All dairy farms taking more than 15 cubic meters of water per day [15,000 ltrs] for dairy shed wash down and milk pre- cooling purposes will require resource consent from the W.R.C. The consent applies to water takes from both surface [rivers, steam, spring, creek, drain] and ground water [bore]. The WRC estimates this will affect any dairy farm with a herd size of over 215 cows. For planning purposes the WRC estimate water use at 70 litres per animal. There are special provisions for some water takes that existed prior to 15th October 2008.

Farmers have been asked to apply for their consents on a catchment by catchment basis. This “catchment group” approach aims to improve processing efficiency and to enable a smooth and cost/time effective transition for all parties. The W.R.C. has recommended farmers in the following catchments have their consent applications completed by the dates outlined below:

• Waihou – 30th November 2012
• Lower Waikato – 29th March 2013
• Upper Waipa/King Country/West Coast – 31st July 2013
• Coromandel – 31st July 2013
• Lower Waipa – 29th November 2013
• Upper Waikato – 31 March 2014
• Piako – 31 July 2014

Deadline for consent application is 1st January 2015.

For additional information and background reading farmers with enquiries can visit the following on the Waikato Regional Council web site:

• Dairy shed wash down and milk cooling
• Waikato Regional Plan – Water Module

Or call the Resource Use Group on 0800800401 and ask to speak with a Resource Officer from the Resource Allocation Programme.

Please read your water consent notice as some existing and new water resource consents will include conditions that will require that over the duration the water take is authorised a system is installed to telemeter at continuous 15 minute intervals the water take volume in units of cubic meters. This information shall be reported once daily to the Waikato Regional Council via the telemetry system and there shall be 96 values per daily report. Where water is used for irrigation and no water is being taken during the irrigation season, the data must specify the take volume as zero.

Stream/river flow data:

Over the duration that this water take is authorised, the consent holder shall either:

1. Record 15 minute values of measured or modelled 7–day rolling average stream flow at or about the point of take and forward these records for the preceding month to the Waikato Regional Council via email in agreed electronic format within the first 10 working days of each month.OR
2. Telemeter, via a telemetry system developed in consultation with the Waikato Regional Council to ensure that the telemetry system is compatible with Waikato Regional Council telemetry system standards and data protocols, the following data to the Waikato Regional Council:
   1. 15 minute values of measured or modelled 7–day rolling average stream flow at or about the point of take (in units of cubic metres per second).
      This information shall be reported once daily to the Waikato Regional Council via the telemetry system.  There will be 96 values per daily report.

Dairy NZ is another important source of information. There is increasing pressure on farmers to use water efficiently and good planning can lead to water conservation with resultant savings in money and time. A resource pack for smart water use on dairy farms is available and will assist when developing and reviewing the farm water use plan.

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