Working with the Community to Manage Discharges

Council has helped produce a guide for landowners to manage waterways on Tasman-Marlborough Farms.

Septic Tank Discharges

Septic tank discharges are not routinely monitored by Council except in targeted catchments in response to water quality issues. Any complaints are responded to as are issues identified through other monitoring activities.

If you know of or suspect a septic system is failing please contact Council by phone 03 543 8400 or by email info@tasman.govt.nz

A survey of groundwater in Golden Bay in areas where septic tanks are common was undertaken in January 2005. Sixteen out of a total of 23 bores sampled had detectable E. coli, with a mean of 5.1 E. coli/100ml. Five results were in the range 100-270 E. coli/100ml. Although these results are serious if the water was consumed from one of these bores there is confidence that once the groundwater made it to the coast or waterway the natural die-off means that no follow up was necessary. It does act as a reminder that if you draw drinking water from the ground some care needs to be taken to protect your water supply form contamination.

Discharges in excess of 2 cubic metres per day, or those in defined sensitive receiving environments, require resource consent and are monitored annually. Any discharge, whether permitted or consented, found to be non-complying, is immediately followed up.

Discharges of Contaminants from Farms

Fertiliser Applications

Most farmers now use commercial fertiliser applicators to spread phosphorus and lime and almost all these applicators have “Spreadmark” certification that dictates a number of environmental controls. Nitrogen fertilisers such as ammonia-urea are spread by farmers themselves, as the timing of the applications is more critical.

Fertiliser and Pesticides Application

Council has encouraged and promoted the formation of Landcare Groups with an interest in environmental quality and worked with them to achieve their environmental goals.An example is the Aorere Catchment Group.

Aorere Catchment Landcare Group

Dairy Farm Effluent

Discharges of dairy farm effluent to land are audited against the permitted activity rules in the Tasman Resource Management Plan. All dairy farm effluent discharges to water need a Resource Consent and must be treated before entering a waterway.

Dairy Effluent

Information about Applying for a Resouce Consent

Stock Crossings

Stock crossings and the presence of cattle in creeks have been shown to cause a major loading of disease-causing organisms to waterways. Council has an intensive sampling programme of waterways in farmland to determine the locations and activities that cause major faecal bacteria loads to the coast, affecting shellfish farmers and gatherers. Following on from this study corrective actions have been identified. Advice on and promotion of bridging or culverting waterways has been given by Council and Fish and Game on these issues and many farmers have taken this positive action, particularly in the Sherry River catchment. An inventory of major crossings has been undertaken by Council staff. Many feed pads and stand-off pads located close to waterways have been resited and associated effluent better managed.

Link to a poster providing details regarding the effects of cow crossings in waterways