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Source of freshwater supply

Almost 20,000 resource consents are in place for taking water, 66 per cent of which are for groundwater takes.

The river and stream network is evenly distributed across the country, which allows water to be taken from surface water systems relatively easily.

In contrast, consents for groundwater takes tend to be grouped together in areas where the water table is shallow and/or aquifers yield relatively high volumes of water (such as the gravel aquifers on the Canterbury Plains or the Auckland volcanic aquifers). In these areas it is most cost-effective to take groundwater.

Distribution of resource consents for surface water and groundwater, 2006

Distribution of resource consents for surface water and groundwater, 2006

Data source: Ministry for the Environment.

Although the majority of consents are for water from groundwater sources, the volume of water taken from surface water sources is higher. Sixty per cent of the total volume of water allocated comes from surface water sources, 34 per cent from groundwater, and 6 per cent from storage sources such as lakes and dam reservoirs.

There is considerable variation between regions in the proportions allocated from surface, ground and storage sources. While storage sources contribute a relatively low proportion of the total national water allocation, in some regions (such as Auckland and Gisborne) reservoirs are the major source of supply.

 

This information is from:
Update of Water Allocation data and Estimate of Actual Water Use of Consented takes 2009–10.

 

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Last updated: December 2007