Consent holders urged to install water meters

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is concerned about the number of consent holders who are yet to install water meters despite the deadline for installation being this Saturday.

All consented water takes of 20 litres per second or greater will be required to have water meters installed by this Saturday. The move comes in response to new Government regulations under the Resource Management Act 1991 which will require all consented water takes of five litres a second or more to have water meters installed by the 10th November 2016.

The regulations are being phased in, with this Saturday’s water meter deadline for all consented takes of 20 litres per second or more required being the first.

HBRC Team Leader Compliance, Keith Peacock says records indicate approximately 110 consents still do not have meters installed, nor do those consent holders appear to have approached a Council Approved Installer to complete the work.

“All consent holders affected by this deadline should have received four letters advising of the regulations over the past two years,” says Mr Peacock.

“Consent holders who fail to meet this Saturday’s deadline will not be able to take water after the 10th November until they have a meter installed.”

HBRC is urging those who do not have a water meter installed to contact an Approved Installer to arrange for one to be installed as soon as possible so their irrigation scheduling is not affected.

“Consent holders need to be aware that the data collected is not just used for assessing compliance with consented allocations, but also by HBRC scientists for environmental modelling work and the consents department at renewal time.”

“The water meter information is also a key tool for consent holders themselves for managing their irrigation systems and ensuring that water used is being applied and delivered to their crops as efficiently as possible.”

Mr Peacock says consent holders affected should also have received notification in September of their requirement to keep either daily or weekly records of water use. Anyone with questions about these requirements should contact HBRC and ask to speak with a Consent Advisor.

ends

© Scoop Media