Key points

Groundwater makes up about 90 percent of the Waikato Region’s freshwater resource, and is used for drinking, industry, agriculture and horticulture. This indicator measures the amount of groundwater that’s available for use in the Region. It monitors the amount of ‘stress’ groundwater resources are under in different areas.

• Most of the Waikato region has plenty of groundwater available for use.
• Most areas in the Waikato Region are under low stress, with less than 10 percent of available groundwater being used.
• Some areas which have been investigated in the Region are under high stress, with more than 30% of available groundwater being used.  These include the far north of the Region near Pukekohe, plus Tokoroa and the Waihi Basin.

Percentage of investigated land area in the Waikato region with low, medium or high groundwater use

Source: Waikato Regional Council

What agencies are doing

• Waikato Regional Council manages the use and stress on groundwater in our Region by requiring Resource Consents for groundwater use of more than 30 cubic metres per day. Groundwater use of less than 30 cubic metres per day are a permitted activity, except in some stressed aquifers_². Permitted groundwater use must meet the conditions outlined in the proposed Waikato Regional Plan (section 3.3.4.8).
• We track changes in groundwater availability to update this indicator and to assist policy making and consent decisions.
• We encourage responsible land and groundwater use and promote public awareness through environmental education.
• We provide a range of fact sheets and guidelines – check out our water publications.

What you can do to help

• Obtain a resource consent (drilling permit) for well construction from Environment Waikato - either directly or via a drilling contractor.
• Make sure wells are properly completed, sealed (including a concrete pad) and protected to prevent groundwater contamination.
• Store chemicals away from wells and remove, where possible, other potential sources of contamination.
• When taking groundwater, only take as much as you need, use your allocated water efficiently and keep records of your groundwater use.

More information

More detail on this indicator, including how and where this information is collected, is available here.

What we want to achieve

The community outcomes we are seeking to achieve by monitoring groundwater availability and use are:

• The iconic landscapes and natural features of our environment define and sustain us. We respect and celebrate them as taonga.
• Our natural environment is protected and respected. Its ecological balance is restored, its air, soil and water quality is improved and its native biodiversity is enhanced.
• The traditional role of iwi and hapu as kaitiaki is acknowledged, respected and enabled.
• Our region’s waterways have consistently high water quality.