Regional Policy Statement for Taranaki |
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Part B Section 6.2 — Quality of water in rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands | ||
6.2 Maintaining and enhancing the quality of water in our rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands
Background to the issue
Water use is important to economic growth and sustainability in the region. Use of water is a fundamental requirement of most rural based industry and agricultural activities and is appropriate where effects on water quality can be avoided, remedied or mitigated. Water quality refers to the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water that affect its ability to sustain environmental values and uses. Good surface water quality is important, not only in terms of maintaining healthy rivers and streams but also in terms of water supply purposes, meeting the consumptive demands of Taranaki's agricultural and industrial sectors and protecting the natural character and amenity values associated with particular surface water bodies.
Taranaki's water bodies have generally good to excellent water quality on most physical, chemical and biological measures and comparisons. However, surface water quality is lost or reduced through land or water use activities resulting in point or diffuse source discharges of contaminants to surface water or onto land in circumstances where the discharge may enter water.
Point source discharges (ie: waste discharges from a pipe) commonly occur from a wide range of activities such as industries, urban wastewater treatment systems and farming operations etc. Most are treated and discharged in a manner that ensures that adverse effects on water quality are not significant or are no more than minor. However, multiple point source discharges to the same water body can have a cumulative adverse effect on water quality and point source discharges can contribute to the decline in water quality that occurs down the length of ring plain catchments. The Taranaki Regional Council closely monitors point source discharges and this will need to continue.
The cumulative effects of diffuse (widespread) or non-point source discharges to water, such as runoff from land of leachate of agricultural wastes, nutrients or sediments, are the principal cause of reduced water quality in most catchments in the region. Diffuse source contamination is often attributable to poor land use practices such as the excessive use of fertilisers and agrichemicals to land, grazing of river and stream margins, the direct entry of stock to water, and inappropriate land use on erosion prone land. The effects of diffuse source contamination are also exacerbated by the loss or modification of riparian vegetation along the banks of waterways. The adverse effects of point source discharges are not always significant and some are no more than minor.
The significant issues in relation to maintaining or enhancing surface water quality are:
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Managing adverse effects on water quality arising from point source discharges to water bodies.
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Managing adverse effects on water quality arising from diffuse source discharges to water bodies.
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Managing the cumulative adverse effects on water quality arising from both multiple point source discharges and diffuse source discharges to water bodies. |
Objective
WQU OBJECTIVE 1
To maintain and enhance surface water quality in Taranaki's rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands by avoiding, remedying or mitigating any adverse effects of point source and diffuse source discharges to water.
Policies
Sustainable land management practices
WQU POLICY 1 Sustainable land management practices and techniques that avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects on surface water quality will be encouraged, including: (a) the retention and restoration of effective riparian buffer zones; (b) the careful application of the correct types and quantity of fertiliser and agrichemicals; (c) the careful application of the appropriate quantities of farm dairy effluent having regard to topography, land area, weather and soil conditions; (d) the development, recontouring and restoration of disturbed land to reduce diffuse source discharges of contaminants to water; (e) farm management practices that avoid, remedy or mitigate the effects of stock entry to rivers and streams, trampling and pugging by stock, overgrazing, and accelerated erosion from inappropriate land use on erosion prone land; and (f) other land management practices, including the discharge of contaminants to land and the diversion of stormwater runoff to land, which avoid or reduce contamination of surface water.
Riparian management
WQU POLICY 2
The retirement and planting of riparian margins throughout the Taranaki region will be promoted, with a particular focus on ring plain catchments.
Protection of water quality in areas of high natural character
WQU POLICY 3
The water quality of the Stony (Hangatahua) River catchment and other rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands with high natural character, ecological and amenity values such as the Maketawa Stream catchment and parts of the Manganui River catchment will be maintained and enhanced as far as practicable.
Domestic and community water supplies
WQU POLICY 4
The importance of maintaining or enhancing water quality in catchments which are used for domestic and community water supplies will be recognised.
