Dairy shed water takes

What are the rules for dairy shed water takes? 

Variation 6 (Water Allocation) to the Waikato Regional Plan establishes Waikato Regional Council's rules for managing the allocation of water in the Waikato region.

Under Variation 6, farmers taking water for dairy shed wash down and milk cooling will likely require a resource consent.

If you’re looking to convert a farm, we recommend you seek professional advice and/or contact us to discuss water availability and consent processes as part of your initial scoping process.

More information on these rules

• Read our summary brochure for dairy farmers on Variation 6.
• Read the complete rules in section 3.3.4 of  the Waikato Regional Plan.
• See our frequently asked questions.
• Find out more about the Waikato Regional Plan, our planning document that contains regulation, policy and methods for managing the region's natural resources.

It's possible that you may not require a consent

There are some scenarios where a consent may not be required:

• If all your dairy shed water comes from a consented source such as a municipal or privately run water supply scheme you won’t need a consent, as the scheme operator should already have one. Check directly with the scheme operator if you are unsure of their consent status or want to understand the supply arrangements you have with them. 
• If you take less than 15 cubic metres of water from groundwater (bores or wells) for your dairy shed you do not require a consent. If you own multiple titles with a bore on each title, you can take up to 15 cubic metres from each bore as a permitted activity.
• If you take less than 15 cubic metres of water from a surface water source (streams, springs, rivers, lakes, drains etc) you may not require a consent. But you can't take more than the “primary allocable flow” of the waterway. This varies, but conservatively, if you take less than 5 per cent of the low flow you’re probably within that primary allocable flow. 
• If you take water directly from the Waikato or Waipā rivers you can take up to 30 cubic metres per day as a permitted activity.

But some farmers taking less than 15 cubic metres per day from surface water may still need to apply for a consent.

So if any of the following scenarios apply to you, then please talk to us. It's possible you might still need a consent.

• You take from a spring or small stream, and take more than 5 per cent of the low flow (the flow of the water during a dry summer).
• It's possible that, between yourself and your neighbours, more than 5 per cent of the stream's low flow could be taken.
• You started taking water after October 2008.

A summary document of this information is available for you to read or download.