Water Measuring To Allow More Efficient Management
Hon Amy Adams
Minister for
the Environment
9
November 2012
Media Statement
Water Measuring To Allow More Efficient Management
Environment
Minister Amy Adams has welcomed the effective start of new
regulations that require for the first time significant
water takes to be metered, as part of a wider programme to
improve fresh water management.
From tomorrow, all
significant water takes (more than 20 litres per second)
need to be metered. Smaller water takes down to five litres
per second will gradually be covered by the regulations so
that by 2016, about 98 per cent of consented water will be
measured.
“It is time to get serious about how we use
water in this country. It is a replenishable resource but a
finite resource at a given time and place,” Ms Adams
says.
“We cannot manage what we do not measure. There
is a major gap in our knowledge and it affects our ability
to make good decisions and to effectively manage water.
“Studies suggest that water supports economic activity worth up to $28 billion per year in New Zealand, and only a small improvement in efficiency makes an investment in improved information worthwhile. It has been estimated that a five per cent gain in efficiency would achieve a $100 million benefit for the country.”
Consent holders will be able to use information on how much water they are using to identify costly inefficiencies in their systems, such as poorly-performing pumps, intakes and wells.
“This information is likely to enable savings in terms
of water used, and energy costs, and may help avoid costly
issues down the track by allowing problems to be identified
and addressed before any serious difficulties with system
performance occur.”
The regulations will be monitored
and enforced by regional
councils.
ENDS