Point source discharges to surface water
WQU POLICY 5
Waste reduction and waste treatment and disposal practices, which avoid, remedy or mitigate the adverse environmental effects of the point source discharge of contaminants into water or onto or into land will be required. This includes the cumulative adverse effects of multiple point source discharges to the same waterbody.
In considering policies in regional plans or resource consent proposals to discharge contaminants or water to land or water, matters to be considered by the Taranaki Regional Council will include:
(a) the actual or potential effects of the discharge on the natural character, ecological and amenity values of the water body, including indigenous biodiversity values, fishery values and the habitat of trout;
(b) the relationship of tangata whenua with the water body;
(c) the use of water for domestic and community water supply purposes;
(d) the actual or potential risks to human and animal health from the discharge;
(e) the significance of any historic heritage values associated with the waterbody;
(f) the degree to which the needs of other resource users might be compromised;
(g) the allowance for reasonable mixing zones and sufficient dilution (determined in accordance with (a) to (o) of this Policy);
(h) the potential for cumulative effects;
(i) measures to reduce the volume and toxicity of the contaminant;
(j) off set mitigation of the effects of the contaminants;
(k) measures to reduce the risk of unintended discharges of contaminants;
(l) the necessity of the discharge and the use of the best practicable option for the treatment and disposal of contaminants;
(m) the availability and effectiveness of alternative means of disposing of the contaminant;
(n) relevant national guidelines and national environmental standards on catchment management; and
(o) the sensitivity of the receiving environment.
Restoration of water quality
WQU POLICY 6
Where the life-supporting capacity of rivers, streams, lakes or wetlands is under pressure as a result of point or diffuse discharges to surface water, improvements in the biological health and quality of water will be promoted.
For the purposes of this policy, in determining the desired life supporting capacity, the matters to be considered will include:
(a) the existing status of water quality according to a selection of chemical parameters and its consequences for life-supporting capacity;
(b) the existing habitat quality, including the need to maintain and enhance aquatic ecosystems and species; (c) the degree to which cultural and spiritual values of or customary uses by tangata whenua are affected by existing water quality; and (d) the natural character, ecological and amenity values of the water body, including indigenous biodiversity values, fishery values and the habitat of trout and the potential for enhancement of those values.
Explanation of the policies
Policy 1 outlines management practices to be encouraged that will contribute to maintaining and enhancing water quality by reducing diffuse source discharges of contaminants.
Policy 2 recognises the significant water quality benefits that can be achieved by maintaining and enhancing existing riparian vegetation and promoting the restoration of riparian margins. Riparian margins help mitigate adverse effects of diffuse source discharges of contaminants by providing buffering capacity and preventing direct entry of stock into waterways. Policy 2 applies throughout Taranaki. However, the focus will be on ring plain catchments, which includes Taranaki's most intensively farmed land and where pressures associated with diffuse source contamination are most significant.
Policy 3 recognises that some rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands are highly valued for their natural character, and ecological and amenity values. Through this policy, the Council seeks to maintain or enhance the quality of water in systems recognised as having high natural character and in-stream values (refer Appendix I).
Policy 4 recognises the importance to people and communities and their health and safety, of maintaining or enhancing water quality in catchments used for domestic or community water supplies. However, nutrients or other contaminants will always be present in water, either from natural sources or from the effects of land use or discharging activities, even if these activities are managed to best practice standards. Investment in appropriate water treatment systems and processes will therefore also be required to ensure the community has suitable potable water.
Policy 5 recognises that there are existing discharges to surface water and that discharges to surface water will be necessary in future. Policy 5 sets out a framework to assess proposals or policy on point source discharges to surface water. It requires waste reduction or treatment practices that avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse environmental effects arising from the discharge of contaminants to land or water from point sources. The policy also states the matters that will be considered by the Taranaki Regional Council including catchment specific values and uses, the degree to which other resource users (both consumptive and non-consumptive) may be affected, the adoption of measures to avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects, including off set mitigation measures such as riparian plantings, and any national guidelines.
