Resource consents allow for groundwater or surface water to be allocated amongst different users.
Water take consents can be issued for any purpose (unless it is a prohibited activity) but will only be granted if the water use is efficient and will not have a significant environmental or cultural impact.
Council is required by law to accept and process a complete consent application for any kind of water use. Each consent application is assessed and considered on a case-by-case, and first in-first served basis.
We currently manage more than 1,200 active resource consents to take and use water in the Bay of Plenty. These include for drinking water, electricity generation or industrial use, horticulture, and agriculture. Numerous consents are held for municipal water supply and some are held by water bottling companies.
Irrigation NZ have issued some advice for irrigators to help them manage their water use during dry conditions.