15. Resource Quality (Water, Air, Soil) Volume One A key component of the NPSFM is the National Objectives Framework (NOF). The NOF is designed to assist the process of establishing appropriate freshwater quality objectives in a nationally consistent manner. It is based on the identification of values supported by waterbodies and the setting of objectives to protect those values. The NOF contains two compulsory national values: ecosystem health and human health for recreation. Attributes, or measurable physical, chemical and biological characteristics are identified with respect to these values. Water Issue 15A – The discharge of contaminants to water can adversely affect the life supporting capacity and the community’s use of Marlborough’s coastal waters, rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers. The good state of water quality in Marlborough’s coastal waters, rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers makes them more vulnerable to point source and non-point source discharges. Any deterioration in water quality would have dramatic implications for Marlborough’s social, economic and cultural wellbeing, as good water quality is essential for a wide range of consumptive and non-consumptive uses. A reduction in water quality could also adversely affect freshwater and marine habitats. The main threats to water quality in Marlborough are described below. Sewage reticulation and disposal Treated sewage from Marlborough’s larger communities is still discharged into fresh or coastal water. Although these discharges are authorised by resource consents, the review of the MEP provided the community with the opportunity to reconsider the desirability of continuing to discharge contaminants into water. The discharge of treated municipal sewage is the outcome of servicing communities to maintain community health standards. However, Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi consider that the discharge of human waste into fresh or coastal water is profoundly offensive and significantly diminishes the mauri of the receiving waters. As Marlborough continues to grow, it will be necessary to consider how future residential, commercial or industrial developments are serviced. For larger communities, this is still likely to require some form of reticulated community sewerage system. Existing servicing arrangements may also need to be upgraded. For example, the reliance of several Marlborough Sounds communities on the on-site management of domestic wastewater may be unsustainable and need to be replaced with community sewerage schemes. Discharge of treated sewage into water may be one of the options that need to be considered. It is important that the MEP provides direction as to how adverse effects of existing and any new discharges on fresh or coastal water quality should be managed. Existing reticulated community sewerage systems operated by the Council are recognised by the MEP as regionally significant infrastructure. (See Chapter 4 - Use of Natural and Physical Resources for further details.) Unless otherwise specified, policies in Chapter 15 still apply to the discharge of human sewage from this infrastructure. Stormwater reticulation and disposal Most of Marlborough’s towns are serviced by reticulated stormwater systems. Urban stormwater will pick up contaminants including sediment, solids, organic matter, nutrients, heavy metals and petroleum and product residues as its runs over impervious surfaces. Given the volume of water created by rainfall events, the stormwater receives little or no treatment prior to discharge into the receiving waters. 15 – 2