Where multiple point source discharges occur to the same water body there may be cumulative adverse effects on water quality. These effects are also to be avoided, remedied or mitigated under Policy 5.
Policy 6 relating to life supporting capacity is to establish an overall policy intention to generally upgrade the receiving water environment in those waters in which the life supporting capacity is under pressure. Parameters that may be used to measure life supporting capacity include biological oxygen demand, suspended sediment, dissolved reactive phosphate, nitrate and ammonia levels, pH, temperature, macro-invertebrate community index, the presence of pathogenic micro-organisms, and nuisance algae. The necessity of the discharge itself will be considered under Policy 5.
Related policies
All policies relating to Section 5.1 [Soil erosion]; Policy 1 of Section 5.2 [Soil health], Section 6.1 [Sustainable water allocation], Section 6.2 [Surface water quality], Section 6.4 [Wetlands], Section 6.5 [Land drainage and other associated diversions], and Section 6.6 [Use of river and lake beds]; Policy 1 of Section 8.1 [Preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment]; all policies relating to Section 9 [Indigenous biodiversity], Section 10.1 [Outstanding natural features and landscapes]; Section 10.3 [Amenity values]; and Section 13 [Minerals]; Policy 1 of Section 15.2 [Regionally significant infrastructure]; and all policies relating to Section 16 [Issues of significance to iwi].
Methods of implementation
The Taranaki Regional Council will:
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Maintain a regional plan or plans with objectives, policies and methods of implementation to ensure that any adverse effects of point and diffuse source discharges to land and water are avoided, remedied, or mitigated, and that water quality is maintained and enhanced, particularly in water bodies that have high natural character, ecological and amenity values and in those that have relatively poor water quality.
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Apply regional rules to allow, regulate, and in some instances prohibit the following point source discharges to land and water: (a) point source discharges of water; (b) point source discharges of stormwater; (c) point source discharges from closed landfills; (d) point source discharges from industrial and trade premises; (e) point source agricultural discharges; (f) point source discharges from hydrocarbon exploration; and (g) other point source discharges.
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Participate and support the dairy farming industry in the preparation and implementation of a regional action plan under the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord and include in that Plan targets for excluding stock from water bodies, farm dairy effluent discharge compliance with resource consents, the protection of regionally significant wetlands, and nutrient management.
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Implement the Sustainable Land Management Programme to promote sustainable land use practices that will avoid, remedy or mitigate the adverse effects of diffuse source discharges.
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Implement the Riparian Management Programme to promote the retirement and planting of riparian margins by: (a) liaising and consulting with interested land users; (b) preparing property plans in conjunction with landowners containing property-specific advice on riparian management actions and programmes; and (c) providing on-going technical advice, information and other assistance to plan holders, promoting riparian management.
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Consider the use of financial incentives, such as the provision of plant material at low cost to landowners, for riparian management purposes.
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Provide advice and information including guidelines, to landowners, resource users and the public: (a) to generally promote awareness of water quality issues; (b) to encourage the adoption of riparian management principles and practices that avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects of diffuse source discharges on water quality; and (c) on systems, siting, design, installation, operation and maintenance procedures for industrial and agricultural waste treatment and disposal systems. (d) promote where appropriate the adoption of waste disposal systems that reduce the potential for cumulative adverse effects on water quality.
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Advocate, as appropriate: (a) to manufacturers and suppliers of agrichemicals, fertilisers and other agricultural compounds, the strengthening of the education and information provision role they play with a view to minimising the likelihood and potential effects of agrichemical and fertiliser application on water quality; (b) to industrial and agricultural users to adopt waste minimisation or reduction practices and cleaner production technologies to reduce the quantity of contaminants being discharged to the environment; (c) to industry to prepare and adopt codes of practice and guidelines aimed at reducing the effects of point and diffuse source discharges; (d) to territorial authorities to construct and upgrade stormwater reticulation systems and wastewater treatment systems where urban developments make such an upgrade desirable; and (e) to territorial authorities, the Department of Conservation, and other appropriate organisations such as the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust and the Taranaki Tree Trust, that they protect or retire riparian margins.
