15. Resource Quality (Water, Air, Soil) Volume One During winter, concentrations of PM measured in Blenheim have exceeded the NESAQ 10 concentration of 50 micrograms per cubic metre (24 hour average). During these peak periods, almost one tonne of PM 10 can bedischarged per day and results in common health effects, including irritation of the eyes, throat and lungs. For people with existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or bronchitis, breathing in particles can make their conditions much worse. Achieving compliance with the NESAQ will require a 38 percent reduction in PM 10 emissions. Even if the Council relies on home owners replacing polluting heating methods with modern solid fuel burning appliances (or other heating methods) at the end of their useful life, PM emissions 10 will fall by only 10 percent. In other words, some form of intervention is required to achieve compliance with the NESAQ and ensure a safe living environment over the winter months. Though Picton and Renwick have also been monitored (and currently been found to comply with the NESAQ), Blenheim is the only airshed within Marlborough. Other urban areas within the District may also have elevated PMlevels, but monitoring has not been undertaken in those 10 areas. [RPS, R] Objective 15.2 – Improve the ambient air quality of Blenheim by reducing PMconcentrations. 10 Monitoring has shown that Blenheim’s air quality during the winter months needs to improve to protect the health and wellbeing of the urban community. This can be achieved by reducing the ambient level of PM, most of which is sourced from home heating. The following policies and 10 methods are targeted at reducing PMdischarges at source to improve air quality. This will 10 ensure that the current health effects of high PM levels, which range from minor irritation 10 through to significant respiratory conditions, are minimised. [RPS, R] Policy 15.2.1 – Prohibit the use of open fires and the outdoor burning of organic and inorganic waste within the Blenheim airshed. It is estimated that 11 percent of the PM 10released from home heating in Blenheim is sourced from open fires. Emissions from open fires are between two and fourteen times greater than those from appliances meeting the 1.5 grams of particles per kilogram of dry wood burnt criteria established by the NESAQ (open fires using wood, 12g/kg; open fires using coal, 21g/kg; modern enclosed burner 3g/kg). Based on these emissions, the policy recognises that open fires are not an appropriate means of home heating if winter air quality is to be enhanced. As the use of open fires is not decreasing at significant rates in Blenheim, a prohibition is necessary. A transition period will be provided to enable homeowners time to source and finance alternative heating sources. Note that Regulation 24A of the NESAQ also prohibits the use of domestic open fires in new homes. Outdoor burning of organic and inorganic waste in Blenheim is also another source of PM 10that should be avoided. Outdoor burning is controlled through the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 and a system of fire permits. Due to Marlborough’s dry climate, total fire bans are often in place over summer, which can mean that burning occurs during periods when the risk of non- compliance with the NESAQ is higher. The health risks posed by outdoor burning increases if the waste contains wood treated with preservatives, painted or stained wood, metals, rubber, synthetic materials, plastics or waste oil. The resulting smoke is also likely to have a considerable nuisance effect given the close proximity of neighbours on urban properties. It is therefore appropriate to prohibit the outdoor burning of waste in Blenheim with immediate effect. [RPS, R] Policy 15.2.2 – Phase out small scale solid fuel burning appliances older than 15 years of age within the Blenheim airshed. This policy recognises that the efficiency of solid fuel burning appliances decreases with time and ceases to be efficient after 15 years. Modelling has shown that the NESAQ will be achieved by 15 – 30