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Information about Obtaining Water for Use
Water Management Areas and Zones
Use this map to find out which Water Management Area and Water Management Zone your property is in. (Note, the location of the zones of the aerial photograph is not completely accurate. For accurate positioning if you are near a boundary please contact the Council.)
Rules for Taking Water
The Tasman Resource Management Plan sets the framework for water management in the Tasman District. Rules are set which restrict the amount of water that can be taken for certain purposes.
Taking water from surface or groundwater may be 'permitted' and no special permission or resource consent is required. If a proposed take is not permitted then a resource consent (called a Water Permit) is required. These processes are now described in more detail.
Permitted Water Takes
Under Rule 31.1.2 of the Tasman Resource Management Plan any person can take up to 5 cubic metres of water per day from either ground or surface water, except for in the coastal margins of the Delta Zone, the Hau Plains Zone and the Marahau Zone.
In some zones, such as the Motueka/Riwaka Plains Zones, the Middle Motueka/Upper Motueka Zones you can take 10 cubic metres per day as a permitted activity (i.e. without consent). In the Aorere/West Coast and Upper Buller Zones you can take 20 cubic metres per day as a permitted activity.
However, these permitted takes have some conditions:
- these permitted takes are limited during times of rationing;
- the taking must not cause any stream or river flow to cease;
- fish and eels must be prevented from enetering the reticulation system;
- the water take must not prevent anyone else from taking for their domestic or stock drinking needs;
- In Moutere groundwater zones a water meter must be installed; and
- the take must not cause the erosion of land.
If you are going to access groundwater by drilling a new bore you must get a resource consent to authorise the driling. This requirement applies even if your take of groundwater will be a permitted activity,
Find out about the rules for drilling bores
Read more about obtaining a resource consent
Water Takes that Require a Resource Consent (Water Permit)
If you are seeking a new take of water for irrigation or another industrial purpose that will require more than what can be taken as a permitted activity (i.e. more than 5 cubic metres per day in most cases) you will need to get a Water Permit (also known as a Water Right) to authorise the take.
Use the following flow diagram and the links within the diagram to work out what Rule your proposed take will fall under, and what status your application will have (e.g. controlled activity or restricted discretionary activity), or whether no water is available in your location and you will need to register on a Waiting List for water to become available.
[Diagram currently in development. Please contact Consents Planner, Water at the Tasman District Council to discuss your requirements.]