Nitrate contamination in waterways is a concern for everyone in Waitaha Canterbury. Intensive land use, including agriculture, is a leading contributor to increasing nitrate concentrations
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/water/drinking-water/nitrate-in-waterwaysWe respond to a variety of environmental incidents in the region that affect our air, water and land. Here you can find the latest serious environmental incident alerts. This page covers alerts
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/complying-with-the-resource-management-act/current-environmental-incidentsThe Hearing Panel granted the applications to take up to 1,800 cubic metres of water per day, at a maximum rate of 63 litres per second, from bore L36/1886, 200 mm diameter and 49 metres deep
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/do-it-online/resource-consents/notifications-and-submissions/notified-decisions/2010/canterbury-meatpackers-rakaia-limitedIn February 2026, Environment Canterbury issued Christchurch City Council an abatement notice for failing to provide an adequate action plan to address the persistent stench coming from the fire
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/air-quality/odour-monitoring/bromley-odourAll subdivisions and developments producing domestic wastewater that are unable to connect to a reticulated wastewater system will require an onsite wastewater management system (OWMS
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/water/wastewater/information-for-developers-designers-and-installersMany people with a septic tank on their property won’t have thought about whether or not it poses a drowning risk. However, the tragic death of a three-year-old in Australia - and a similar case...
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2024/keeping-children-safe-around-septic-tanksAs the regional environmental regulator, we are responsible for monitoring and regulating stormwater quantity and quality. It’s our job to set and enforce standards and undertake monitoring to make
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/water/stormwater/who-manages-our-stormwaterFollowing a factory wastewater spill affecting Saltwater Creek in North Canterbury on 1 September 2023 we provided updates for the public, particularly whitebaiters, on water quality and whether local...
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/zone-news/waimakariri/discharge-to-waterway-saltwater-creek