Environment Canterbury is welcoming the Internal Regulations for the measure and coverage of water takes, which fall into effect on Nov 10.
"The foundation by the Politics of the Resource Management (Measuring and Coverage of Water Takes) Regulations 2010 will offer substantial benefits for the direction and effective use of water in Canterbury," said Environment Canterbury Commissioner David Caygill.
The Internal Regulations apply to all water consent holders with takes of 5 litres per minute or more. Consents granted from November 10 are needed to follow with the National Regulations immediately and consent holders must establish a water measuring device with continuous measurements, take daily readings, as good as provide annual records to their regional council.
"The Internal Regulations will provide vital data to assist Environment Canterbury with the planning, allocation and direction of the region`s groundwater and open water."
Existing consent holders have between two and six days to follow with the Internal Regulations depending on the sizing of their take. Large consent holders (takes of 20 litres per minute or more) have two days to comply; medium consent holders (from 10 up to 20 litres per second) have 4 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 data they want to see 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 open water takes some 100, or eight per cent, of the 1352 consented takes have water measuring systems installed.
"There is yet a huge job to do, however, to see we have effective and fit-for-purpose water measuring systems installed as needed by the Internal Regulations."
Around 185 water meters per month will ask to be installed over the upcoming two days 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 given each month.
"In the past there has been a want of clear advice and industry standards for the initiation of water measuring systems.
"This has changed as a consequence of the workplace Environment Canterbury has been doing with Irrigation NZ, industry suppliers and farmer representatives to make standards for the installation and verification of water measuring systems.
"There are now 71 companies in Canterbury which have been assessed and are authorized to supply water measuring services. A good name is available on the Environment Canterbury website," said David Caygill.
Consent holders should relate to their resource consent/s and survey the weather to decide whether the Internal 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 give a transcript of their consent or do not recognize their consent number they should call Customer Services on 03 353-9007 or 0800 324-636.
More info about water measuring services and the execution of the Internal Regulations can be ground at:
http://ecan.govt.nz/watermetering
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