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Auckland region

Water Quantity

In the Auckland region, aquifers are the primary source of water for non-reticulated consumptive use like irrigation and stock drinking water. Groundwater takes comprise the most numerous and highest volume of consented water takes. Rivers and streams in Auckland region tend to be smaller and so provide for an important, but lesser amount of consented water takes.

The area of south Auckland near Bombay and Pukekohe is one of the top five growing regions in New Zealand. Food production is becoming more specialised and intensive, which has implications for water demand and its management. High yielding aquifers in this area provide abundant water supplies, supporting this nationally significant horticultural area. Many of these aquifers are at or nearing full allocation. Urban development is advancing on productive lands in the south, competing for space and resources.

 

Aquifers in the north of the region are not as high producing but still constitute an important water source for stock drinking water and domestic needs. Pasture-based farming is more common in the north where soils are less productive. Urban growth is challenged by available long-term water supply, particularly outside the reticulated municipal supply network.

 

Groundwater availabilities for allocation have been determined for many of our more highly allocated aquifers. Where no statutory availabilities have been set for either groundwater or surface water, sustainable allocations are determined through consent application processes, according to direction provided in the Auckland Unitary Plan.

 

All consented water takes are required to be metered, and the majority of consent holders maintain records of their water use.  Where more detailed management of water use is necessary, telemetry is being employed.

 

Auckland Council is currently unable to provide all the water quantity data for LAWA . The Council is currently working on supplying the remaining annual and live data to LAWA. In the meantime, if you would like more information on how water is managed in the Auckland region visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

 

Regional Summary
Water quantity data in this region

Regional councils collect information about how much water is available and manage resource consents for those wishing to take water from rivers or groundwater supplies. Use the buttons below to view regional information on: how much water is available, where it comes from and how its used.

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Rainfall {{waterAvailable.rainfall}} Runoff to sea {{waterAvailable.runoff}} Groundwater available: {{waterSource.groundwater}}
{{waterSource.groundwaterPercentAvailable}}% of total available Surface Water available: {{waterSource.surfacewater}}
{{waterSource.surfacewaterPercentAvailable}}% of total available Irrigation
{{waterUsage.irrigationLabel}} Industrial
{{waterUsage.industrialLabel}} Stock
{{waterUsage.stockLabel}} Hydroelectrical
{{waterUsage.hydroLabel}} Town supply
{{waterUsage.drinkingLabel}}
  • How much water is there in this region?

    Rainfall and runoff in this region

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    Rainfall and runoff

    Relative Volume Source Volume
    Rainfall total:
    {{waterAvailable.rainfall }}
         		rainfall Rainfall Total {{waterAvailable.rainfall}}
    Runoff total:
    {{waterAvailable.runoff }}
         		runoff Runoff to sea {{waterAvailable.runoff}}

    The table above shows the average amount of rainfall the region receives each year and how much of that flows out to sea. These are approximate figures only.

    Auckland Council is currently working on supplying the run-off to sea figures to LAWA.

  • Water consents: where does water come from?

    The split between surface water and groundwater

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    Consented water by source

    Relative volumes
    Amount available to consent Surface water:
    {{waterSource.surfacewater}}
    available to consent         Groundwater:
    {{waterSource.groundwater}}
    available to consent
    Volume consented Surface water:
    {{surfaceWaterConsented()}}
    volume consented         Groundwater:
    {{groundwaterConsented()}}
    volume consented
    Source Amount available to consent Volume consented Consented as a percentage of available
    surface water ground water {{item.source}} {{item.amountAvailable}} {{item.volumeConsented}} {{item.percentageConsented}}
    {{waterSource.total.source}} {{waterSource.total.amountAvailable}} {{waterSource.total.volumeConsented}} {{waterSource.total.percentageConsented}}

    The table above shows how much water is available to use compared with the amount that is actually consented for use. It also shows how much of this water is surface water and how much is groundwater.

    Auckland Council is currently working on supplying the total surface water available figures to LAWA. 

  • Water consents: How is water used?

    Consents by use in this region

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    Annual consented water use by type

    Overall annual volume for {{waterAvailable.year}}
    Relative breakdown
    Activity Percentage of total consented Total volume Number of consents
    {{item.displayText}} {{item.displayText}} - - No data available {{item.breakdownPercentage}}% {{item.totalVolume}} {{item.numberOfConsents}}
    Total {{waterUsage.total.percentageConsented}}% {{waterUsage.total.totalVolume}} {{waterUsage.total.numberOfConsents}}

    The above table shows the proportion of water consented for irrigation, industrial, stock, town supply and other. It excludes hydro electricity. In this region/management zone {{hydroUsage.totalVolume}}/year is consented for hydro-electricity and makes up {{hydroUsage.percentageConsented}}% of the total water volume consented for this region/management zone

Surface Water Zones
Surface Water zones in the Auckland region

Select the water management zone you'd like to see information on by clicking the buttons below or navigate using the map.

Auckland Isthmus Surface Water

20 Sites
Araporera, Makarau Surface Water

1 Site
East Tamaki, Whitford, Beachlands Surface Water

10 Sites
Eastern Hunua Streams Surface Water

1 Site
Gulf Islands Surface Water

2 Sites
Hōteo Surface Water

4 Sites
Kaipara Surface Water

4 Sites
Kaukapakapa Surface Water

1 Site
Manukau City Surface Water

5 Sites
North East Surface Water

14 Sites
North Shore/East Coast Bays Surface Water

16 Sites
Okiritoto Surface Water

1 Site
Orewa, Whangaparaoa, Waiwera Surface Water

3 Sites
Rangitopuni Surface Water

2 Sites
South Auckland Streams Surface Water

13 Sites
South Kaipara Head, Parakai Surface Water

2 Sites
Upper Manukau Surface Water

3 Sites
Upper Waitemata Surface Water

7 Sites
Wairoa, Taitaia, Aroaro Surface Water

5 Sites
Waitakere Surface Water

0 Sites
Western Waitakere Streams Surface Water

4 Sites
Western Waitemata Surface Water

14 Sites
Groundwater Zones
Groundwater management zones in the Auckland region

Select the groundwater management zone you'd like to see information on by clicking the buttons below or navigate using the map.

Auckland Isthmus Groundwater

3 Sites
Awhitu Groundwater

2 Sites
Franklin Groundwater

10 Sites
Gulf Islands Groundwater

1 Site
Manukau Groundwater

3 Sites
South Kaipara Groundwater

2 Sites
Clevedon

5 Sites
Kumeu - Hobsonville

3 Sites
Omaha

2 Sites
Orewa - Whangaparaoa

2 Sites

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