ARE YOU COMPLYING with Regional Council Regulations?
How accurate is your interpretation of the
permitted activity rules?
The “Resource Management Act” has been followed since 1991, but Regional Councils have only recently become stricter about it. The government is also aware of irregular farm effluent disposal issues and even environmental groups have been putting pressure on farmers to make sure they comply with the “permitted activity and consent rules”. Find out once and for all if your current effluent disposal method really complies with Regional Council Regulations.
YOU MUST NOT:
- Allow any effluent to enter water (streams, drains or groundwater).
The main cause of effluent entering a waterway is PONDING and RUN OFF. It is easily identified. If the liquid irrigated remains on the ground surface and the soils can’t absorb it, you are over applying. Ponding is caused by applying liquid at a rate faster than the soil can absorb it. Run off is when the liquid on the surface runs because of topography. So, to avoid ponding and run off, do not irrigate onto soils that are already saturated.
- Exceed nitrogen loading by applying more than 150kg N per hectare per annum (applied to pasture) or 200kg N per hectare per annum (applied to crop paddocks).
To do this you need to know the nutrient value and volumes being applied into your farm grounds. A good system management plan will help you with compliance issues.
- Exceed an application depth of 25mm per application.
- Irrigate in a manner that causes an objectionable odour beyond the farm boundary
or that may affect the health of others.
YOU MUST:
- Have enough storage so that you don't have to irrigate onto wet soils.
The amount of storage will be determined by the soil types, application rate and seasonal rainfall periods.
- Manage your storage so it never overflows.
Make sure the storage facility can cope with input versus output. Have a contingency plan in place for pump failure.
- Ensure that all storage is properly sealed.
Without a properly sealed storage facility, you run the risk of effluent leaching into nearby waterways and ground water.
- Be able to provide information to show that you are complying with the rules, if requested. A nutrient management plan will provide this information.
If you are unsure about how to comply with the conditions or need further information, phone your regional council or ring EID on 0800 856 544.
