2008). "Dairying and Declining Water Quality" (PDF). Fish & Game New Zealand, Forest & Bird.
  9. ^ "Banks Peninsula dairy farmer fined for effluent discharge". Ecan. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  10. ^ "Canterbury dairy farm fined for effluent discharge". Ecan. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Prosecution withdrawn for dairy shed effluent discharge". Ecan. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  12. ^ Young, Rachael (20 July 2012). "Record fine for Springston dairy farm". The Press. Retrieved 4 August 2012.

Further reading edit

  • Mahon, Sam (2006). The Water Thieves. Dunedin, NZ: Longacre Press. ISBN 1-877361-51-8.
  • Rodgers, Murray (2009). Canterbury's Wicked Water: Politics, Progress and Prosperity Imperilled. Christchurch, N.Z: CWW Solutions. ISBN 978-0-473-15085-3.
  • Growing for good: Intensive farming, sustainability and New Zealand's environment. Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. 2004. ISBN 1-877274-51-8.
  • The Canterbury region dairy report for the 2008/09 season (PDF). Report No R09/103. Ecan. December 2009. ISBN 978-1-877542-53-4.
  • Lennox, James A; Andrew, Robbie (n.d.). "Reforming water use rights in Canterbury: a shared responsibilities perspective" (PDF). International Input-Output Association.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
water, pollution, canterbury, zealand, become, major, environmental, issue, largely, pollution, from, agricultural, sources, also, industrial, urban, sources, canterbury, region, south, island, zealand, water, resources, under, jurisdiction, environment, cante. Water pollution in Canterbury New Zealand has become a major environmental issue largely due to pollution from agricultural sources but also industrial and urban sources The Canterbury Region is in the South Island of New Zealand Water resources are under the jurisdiction of the Environment Canterbury under the Resource Management Act RMA water abstraction and use for irrigation purposes requires a resource consent The municipal water supply for Christchurch is sourced from the aquifers beneath the city Contents 1 Background 2 Issues 3 Mitigation 4 Prosecutions 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksBackground editDue to the rain shadow effect of the Southern Alps the rainfall in Canterbury is lower than many other parts of the country at 500 700 mm per year 1 Water from melting snow and ice and from rainfall drain into the predominantly braided rivers on the Canterbury Plains The rivers recharge the aquifers beneath the plains The Canterbury Region was traditionally arable and livestock farming but there have been a large number of dairy conversions in the region In recent years there has been a huge expansion in dairy farming throughout the South Island 2 Dairy farming requires the intensive use of water and it is placing a high demand on water resources in the Canterbury Region Issues edit nbsp A water pollution sign on the Waimakariri River in 2004 The rivers and groundwater are being polluted with nitrates and E coli Nitrate concentrations in the groundwater are above the drinking water standards in around 7 of monitored wells according to 2017 data from Environment Canterbury According to Environment Canterbury s 2 017 progress report on the Canterbury Water Management Strategy 71 of the 224 wells sampled in 2015 showed no increasing or decreasing nitrate trend 25 of wells showed an increase nitrate trend and 4 showed a decreasing nitrate trend According to the Ministry for the Environment 77 of Canterbury rivers and lakes are graded excellent or good for swimming and 4 are graded as poor Inorganic nutrients an indication of water quality are considered to be low but increase closer to the coast For 2000 2001 28 of tested sites were classed as alert due to the presence of organic pollutants 3 Water pollution of the two rivers flowing through the city of Christchurch the Avon Ōtakaro and the Ōpawaho Heathcote is of concern Untreated sewage can flow into the rivers during times of high rainfall The estuary where the two rivers discharge had received treated water from the sewerage treatment plant that processed the city s sewage However a pipeline was constructed to discharge the water into Pegasus Bay It became operational in 2010 4 The Central Plains Water scheme is a large scale proposal for water diversion damming reticulation and irrigation over an area of 60 000 ha A large number of resource consent applications for intensive dairy farming in the Mackenzie Basin attracted opposition due in part to the potential effects on water quality 5 The resource consents were called in under the RMA by the Minister for the Environment Nick Smith 6 Cheviot has been