5.4.2.1 Surface Water Quality

Policy 5-2: Water quality targets*

In Schedule E4, water quality targets* relating to the Schedule B Values (repeated in Table 5.2) are identified for each Water Management Sub-Zone*. Other than where they are incorporated into permitted activity^ rules as conditions^ to be met, the water quality targets* in Schedule E must be used to inform the management of surface water^ quality in the manner set out in Policies 5-3, 5-4 and 5-5.

4    Schedule A is not a component of Part I - the Regional Policy Statement. It is a component of Part II - the Regional Plan.

Policy 5-3: Ongoing compliance where water quality targets* are met
  1. Where the existing water^ quality meets the relevant Schedule E water quality targets* within a Water Management Sub-zone*, water^ quality must be managed in a manner which ensures that the water quality targets* continue to be met beyond the zone of reasonable mixing (where mixing is applicable).
  2. For the avoidance of doubt:
    1. in circumstances where the existing water^ quality of a Water Management Sub-zone* meets all of the water quality targets* for the Sub-zone* (a) applies to every water quality target* for the Sub-zone*
    2. in circumstances where the existing water^ quality of a Water Management Sub-zone* meets some of the water quality targets* for the Sub-zone* (a) applies only to those water quality targets* that are met
    3. for the purpose of (a) reasonable mixing is only applicable to a discharge^ from an identifiable location.

Policy 5-4: Enhancement where water quality targets* are not met
  1. Where the existing water^ quality does not meet the relevant Schedule E water quality targets* within a Water Management Sub-zone*, water^ quality within that sub-zone must be managed in a manner that enhances existing water^ quality in order to meet:
    1. the water quality target* for the Water Management Zone* in Schedule E, and/or
    2. the relevant Schedule B Values and management objectives that the water quality target* is designed to safeguard.
  2. For the avoidance of doubt:
    1. in circumstances where the existing water^ quality of a Water Management Sub-zone* does not meet all of the water quality targets* for the Sub-zone*, (a) applies to every water quality target* for the Sub-zone
    2. in circumstances where the existing water^ quality of a Water Management Sub-zone* does not meet some of the water quality targets* for the Sub-zone*, (a) applies only to those water quality targets* not met.

Policy 5-5: Management of water^ quality in areas where existing water^ quality is unknown
  1. Where there is insufficient data to enable a comparison of the existing water^ quality with the relevant Schedule E water quality targets*, water^ quality within the Water Management Sub-Zone^ must be managed in a manner which, beyond the zone of reasonable mixing (where reasonable mixing is applicable):
    1. maintains or enhances the existing water^ quality
    2. has regard to the likely effect of the activity on the relevant Schedule B Values that the water quality target* is designed to safeguard
    3. has regard to relevant information about the existing water^ quality in upstream or downstream Water Management Sub-zones*, where such information exists.
  2. For the avoidance of doubt:
    1. in circumstances where there is insufficient data to enable a comparison of the existing water^ quality with all of the water quality targets* for a Water Management Sub-zone* (a) applies to every water quality target* for the Sub-zone*
    2. in circumstances where there is insufficient data to enable a comparison of the existing water^ quality with some of the water quality targets* for a Water Management Sub-zone* (a) applies only to those water quality targets* with insufficient data
    3. for the purpose of (a) reasonable mixing is only applicable to a discharge^ from an identifiable location.