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3 Essential Features of a Framework for Managing Water Quality

This section of the paper outlines what a good water quality policy framework should be capable of and the essential features of such a framework to improve water quality management on a catchment basis.

A good water quality framework is one that is capable of:

  • effectively managing the diffuse discharges of contaminants into water bodies
  • achieving desirable water quality
  • supporting the many social, economic, environmental and cultural values New Zealanders associate with water.

A good water quality framework requires seven essential features for managing the impacts of diffuse discharges from rural land use on water quality. These features are also likely to be applicable for managing other water quality issues (eg, urban stormwater, runoff from roads and carparks, point source discharges).

The essential features of a good water quality framework are:

Roles and relationships

  • Clear roles and accountabilities for central government and councils to enable effective management of water quality issues.
  • Effective partnerships and engagement between all levels of government, Māori, industry and landowners in achieving identified water quality outcomes.

Strategic direction

  • High quality strategic resource management planning and decision making for sustainable development outcomes in water quality management, that:
    • addresses water quality issues
    • identifies and balances the interests of national, regional and local communities across economic, environmental, cultural and social values
    • takes a long-term focus, thus considering the needs of current and future generations
    • identifies complementary strategies, values and interests and recommends actions and solutions that optimise outcomes across values and interests
    • leads to explicit, transparent and difficult decisions and, where necessary, makes trade-offs between values
    • incentivises innovation and relevant research.
  • Taking an integrated management approach - one where water management (both water allocation and quality) issues and land use activities (rural and urban) are addressed collectively. Water allocation is important as the volume of water abstracted impacts on the capacity of a water body to assimilate and transport contaminants, and also its regenerative capacity. ["Regenerative capacity" in this context means the scope for the ecosystem to be restored.]
  • Having flexibility and adaptability (adaptive management) given the incomplete understanding of the impact of discharges on environmental outcomes, time-lags before pollutants become evident, the transient nature of freshwater ecosystems, and the potential for change in community priorities.

Consultation

  • Effective and meaningful consultation between all levels of government, Māori, industry, landowners and the public on water quality issues.

Information, research and technology

  • Water quality management and planning processes supported by good information and research that fosters innovative and holistic solutions to water quality issues, including:
    • good scientific information on the impacts of discharges, including appropriate data collection and analysis
    • the relationship between land use and other factors (eg, point source discharges, urban storm water) impacting on water quality (including cumulative effects)
    • traditional Māori knowledge (matauranga);
    • the limitations of what is known now and areas where further information is required
    • information on the different values of water and the interactions between the values, and the costs/benefits of securing particular water quality outcomes.

Effective tools (legislation, policy tools, economic instruments)

  • Clear and enabling legislation.
  • Appropriate procedures for setting agreed minimum water quality standards for different categories of water bodies having different values.
  • Having access to an appropriate range of policy tools to enable water quality management, including the ability to specify rights to make discharges, and access to regulatory and market instruments to influence land user behaviour.

Community awareness

  • Effective education to:
    • achieve community understanding of the impacts of discharges on water quality and on all of the values associated with water
    • provide guidance on implementing and working with the RMA and other relevant legislation
    • encourage the use of best management practice and understanding of the science relating to water quality management and development of innovative technologies to minimise contaminants at the source
    • encourage mitigation and restoration of ecosystems (eg, wetlands).

Capacity

  • Adequate capacity, knowledge and skills within central government, local government, Māori and landowners to understand all of the values and issues related to water quality management.

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