on a boil water notice since October 2004 7 Mitigation editThe Dairying and Clean Streams Accord was set up by Fonterra and a number of government agencies as a means of reducing nonpoint source pollution The Accord is criticised for not achieving its goals 8 In recent years Environment Canterbury has introduced stricter environmental requirements for farms with most farms now required to have Farm Environment Plans as well as many farms having nutrient discharge limits on nitrogen losses Farm Environment Plans require farms to plan and demonstrate they are actively managing environmental practices such as nutrient application erosion risk irrigation dairy effluent and waterway protection through fencing off waterways in intensively stocked areas and riparian planting Recent assessments of water quality in Canterbury have indicated that the introduction of these new requirements is helping to improve water quality Nitrogen phosphorus sediment and e coli are all now improving at more monitored sites than are worsening Turbidity is the only measure which showed more sites worsening Prosecutions editIn recent years prosecutions have been made for causing water pollution 2009 Philip Curry was fined 5 000 after pleading guilty to discharging effluent onto land that may have resulted in contaminants entering nearby Barry s Bay Stream 9 2009 Corlette Holdings was fined 10 000 after pleading guilty to two charges of discharging effluent from an irrigator resulted in ponding and a second charge of effluent being discharged which may have resulted in contaminated water 10 2010 A prosecution against Brook Farms and Mosbro Farms in Ashburton was withdrawn after they agreed to mitigate the effects of the effluent discharge 11 In 2012 Springston dairy farm company White Gold Ltd was fined a record 90 000 after illegally discharging 45 000 litres of diluted dairy effluent over a three day period in 2010 The public reported the dairy effluent flowing into waterways that flowed into Lake Ellesmere Te Waihora 12 See also editCanterbury Water Management Strategy Water pollution in New Zealand Water in New Zealand Environment of New Zealand Agriculture in New ZealandReferences edit State of the Climate 2010 A snapshot of recent climate in New Zealand PDF NIWA Science amp Technology Series No 56 NIWA 2010 ISSN 1173 0382 Agricultural Production Statistics Statistics New Zealand June 2009 Retrieved 6 August 2010 PCE October 2004 Growing for good Intensive farming sustainability and New Zealand s environment Wellington Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment p 46 ISBN 1 877274 51 8 Retrieved 6 August 2010 Ocean Outfall opens Christchurch City Council 24 March 2010 Retrieved 6 August 2010 Williams David 30 May 2009 MacKenzies Basin water grab opposed The Press Retrieved 5 June 2009 Minister calls in Mackenzie Basin dairy discharge consents Beehive 27 January 2010 Retrieved 6 August 2010 Community and Public Health Summary Report to CPH amp DSAC PDF Canterbury District Health Board 2009 Archived from the original PDF on 1 December 2010 Retrieved 28 September 2010 Neil Deans Kevin Hackwell October 2008 Dairying and Declining Water Quality PDF Fish amp Game New Zealand Forest amp Bird Banks Peninsula dairy farmer fined for effluent discharge Ecan 17 April 2009 Retrieved 6 August 2010 Canterbury dairy farm fined for effluent discharge Ecan 17 March 2009 Retrieved 6 August 2010 Prosecution withdrawn for dairy shed effluent discharge Ecan 31 March 2010 Retrieved 6 August 2010 Young Rachael 20 July 2012 Record fine for Springston dairy farm The Press Retrieved 4 August 2012 Further reading editMahon Sam 2006 The Water Thieves Dunedin NZ Longacre Press ISBN 1 877361 51 8 Rodgers Murray 2009 Canterbury s Wicked Water Politics Progress and Prosperity Imperilled Christchurch N Z CWW Solutions ISBN 978 0 473 15085 3 Growing for good Intensive farming sustainability and New Zealand s environment Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment 2004 ISBN 1 877274 51 8 The Canterbury region dairy report for the 2008 09 season PDF Report No R09 103 Ecan December 2009 ISBN 978 1 877542 53 4 Lennox James A Andrew Robbie n d Reforming water use rights in Canterbury a shared responsibilities perspective PDF International Input Output Association External links editWater quality and quantity page at the Environment Canterbury Canterbury Water Management Strategy Waterways wetlands and drainage guide at the Christchurch City Council Water Rights Trust Our Water Our Vote lobby group Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Water pollution in Canterbury New Zealand amp oldid 1170127404, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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