No.09 2004

Water resources outlook for Summer (December - February)
The following soil moisture levels & river flows are likely:
North and east of the North Island
normal or below normal river flows and soil moisture levels.
East of the South Island
normal river flows and soil moisture levels; pressure on the groundwater resource is expected to remain, with rainfall expected to be normal for the season.
West and south of the South Island
normal or above normal river flows and soil moisture levels.
Elsewhere
normal river flows and soil moisture levels

Advanced Pond Systems - from research to eco-technology

Water resources review for Spring (September - November)
River flows
River flows were below normal in the northern North Island, normal in central and the eastern North Island, and above normal in the Wellington region. The South Island was normal or below normal, except for eastern Southland and south Otago which were normal to above normal.
[Water resources information provided by NIWA field teams, regional and district councils, and hydropower companies.]
 
Groundwater levels
Groundwater levels generally showed the usual seasonal decline through spring leading into summer.

In risky water?
A Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) can calculate the human health risks of wastewater – and produce surprising results.
QRA highlights bird problem
Wastewater from the Beachlands/Maraetai sewage treatment plant, east of Auckland, gets into the Te Puru stream and estuary through an adjacent wetland and farm pond.
Earth Consult Ltd and Manukau Water are working on a proposed upgrade of the plant, and asked us to assess the health risks for people swimming in the estuary or taking shellfish from around there, and on livestock drinking water taken from the stream.
We eva