National Regulations for water measuring welcomed

Environment Canterbury is welcoming the National Regulations for the measuring and reporting of water takes, which come into force on November 10.

“The introduction by the Government of the Resource Management (Measuring and Reporting of Water Takes) Regulations 2010 will provide significant benefits for the management and efficient use of water in Canterbury ,” said Environment Canterbury Commissioner David Caygill.

The National Regulations apply to all water consent holders with takes of five litres per second or more. Consents granted from November 10 are required to comply with the National Regulations immediately and consent holders must install a water measuring device with continuous measurements, take daily readings, as well as provide annual records to their regional council.

“The National Regulations will provide critical information to assist Environment Canterbury with the planning, allocation and management of the region’s groundwater and surface water.”

Existing consent holders have between two and six years to comply with the National Regulations depending on the size of their take. Large consent holders (takes of 20 litres per second or more) have two years to comply; medium consent holders (from 10 up to 20 litres per second) have four years; and small consent holders (from 5 up to 10 litres per second) have six years.

“Measuring water use will also provide consent holders with the information they need to ensure they use water efficiently and optimise production, comply with resource consent conditions, as well as reducing irrigation and pumping costs.

“More than 1700, or 23 per cent, or the 7363 wells in Canterbury already have water meters installed.”

For surface water takes around 100, or eight per cent, of the 1352 consented takes have water measuring systems installed.

“There is still a huge job to do, however, to ensure we have efficient and fit-for-purpose water measuring systems installed as required by the National Regulations.”

Around 185 water meters per month will need to be installed over the coming two years in Canterbury . This represents the 3600 existing wells for large consents (water takes of 20 litres per second or greater) and the approximately 35 new consents which are granted each month.

“In the past there has been a lack of clear advice and industry standards for the installation of water measuring systems.

“This has changed as a result of the work Environment Canterbury has been doing with Irrigation NZ, industry suppliers and farmer representatives to establish standards for the installation and verification of water measuring systems.

“There are now 71 companies in Canterbury which have been assessed and are authorised to provide water measuring services. A full list is available on the Environment Canterbury website,” said David Caygill.

Consent holders should refer to their resource consent/s and review the conditions to determine whether the National Regulations apply, and if so whether they are in the two-year, four-year, or six-year compliance category.

Consent conditions can be obtained online at:

http://ecan.govt.nz/services/online-services/Pages/consent-search.aspx

If consent holders do not have a copy of their consent or do not know their consent number they should call Customer Services on 03 353-9007 or 0800 324-636.

More information about water measuring services and the implementation of the National Regulations can be found at:

http://ecan.govt.nz/watermetering

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