Water pollution in the West Coast Region

Water pollution is an environmental issue on the West Coast of New Zealand.

Water resources and water pollution come under the jurisdiction of the Resource Management Act and is controlled by the regional councils - for the West Coast it is the West Coast Regional Council.

A 2008 State of the Environment report showed that:^[1]

• acid mine drainage has significant effects on freshwater ecosystems
• less than 5% of the water samples taken from contact recreation sites indicated unsafe swimming conditions
• point source pollution has decreased and nonpoint source pollution has increased
• Water deterioration occurs at the lower levels of a number of catchments
• Water quality improvements were evident in a number of water quality indicators.

Issues

Acid mine drainage

The West Coast has a long history of mining and some of the waterways suffer from acid mine drainage as a result of the leaching of acidic water from mining activity.

Drinking water

Eighty two percent of the population is supplied by reticulated drinking water with 28% having some form of treatment to improve water quality. None of the water supplies reach drinking water standards.^[2]

Lake Brunner

The water in Lake Brunner has been monitored since the 1990s and it shows that the water quality of the lake is declining.

Ngakawau River

Water from the Stockton open cast coal mine pollutes the Ngakawau River.

See also

• Water pollution in New Zealand
• Environment of New Zealand

References

External links

• West Coast Regional Council