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Promote the application and use of relevant industry codes of practice.
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Liaise or consult as appropriate with territorial authorities regarding resource consent applications upstream of community water supply abstraction points.
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Participate in the development and implementation of any national environmental standards or national policy statements on water quality or human drinking water standards.
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Support, as and when appropriate, actions by the dairy industry under the Dairy Industry Strategy for Sustainable Environmental Management.
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Require the preparation of contingency plans to reduce the risk of a spill that may have significant adverse effects on water quality.
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Monitor and gather information on the state of water quality, pressures on water quality, and responses to management.
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Support, as and when appropriate, research and investigations into water quality management including waste treatment options and the cumulative effects of point source discharges on water quality. |
Territorial authorities may wish to consider the following methods:
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Include in district plans, policies, rules, guidelines or other information to avoid, remedy or mitigate the adverse effects of land use activities and management practices on water quality.
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Include in district plans and resource consents, provisions or conditions for fencing and the retention or planting of riparian vegetation, including rules for the creation of esplanade reserves and esplanade strips when land is subdivided.
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Consider the use of financial incentives such as land purchase or compensation, fencing grants, providing plants, rates relief and other funds.
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Plant, where appropriate, riparian margins on land owned by the territorial authority. |
Principal reasons for adopting the objective, policies and methods
The objective, policies and methods of implementation establish a policy framework for water quality issues in the Taranaki region. Their aim is to maintain Taranaki's generally high to excellent water quality and to enhance that water quality by addressing the effects of water contamination from diffuse and point sources.
The objective sets a broad direction for water quality management that seeks to maintain and enhance overall surface water quality in Taranaki's rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. The objective states that this is to be done by avoiding, remedying or mitigating the adverse effects of point and diffuse source discharges to water through the policies and methods set out. The terms. 'maintain' and 'enhance' as used in the objective are not mutually exclusive terms that require both to be given effect to in all cases. The objective has been adopted to establish a broad region-wide goal but the extent to which surface water quality is maintained and enhanced will be determined on a case by case basis by reference to the policies and methods in the RPS. In some situations it will be appropriate that water quality be maintained and enhanced. In other situations for example where a new or increased discharge to water is proposed, it may not always be practicable to enhance water quality, but a range of matters and considerations have been set out in the Regional Policy Statement by which any adverse effects can be avoided, remedied or mitigated.
In respect of point source discharges of contaminants, the policies and methods focus on regulatory methods (complemented by a mix of non-regulatory methods). Regulation is a simple, efficient and effective method of controlling the adverse effects of these discharges, including their cumulative adverse effects on water quality.
Through rules and other provisions in a regional plan, appropriate levels of control are applied that address point source discharges to fresh water and which also protect water quality in rivers and streams that have high natural character, ecological and amenity values.
In respect of diffuse source discharges - the most significant source of contaminants entering waterways - non-regulatory methods such as advice and information and, in particular, the implementation of the Riparian Management Programme and the Sustainable Land Management Programme are considered appropriate. These programmes have proven to be successful to date in terms of public acceptance, the adoption of sustainable land management practices and the achievement of desired environmental outcomes. Other non-regulatory methods also contribute towards achieving the desired environmental outcomes. Financial incentives will aid in landowner acceptance and co-operation with regard to retiring land, particularly where these incentives support a voluntary approach to land use and management. The approaches for point and diffuse source discharges are considered appropriate having regard to their efficiency and effectiveness and their benefits and costs.
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Environmental results anticipated WQU ER 1 All significant point source discharges to surface water consented and monitored. WQU ER 2 Any adverse environmental effects of point source discharges to surface water are avoided, remedied or mitigated. WQU ER 3 Increased planting and fencing along the margins of rivers, streams lakes and wetlands with:
WQU ER 4 Maintain or enhance surface water quality and the life-supporting capacity of freshwater against a range of physical, chemical and biological measures. |
Click here to read about the resource consents process and compliance monitoring
Click here to read about the Riparian Management Programme