Dairy effluent

GWRC controls the discharge of collected agricultural effluent, including dairy effluent. A resource consent is required under Rule 13 of the Regional Plan for Discharges to Land. This activity is a controlled activity which means that unless special circumstances exist, your resource consent application is processed on a non-notified basis.

For further assistance, or to set up a pre-application meeting, call 0800 493 734. You can also access forms at our forms and information requirements webpage.

GWRC is encouraging all dairy farmers to undertake an effluent storage assessment. This is because storage and deferred effluent irrigation will ensure compliance with standards and terms specified in resource consents.

Completing an effluent storage assessment involves evaluating your effluent management system and applying the Dairy Effluent Storage Calculator. GWRC recommends you use a qualified professional from the Farm Dairy Effluent System Design Accreditation Programme.

If you voluntarily undertake an effluent storage assessment, GWRC is happy to review your assessment to check if your proposal will meet the standards and terms of your resource consent. 

An effluent storage assessment is required when you apply for a new or replacement dairy effluent resource consent or when your apply to change conditions on your existing dairy effluent resource consent. 

For more information check out our  Q&A Advice Sheet (PDF 342 KB)  or more detailed  Effluent Storage Assessment Guide for the Wellington Region. (PDF 50 KB)

Dairy NZ, in conjunction with GWRC, have developed helpful resources to assist with managing dairy effluent:

• The rules for achieving compliance in the Greater Wellington region (PDF 332 KB)

• Resources to help manage effluent  

Other resources:

• FDE systems - a farmer's guide to building an new effluent storage pond (PDF 1.5 MB)
• FDE systems - planning the right system for your farm  (PDF 2.9 MB)
• FDE Design Code of Practice (PDF 1.4 MB)
• FDE Design Standards (PDF 5.5 MB)