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Resource Management Act 1991

Schedule 3: Water quality classes

You could also call this:

"Rules to keep New Zealand's water clean and safe for different uses"

The law has rules to keep our water clean. You can find these rules in the Resource Management Act 1991. The rules are about keeping the water suitable for different uses.

The water is divided into classes, like Class AE for aquatic ecosystems. Each class has its own rules to keep the water clean and safe. For example, the water temperature should not change too much, and there should be enough oxygen in the water.

There are many classes, including Class F for fish, Class WS for water supply, and Class I for irrigation. Each class has rules to keep the water clean and safe for its intended use. The rules are in place to protect the water and the people and animals that use it.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM241596.

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3Water quality classes Empowered by s 69

1Class AE Water (being water managed for aquatic ecosystem purposes)

  1. The natural temperature of the water shall not be changed by more than 3° Celsius.

  2. The following shall not be allowed if they have an adverse effect on aquatic life:

  3. any pH change:
    1. any increase in the deposition of matter on the bed of the water body or coastal water:
      1. any discharge of a contaminant into the water.

        1. The concentration of dissolved oxygen shall exceed 80% of saturation concentration.

        2. There shall be no undesirable biological growths as a result of any discharge of a contaminant into the water.

        2Class F Water (being water managed for fishery purposes)

        1. The natural temperature of the water—

        2. shall not be changed by more than 3° Celsius; and
          1. shall not exceed 25° Celsius.

            1. The concentration of dissolved oxygen shall exceed 80% of saturation concentration.

            2. Fish shall not be rendered unsuitable for human consumption by the presence of contaminants.

            3Class FS Water (being water managed for fish spawning purposes)

            1. The natural temperature of the water shall not be changed by more than 3° Celsius. The temperature of the water shall not adversely affect the spawning of the specified fish species during the spawning season.

            2. The concentration of dissolved oxygen shall exceed 80% of saturation concentration.

            3. There shall be no undesirable biological growths as a result of any discharge of a contaminant into the water.

            4Class SG Water (being water managed for the gathering or cultivating of shellfish for human consumption)

            1. The natural temperature of the water shall not be changed by more than 3° Celsius.

            2. The concentration of dissolved oxygen shall exceed 80% of saturation concentration.

            3. Aquatic organisms shall not be rendered unsuitable for human consumption by the presence of contaminants.

            5Class CR Water (being water managed for contact recreation purposes)

            1. The visual clarity of the water shall not be so low as to be unsuitable for bathing.

            2. The water shall not be rendered unsuitable for bathing by the presence of contaminants.

            3. There shall be no undesirable biological growths as a result of any discharge of a contaminant into the water.

            6Class WS Water (being water managed for water supply purposes)

            1. The pH of surface waters shall be within the range 6.0–9.0 units.

            2. The concentration of dissolved oxygen in surface waters shall exceed 5 grams per cubic metre.

            3. The water shall not be rendered unsuitable for treatment (equivalent to coagulation, filtration, and disinfection) for human consumption by the presence of contaminants.

            4. The water shall not be tainted or contaminated so as to make it unpalatable or unsuitable for consumption by humans after treatment (equivalent to coagulation, filtration, and disinfection), or unsuitable for irrigation.

            5. There shall be no undesirable biological growths as a result of any discharge of a contaminant into the water.

            7Class I Water (being water managed for irrigation purposes)

            1. The water shall not be tainted or contaminated so as to make it unsuitable for the irrigation of crops growing or likely to be grown in the area to be irrigated.

            2. There shall be no undesirable biological growths as a result of any discharge of a contaminant into the water.

            8Class IA Water (being water managed for industrial abstraction)

            1. The quality of the water shall not be altered in those characteristics which have a direct bearing upon its suitability for the specified industrial abstraction.

            2. There shall be no undesirable biological growths as a result of any discharge of a contaminant into the water.

            9Class NS Water (being water managed in its natural state)

            1. The natural quality of the water shall not be altered.

            10Class A Water (being water managed for aesthetic purposes)

            1. The quality of the water shall not be altered in those characteristics which have a direct bearing upon the specified aesthetic values.

            11Class C Water (being water managed for cultural purposes)

            1. The quality of the water shall not be altered in those characteristics which have a direct bearing upon the specified cultural or spiritual values.

            Note: The standards listed for each class apply after reasonable mixing of any contaminant or water with the receiving water and disregard the effect of any natural perturbations that may affect the water body.