New requirement approved in NZ

A new requirement aimed at boosting the sustainable management of New Zealand's freshwater resources through the use of measurement devices has been approved by the government, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard and Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton announced today.

"The National Environmental Standard for Measuring Water Takes was approved by Cabinet yesterday and will now be drafted into regulation," Mallard said.

"The standard is one of a staged package of actions to improve the sustainable management of New Zealand's freshwater resources under the Sustainable Water Programme of Action. This standard will help better water management by ensuring accurate measuring of the amount of water taken from rivers, lakes and aquifers.

"Measuring actual amounts of water taken is of course critical to understanding and improving the efficiency of water use. Currently, only 31% of the volume of water granted to consent holders is measured and we want to see the water taken from rivers, lakes or aquifers consistently measured at source."

The standard will set minimum requirements for the installation and operation of water measuring and recording devices. It will require consent holders to install and operate water measuring devices and to inform regional authorities about their water use.

The standard does not apply to individual households or businesses using water from reticulated supplies or to small abstractions for an individual's drinking or stock-drinking needs.

For more information, visit www.mfe.govt.nz.