Water classification clash

Press, 2 September 1980, Page 12

Water classification clash

The Research Council must be; made aware of the probkFbs of water -in Canterbury, ,■ the chairman of the North Canterbury .Catchment Board (Dr WIR Holmes) (told a meetingjofiithe board’s water • an Interim 1 -upcision from the planning \ Tribunal Ssdiich' <wef-xule<i Vm earlier board decision to Veject an application from \Ryan - Brothers. The application was to discharge .dairy’’:shed wasfca feto' : Hendersons tßqad drajfej.v '"< '■■■?; '■( ''. : ’-.J-- <7. ;:•<> Mr 1 ' *M,. -Ji’ Bdwdetb

the .board’s water engineer said it was of some ; consequence to Che board that the -tribwal found the ' use 5 of cdaqS’ D standards -for water which had jnot been classified -In the past the criteria’ of the glass D water, whi?h .set standards on .discoloration, dissolved .oxygen and suspended solids, had been applied as a minimum for all-Water. <

The tribunal decision meant that, classification standards could not.be assumed unless the water had been, classified. ; Mr Bowden said be sidered tihe lack of* a-min-.

imum standard to be impractical for -water quality controL It now appeared that the board would have to classify areas which had' not been thought necessary before. He suggested the aboard take steps to classify afeas where; waste ‘discharges could J>e important. . These included the .Avon-Heathcote estuary, the Lower Ashley catchment, Lake Ellesmere catchment, the Jed Riven catchment and the Lyttelton and Akarca Harbours. ... • . . 1 The meeting recommended Writing, to the Water Remasking :fpr urgent advice on the issue. ■->

Computer Dr Holmes said ''SQinebody had been jilaxing aha fool” with the ’Jtoard over a breakdown in the board’s computer, which meant it has .only been running at a tenth .-ef- jte capacity in the fest five-, wpeksk

■’ Mr Bowden said-that some of the computer’s memory boards had .-to be -sent ito the United Slates for repair. 3fj tad taken .toe weeks to get-them out of New Zealand. Mr Bowden said he ted been told that the delay

was to ensure the parts could be .brought back again without more sales tax being charged. . . \ ®r. Holmes said he was concerned about the delay because the computer was used for a public service .and it was a matter ©f some urgency.* Tish screen

The meeting recommeaded that the board drop a prosecution against" the Ellesmere County Council for its failure to erect a fish screen at the Te.lsHita.waW -®aj® intake. 4; •"We--base achieved what we wanted but it has taken a long time,’* said Dr Holmes. .