Water quality of Lake Taupō and its catchment to 2020

Report: TR 2022/04

Authors: Bill Vant and John Hadfield

During 2000–11 a statutory plan was developed to protect the Lake Taupō’s excellent water quality. This involved managing the current inputs of N to the lake from the surrounding catchment; at the same time the inputs of P have been closely monitored.

Waikato Regional Council has routinely monitored the water quality of the lake at a deep-water site since 1994 (with the field and laboratory work being undertaken by NIWA). The water quality of 14 rivers and streams flowing into the lake is also routinely monitored, and groundwater quality is routinely monitored in a network of 34 wells in the Taupō catchment.

Survey results confirm the excellent quality of the lake water, with low concentrations of N, P and chlorophyll.