3 Water Module Table of Contents Module 3 Water Module 1 Policies included in the Regional Plan in accordance with the NPS on Freshwater Management 3-5 3.1 Water Resources 3-6 3.1.1 Issue 3-8 3.1.2 Objective 3-9 3.1.3 Clarification of the Relationship between Water and Geothermal Modules 3-12 3.1.4 Monitoring Options 3-13 3.2 Management of Water Resources 3-15 3.2.1 Issue 3-15 3.2.2 Objective 3-15 3.2.3 Policies 3-15 3.2.4 Implementation Methods – Water Management Classes and Standards 3-19 3.2.5 Environmental Results Anticipated 3-27 3.2.6 Monitoring Options 3-27 3.3 Water takes 3-29 3.3.1 Issue 3-31 3.3.2 Objective 3-33 3.3.3 Policies 3-35 3.3.4 Implementation Methods – Water Takes 3-51 3.4 Efficient Use of Water 3-85 3.4.1 Issue 3-85 3.4.2 Objective 3-86 3.4.3 Policies 3-86 3.4.4 Implementation Methods – Transfer of Water Take Permits 3-87 3.4.5 Implementation Methods – The Use of Water 3-91 3.5 Discharges* 3-95 3.5.1 Issue 3-95 3.5.2 Objective 3-95 3.5.3 Policies 3-96 3.5.4 Implementation Methods – Discharges 3-98 3.5.5 Implementation Methods – Farm Effluent Discharges 3-100 3.5.6 Implementation Methods – Discharge of Biosolids* and Sludges or Liquids from Activated Sludge Treatment Processes to Land 3-105 3.5.7 Implementation Methods – On-Site Sewage Discharges 3-109 3.5.8 Implementation Methods – Well and Aquifer Testing Discharges 3-114 3.5.9 Implementation Methods – Tracer Discharges 3-115 3.5.10 Implementation Methods – Drainage Water Discharges 3-116 3.5.11 Implementation Methods – Stormwater Discharges 3-118 3.5.12 High Risk Facilities 3-122 3.5.13 Environmental Results Anticipated 3-124 3.5.14 Monitoring Options 3-124 3.6 Damming and Diverting 3-125 3.6.1 Issue 3-125 3.6.2 Objective 3-125 3.6.3 Policies 3-126 3.6.4 Implementation Methods – Damming and Diverting 3-128 3.6.5 Environmental Results Anticipated 3-143 3.6.6 Monitoring Options 3-145 3.6.7 Spillway Requirements 3-146 3.7 Wetlands* 3-149 3.7.1 Issue 3-149 3.7.2 Objective 3-149 3.7.3 Policies 3-149 3.7.4 Implementation Methods – Wetlands 3-150 3.7.5 Environmental Results Anticipated 3-153 3.7.6 Monitoring Options 3-153 3.7.7 Table of Wetlands in the Waikato Region for Rule 3.7.4.6 3-154 3.7.8 Examples of Wetlands 3-156 3.8 Drilling* 3-160 3.8.1 Issue 3-160 3.8.2 Objective 3-160 3.8.3 Policies 3-161 3.8.4 Implementation Methods – Drilling 3-162 3.8.5 Environmental Results Anticipated 3-167 3.8.6 Monitoring Options 3-167 3.9 Non-Point Source Discharges* 3-168 3.9.1 Issue 3-168 3.9.2 Objective 3-168 3.9.3 Policies 3-168 3.9.4 Implementation Methods – Non-Point Source Discharges 3-169 3.9.5 Environmental Results Anticipated 3-175 3.9.6 Monitoring Options 3-175 3.9.7 Guidance Notes for the Use of Fertiliser 3-175 3.10 Lake Taupo Catchment 3-177 3.10.1 Issues 3-182 3.10.2 Objectives 3-183 3.10.3 Policies 3-184 3.10.4 Non-regulatory implementation methods 3-192 3.10.5 Implementation Methods – Land Use and Discharge Controls 3-198 3.10.6 Implementation Methods – Domestic Wastewater Treatment and Land Application 3-213 3.10.7 Environmental Results Anticipated 3-222 3.10.8 Procedure for Monitoring Objectives, Policies and Methods 3-223 3.10.9 Map of Lake Taupo Catchment 225 Tables Table 3-1 General Water Quality Status of the Main River Areas 3-7 Table 3-2 Locations Where Natural State Water Class Standard Does Not Apply 3-21 Table 3-4 Surface Water Take and Use - Recording Type and Frequency 3-49 Table 3-4A Catchment Investigation Dates 3-55 Table 3-5 Allocable Flows for Surface Water 3-75 Table 3-6 Sustainable Yields from Aquifers 3-83 Table 3-7 Nitrogen Loading Rate Calculations For Grazed Pasture 3-101 Table 3-8 Nitrogen Loading Rates for Various Land Users 3-104 Table 3-9 Pathogen and Contaminant levels 3-108 Table 3-10 Mean and standard deviation for four water quality variables measured at Lake Taupo deep water monitoring site 3-178 Policies included in the Regional Plan in accordance with the NPS on Freshwater Management The National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2011 (issued by notice in the Gazette on 12 May 2011) directs regional councils to include two policies in their Regional Plans. Council resolved to include these Policies in its Regional Plan on 28 July 2011.The policies are designed as interim measures to be included in plans until such time as plans can be amended through the First Schedule process to give effect to the Freshwater NPS. Policy A4 of the NPS on Freshwater Management 1. When considering any application for a discharge the consent authority must have regard to the following matters: a. the extent to which the discharge would avoid contamination that will have an adverse effect on the life-supporting capacity of fresh water including on any ecosystem associated with fresh water and b. the extent to which it is feasible and dependable that any more than minor adverse effect on fresh water, and on any ecosystem associated with fresh water, resulting from the discharge would be avoided. 