Water pollution in the Canterbury Region
Encyclopedia
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
in Canterbury in New Zealand has become a notable environmental issue
Environmental issue
Environmental issues are negative aspects of human activity on the biophysical environment. Environmentalism, a social and environmental movement that started in the 1960s, addresses environmental issues through advocacy, education and activism.-Types:...
due in a large part to the burgeoning dairy industry.
Water resources are under the jurisdiction of the Canterbury Regional Council
Canterbury Regional Council
Canterbury Regional Council is the regional council for Canterbury, the largest region in the South Island of New Zealand. It is part of New Zealand's structure of local government...
(Ecan) under the Resource Management Act (RMA), and water abstraction and use for irrigation requires a resource consent
Resource consent
A resource consent is the authorisation given to certain activities or uses of natural and physical resources required under the New Zealand Resource Management Act . Some activities may either be specifically authorised by the RMA or be permitted activities authorised by rules in plans...
. There is opposition to new irrigation schemes since they are seen to exacerbate water pollution.
The municipal water supply for Christchurch, sourced from the aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
s beneath the city, is untreated. This is unusual for a city of its size.
Background
Due to the rain shadow effect of the Southern AlpsSouthern Alps
The Southern Alps is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the island's western side...
the rainfall in Canterbury is lower than many other parts of the country at 500–700 mm per year. Water from melting snow and ice and from rainfall drain into the predominantly braided river
Braided river
A braided river is one of a number of channel types and has a channel that consists of a network of small channels separated by small and often temporary islands called braid bars or, in British usage, aits or eyots. Braided streams occur in rivers with high slope and/or large sediment load...
s on the Canterbury Plains
Canterbury Plains
The Canterbury Plains are an area in New Zealand centred to the south of the city of Christchurch in the Canterbury Region. Their northern extremes are at the foot of the Hundalee Hills in the Hurunui District, and in the south they merge into the plains of North Otago beyond the Waitaki...
. 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
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
throughout the South Island. Dairy farming requires the intensive use of water and it is placing a high demand on water resources in the Canterbury Region.
Issues
The rivers and groundwaterGroundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
are being polluted with nitrates and E. coli and proposed irrigation schemes can increase the pollution levels. Nitrate concentrations in the groundwater are above the drinking water standards in some areas and elevated levels are widespread. Indications are showing that the concentrations are rising. 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.
Water pollution of the two rivers flowing through the city of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, the Avon and the Heathcote
Heathcote River
The Heathcote River lies within the city boundaries of Christchurch, New Zealand, and is fed from springs near Templetons Road and also receives wet weather flows from as far west as Pound Road. It meanders around the base of the Port Hills from west to south-east.-Course:The catchment of the...
, is of concern. Untreated sewerage 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 sewerage. However, a pipeline was constructed to discharge the water into Pegasus Bay
Pegasus Bay
Pegasus Bay is on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand.-Location:The bay has a sandy beach and runs from Banks Peninsula to the Waipara River mouth...
. It became operational in 2010.
The Central Plains Water
Central Plains Water
Central Plains Water, or, more fully, the Central Plains Water Enhancement Scheme, is a large-scale proposal for water diversion, damming, reticulation and irrigation for the Central Plains of Canterbury, New Zealand....
scheme is a large-scale proposal for water diversion, damming, reticulation and irrigation over an area of 60,000 ha. Other proposed schemes will irrigate an addition 90,000 ha. A scheme to dam the Hurunui River
Hurunui River
The Hurunui River is the fourth largest of the four principal rivers in north Canterbury, New Zealand, with a catchment area of 2,670 square kilometres. The river flows from the eastern side of the Southern Alps, to the Pacific Ocean....
to create water storage for irrigation attracted large scale opposition due in part to the possibility of increased water pollution. The resource consent application for the dams were put on hold.
A large number of resource consent applications for intensive dairy farming in the Mackenzie Basin
Mackenzie Basin
The Mackenzie Basin , is an elliptical intermontane basin, located in the Mackenzie and Waitaki Districts, near the centre of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest such basin in New Zealand...
attracted opposition due in part to the potential effects on water quality. The resource consents were called in under the RMA by the Minister for the Environment Nick Smith
Nick Smith (New Zealand)
Nicolas Rex "Nick" Smith is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand Parliament as a National Party MP...
.
Cheviot
Cheviot, New Zealand
Cheviot is a town in the Hurunui District of north Canterbury, on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the Main North Line railway and State Highway 1 approximately north of Christchurch. It was originally called Mackenzie after politician John McKenzie, who was closely...
has been on a boil water notice since October 2004.
Dunsandel
Dunsandel
Dunsandel is a small rural township in the Canterbury Region of the South Island, New Zealand. The town is located on the Canterbury Plains just south of the Selwyn River and about 40 km south of Christchurch. Dunsandel is a junction town on SH1, halfway between Christchurch and Ashburton,...
had an untreated water supply but in 2009 E. coli was found in the 70 metre deep well that supplies the town. Effluent from dairy cows is suspected to be the cause of the pollution.
Mitigation
The Dairying and Clean Streams AccordDairying and Clean Streams Accord
The Dairying and Clean Streams Accord is an agreement signed in 2003 in New Zealand between Fonterra, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and regional councils...
was set up by Fonterra
Fonterra
Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited is a New Zealand multinational dairy co-operative owned by almost 10,500 New Zealand farmers. The company is responsible for approximately 30% of the world's dairy exports and with revenue exceeding NZ$19.87 billion, is New Zealand's largest company.- History :In...
and a number of government agencies as a means of reducing nonpoint source pollution
Nonpoint source pollution
Nonpoint source pollution refers to both water and air pollution from diffuse sources. Nonpoint source water pollution affects a water body from sources such as polluted runoff from agricultural areas draining into a river, or wind-borne debris blowing out to sea. Nonpoint source air pollution...
. The Accord is criticised for not achieving its goals.
Prosecutions
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.
- 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.
- 2010 - A prosecution against Brook Farms and Mosbro Farms in AshburtonAshburton, New ZealandAshburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
was withdrawn after they agreed to mitigate the effects of the effluent discharge.
See also
- Canterbury Water Management StrategyCanterbury Water Management StrategyThe Canterbury Water Management Strategy is being developed in Canterbury, New Zealand to address water related issues in the region.It was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry for the Environment and Environment Canterbury after a drought in 1998...
- Water pollution in New ZealandWater pollution in New ZealandWater pollution in New Zealand is an increasing concern for environmentalists and regulatory bodies. An increase in dairy farming in New Zealand is linked to an increase in water pollution, and siltation due to land clearance has affected lakes, rivers, caves and bays...
- Water in New ZealandWater in New ZealandWater is relatively abundant in New Zealand due to the temperate climate and maritime weather patterns. In recent years water pollution and draw-down of aquifers have become important environmental issues.-Lakes:...
- Environment of New ZealandEnvironment of New ZealandThe environment of New Zealand is characterised by unique flora and fauna and a variety of landforms contained within a small island nation...
- Agriculture in New ZealandAgriculture in New ZealandAgriculture in New Zealand is the largest sector of the tradeable economy, contributing about two-thirds of exported goods in 2006-7. For the year ended March 2002, agricultural exports were valued at over $14.8 billion...
External links
- Water quality and quantity page at the Environment Canterbury
- Canterbury Water Management Strategy
- Waterways, wetlands and drainage guide at the Christchurch City CouncilChristchurch City CouncilThe Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
- Water Rights Trust
- Our Water Our Vote lobby group