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Guide to Resource Consent Water Metering Requirements
This guide to the Tasman District Council's water metering requirements does not refer to water meters connected to Council's reticulated water schemes. This guide applies to individual resource consent holders subject to water metering.
Resource Consent Monitoring
Through provisions in the Council’s Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP), the primary aim of water metering is to receive accurate and timely information about water usage. This is to enable Council to effectively manage the District’s valuable and limited water resource. Water consents have an allocation for water use and the data allows Council to monitor compliance. The ongoing monitoring and requirement for water meter returns of these consents helps ensure these allocations are being adhered too.
Make a Resource Consent Water Meter Return
Why Install Water Meters?
The sustainability of the water resource both now and in the future must be the responsibility of the community as a whole.
Accurate and timely water use data is an essential tool in water management. The information from water meter readings is used for:
- Improving/enhancing understanding of the water resource
- Monitoring the effectiveness and suitability of policy provisions within the TRMP and the exercise of resource consents
- Reporting to the Dry Weather Task Force during times of drought.
Requirement for Sending Water Meter Readings to Council
Consented water takes within a water management zone have a requirement to send in water meter readings to Council during each summer season.
- Consent holders in the Waimea Plains water management zones are required to make readings on a weekly basis.
- Consent holders in all other zones are required to read water meters weekly but send readings to Council on a fortnightly basis, however Council welcomes weekly readings.
It is important that you:
- Read your meter each Monday
- Supply the meter reading to Council by 4.00pm Wednesday each week
- Advise Council of any nil reading
- Advise Council if you are not irrigating each season or when irrigation finishes
What Happens if Requirements Are Not Met?
Missing Readings
The greatest compliance issue faced each summer season is late or missing readings. Council policy in the absence of a return or when a return is late is that staff may visit and read your meter. The cost ($200.00 for the 2011-2012 year) will be recovered from the consent holder.
General
General water meter audits are undertaken by Council staff members every summer season. These are known as ‘anytime, anywhere’ water meter audits and they involve a Council staff member visiting your property to view the water meter.
Excessive Water Takes
Taking more water than what is allowed under your resource consent is an offence under the Resource Management Act and carries stiff penalties. Any non-compliance will be enforced appropriately in line with Council’s Enforcement Policy.
Tasman District Council Enforcement Policy and Guidelines