2. This policy applies to the following discharges (including a diffuse discharge by any person or animal): a. a new discharge or b. a change or increase in any discharge – of any contaminant into fresh water, or onto or into land in circumstances that may result in that contaminant (or, as a result of any natural process from the discharge of that contaminant, any other contaminant) entering fresh water. 3. This policy does not apply to any application for consent first lodged before the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management takes effect on 1 July 2011. Policy B7 of the NPS on Freshwater Management 1. When considering any application the consent authority must have regard to the following matters: a. the extent to which the change would adversely affect safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of fresh water and of any associated ecosystem and b. the extent to which it is feasible and dependable that any adverse effect on the life- supporting capacity of fresh water and of any associated ecosystem resulting from the change would be avoided. 2. This policy applies to: a. any new activity and b. any change in the character, intensity or scale of any established activity – that involves any taking, using, damming or diverting of fresh water or draining of any wetland which is likely to result in any more than minor adverse change in the natural variability of flows or level of any fresh water, compared to that which immediately preceded the commencement of the new activity or the change in the established activity (or in the case of a change in an intermittent or seasonal activity, compared to that on the last occasion on which the activity was carried out). 3.1 Water Resources 3-5 3.1 Water Resources Background and Explanation The Waikato Region’s distinctive character is largely derived from the scenic and aesthetic impressions of its lakes, rivers and wetlands*. The character of Waikato’s water bodies is diverse, reflecting the large variety of water types including the Waikato River, Lake Taupo, wild rivers, mountain streams and ground water. Associated human uses and values of these water bodies* are diverse and range from domestic and community water supply, irrigation, drainage, electricity generation and waste assimilation through to recreational use and fishing. Water bodies are vitally important to the Region and need to be managed in a sustainable manner. This will ensure that those uses and values, and the natural character of water bodies and their margins, including amenity values, visual characteristics, contact recreation, fisheries, wildlife and aquatic habitat are provided for. The natural environment is an interconnected system and the processes that occur between water, land, and vegetation are complex and interdependent. It is artificial to deal with these as separate components, and efforts have been made in this Plan to identify and maintain the linkages when creating objectives, policies and methods to manage these resources. Water is a key component of the environment as it is the sustainer of life and the transporter in the system. Water is therefore in demand to sustain and promote life, and the transport or carrying role means that poor resource management in one area can impact on a large downstream area. A wide range of resource uses place pressure on water resources. Whilst some water bodies contain naturally high levels of some heavy metals or dissolved colour, the introduction of contaminants* from human uses into water bodies can have a significant effect on water quality. Contaminants can be introduced from either point sources or non-point sources: a) Point sources* include: i) industrial discharges ii) sewage discharges iii) stormwater systems iv) farm effluent discharges b) Non-point sources* include: i) surface run-off from intensive land uses ii) stock in waterways iii) agrichemical application iv) fertiliser application v) leaching from land uses such as agriculture vi) diffuse discharges in urbanised areas.