Chapter 6 - Fresh Water 6.0 Fresh Water 6.1 Introduction Fresh water includes groundwater and surface water resources. Groundwater is water located under ground, generally in aquifers. Surface water refers to water that flows above ground, and includes rivers, streams, spring fed flows, lakes, wetlands and even artificial resources such as drainage canals and diversions. The fresh water resources of the Wairau/ Awatere plan area are among the region’s most important natural assets. The significant groundwater resources of the Wairau aquifers supply drinking water and water for irrigation and industrial use. The Wairau River and its tributaries are the key surface water resource in the area, providing important ecological, recreational, cultural, amenity and commercial values and are the principal source for recharging the Wairau groundwater systems. Appendix A provides a summary of the key surface and groundwater resources of the area, identifying significant values, threats to those values and determining a ranking for each resource. Maintaining fresh water quality and quantity at levels required to meet ecological, cultural, recreational, social and economic needs is essential for community wellbeing. However, while providing for community wellbeing the Council has a duty to safeguard the life supporting capacity of fresh water, and to avoid, remedy or mitigate any adverse effects of activities on fresh water. Another key responsibility of the Council under the Act is to maintain and enhance water quality. This section sets out the issues, objectives, policies and methods which will enable these duties and community wellbeing to be met. 6.2 Issue Use of freshwater resources may compromise the life supporting capacity of the resource. Use of fresh water can adversely affect the life supporting capacity of the resource, through altering the course, quality or quantity of the resource. Uses of fresh water include consumptive and non-consumptive uses and use of the water as a receiving environment for the direct (or point source) discharge of contaminants. Some of the more significant activities which involve the point source discharge of contaminants to water include sewage, processing waste and stormwater. Consumptive uses include activities which both take and consume water, such as crop irrigation, town water supply, domestic and stock water, fire-fighting or industrial processing. Non- consumptive uses include activities that use but do not consume the water, such as fishing, boating, swimming, amenity values, commercial fisheries, hydro generation of electricity and natural habitats. These uses are important to provide for the social, economic and cultural wellbeing of the community. Indirect discharges from non-point sources, such as contaminated run-off and sedimentation also have the potential to adversely affect water quality. Riparian vegetation and effective riparian management contribute to maintaining and enhancing water quality and the quality of aquatic habitats. However, these uses have the potential to adversely affect the life supporting capacity of the resource. Consumptive uses can reduce water levels and flows which can have significant effects on the integrity of habitats, and on recreational and amenity values. 6 - 1