New approach proposed for water quality management

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is embarking on a proposed new direction for managing rural water quality contaminants which encourages farmers to become innovative in their farm management and measure farm water contaminant outputs.

The Council's policy and resource planning committee today considered a water quality strategy which recommends a new approach to non-point source pollution in Otago.

Non-point source pollution - run-off and leachate from rural land - can be a major contributor to poor water quality. Sediments, nutrients, and pathogens are carried from the land into rivers and streams by run-off, pasture drains and leaching. Similar run-off in urban areas are included as they also contribute to poor water quality.

Council director of policy and resource planning Fraser McRae said the strategy is mainly concerned with managing the effects of land use on water quality, rather than controlling land-based activities.

Contaminant standards will be set for discharges from land, including surface run-off, groundwater seepage and discharge from drains.

ORC Policy and Resource Planning Committee Chairman Cr Michael Deaker said the proposed policy would allow farmers to choose for themselves which steps are necessary on their properties to meet the required standard for discharges in their local catchment.

"The ORC proposal would see farmers using new instruments to measure water contaminants coming off their property. Some of these instruments are available now and the council is working closely with industry to see that other devices practical for farmer use become available in the future.

"This approach is different to other areas of New Zealand where many farm practices were regulated by regional councils. This regulation was not proving effective in improving water quality in many parts of New Zealand and involved heavy cost burdens on farmers and councils."

Cr Deaker said Council had sought a solution to managing water quality that fits Otago circumstances. This approach allows farmers to operate their farms as they choose as long as the discharges into streams are within water quality standards.

The ORC is planning May conferences in Balclutha and Cromwell to discuss the proposed policy with farmers and agricultural organisations.