The taking and using of water for domestic purposes or for stock drinking purposes is allowed under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) without the need for a resource consent.
There are rules in our regional plans covering the taking and using of water for uses other than domestic or stock drinking use.
Specifically, section 14(3)(b) RMA allows the taking and using of water for an individual’s reasonable domestic needs; or the reasonable needs of an individual’s animals for drinking water as long as there is no adverse effect on the environment as a result of taking and using water..
What is reasonable?
Guidance on what is reasonable is provided from the Ministry of Health for an individual’s daily usage and industry sources for stock usage. These guidelines are further outlined in Environment Canterbury’s Natural Resources Regional Plan Chapter 5: Water Quantity.
Environment Canterbury’s opinion on what amount of water is reasonable is:
Domestic:
- 3 m3 per household per day (24-hour period) for those not in groundwater exclusion zones.
- 6 m3 per household per day (24-hour period) for those in the groundwater exclusion zones of West Melton/Yaldhurst, Woolston/Heathcote, or the Waipara groundwater exclusion zone.
Domestic use includes drinking water, household washing water, irrigation of the household garden area.
Stock:
Calculated as per the following table in Schedule WQN11 (NRRP).
| Stock type |
Litres/head/day |
| Dairy Cattle |
- in lactation |
77 |
| - dry |
50 |
| Beef Cattle |
|
50 |
| Calves |
|
28 |
| Horses |
- working |
61 |
| - grazing |
39 |
| Breeding Ewes |
|
3 |
| Sows |
|
28 |
| Pigs |
|
12 |
| Poultry |
per 100 birds |
33 |
| Turkey |
per 100 birds |
61 |
| Deer |
- hinds |
30 |
| - stags |
20 |
If your particular situation falls outside the parameters outlined above, please contact Environment Canterbury to arrange for a case-by-case assessment based upon your particular needs to determine whether or not the take and use of water for domestic use or stocking drinking water is allowed.
Adverse effect
When assessing whether or not the water take will cause an adverse effect Environment Canterbury will look at the following factors:
- If from a surface water source, is the river subject to low or minimum flow conditions?
- What will the effect be on downstream users?
- If from a groundwater source, is the bore properly authorised?
- Is the bore hydraulically connected to a river?
- Is it an “existing take” where there has been no increase in the amount taken?
- Are there already consented or permitted activity takes on the property?
- The rate of take should be no more than 5 litres per second for either a surface or groundwater take.
Please note
1. Limitations
It is possible to take domestic/stock water plus an amount allowed by a regional rule or a resource consent for “other” use providing all the relevant conditions are met.
It is not possible to take an amount permitted by a regional rule plus a consented amount for “other” use.
6 m3 is deemed reasonable in the exclusion zones because there is no access to other water permitted by a regional rule.
2. Other activities
Activities, e.g. diverting water, damming water, installation of an intake structure in the river or lake bed, installation of a bore that are associated with the taking and using of water (for any use) are all subject to other rules and advice should be sought from Environment Canterbury. The Customer Services number is 0800 324 636 or 03 353 9007.