Surface Water Quality

Environment Canterbury has an extensive water quality database that covers streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and the sea, throughout Canterbury. However, the data are concentrated from sites in the low-lying areas of the region, and some data are quite old. This is because the size of the region dictates that only a relatively small number of sites can be sampled at a time. The data are concentrated in low-lying areas, because this is where most of the activities that influence water quality occur.

In general, water quality is very high in the mountains, high in the foothills regions, and deteriorates to some extent with increasing distance down the plains, but in most waterbodies water quality is still good close to the coast. Spring-fed coastal streams tend to suffer the most from reduced water quality. Coastal water quality is very good, with decreases in quality in enclosed bays and estuaries, especially inner Lyttelton Harbour and the Avon-Heathcote Estuary.

In the first instance, Environment Canterbury can advise whether there are data for waterbodies adjacent to the subject property. Data can be supplied where we have them, but it is important to note that we cannot provide any interpretation of those data, and in most cases they will be meaningless to lay people. If some interpretation is required, you will have to seek the advice of a consultant.