Protecting Our Water

There are many challenges in maintaining and protecting our water. Our key concerns include:

• Habitat disturbance for important freshwater species
• Water quality
• Water levels

There are a number of factors which impact on water including:

• Change in land use and poor land management practices that cause things like streambank erosion and sediment run-off
• Overuse of water in catchments
• Contamination of groundwater (water that falls as rain and ends up underneath the earth) by uncapped or open retired bores
• Discharges and land run-off to waterways and groundwater containing contaminants and excess nutrients 
• Flooding and erosion within a catchment
• Drought
• Modification of water ways

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council works alongside landowners, communities and stakeholders to reduce all negative impacts to water.

What can I do?

There are lots of ways you can act sustainably and help to improve and maintain our water. Here are a few examples for you to consider.

Seek Advice

• Talk to Regional Council staff if you wish to carry out an activity in a waterway or take water.

Protect Waterways

• Fence off water bodies such as streams, rivers, swamps, wetlands to prevent stock entering waterways which can cause erosion and contamination. 
• Plant banks of waterways to prevent erosion and trap sediments that would otherwise flow into waterways.
• Operate farm dairy effluent irrigators effectively by regularly moving them to prevent effluent ponding and run-off into waterways.
• Form a care group with your neighbours and work together to create better land management practices that protect your local waterways.
• Keep hazardous substances (such as oil and pesticides) out of our storm water system and away from groundwater wells.
• Make sure you close off/cap any old bores you have to avoid water contamination and pollution.

Conserve Water

• Water your garden in the in the early morning or late evening to minimise evaporation.
• Fix leaky taps, hoses and water pipes as these can waste a lot of precious water.
• Install a rainwater collection system and use the water for your garden or dairy shed.

For more water conservation tips check out the links below:

• http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/water/water-quality.html
• http://www.wastewatchers.co.nz/waterconservation.html
• https://www.healthed.govt.nz/search/health-resources/water
• http://www.smarterhomes.org.nz/water/easy-ways-to-save-water/