The groundwater allocation zone summary report for Orari - Opihi
Recharge component
Method of estimation
Background notes
A significant part of the shallow aquifer covering this area is highly related to river and stream flows, and consideration of these may raise the allocation limit. This ground/surface-water inter-relationship means that many of the consents currently assessed as part of the groundwater allocation block will actually have a significant proportion of the take in the surface water allocation block due to stream depletion effects. Though the allocation block is not currently full, there are real environmental concerns with allocation in shallow aquifers. The shallow aquifers recharge quickly, but have little storage, hence can experience period of high, followed by low water levels in a short period of time. The allocation limits assess groundwater abstractions over a year, and do not take short-term supply problems caused by localised lack of recharge into account.
Other available information sources
These reports may be used to provide a full description of groundwater resources in this area. They may include information that will be of use in a consent application, but are not necessarily a comprehensive list.
- Aitchison-Earl, P., Davey, G., Ettema, M., McKerchar, A., Scott, D., Smith, E., and Weeber, J.
'State of the Canterbury Region Water Resource October 2004' (pdf 3.83 MB), U04/101
- Aitchison-Earl, 2001 'Rangitata-Orari Deep Groundwater Review' Environment Canterbury Unpublished Technical Report U02/71.
- Brown, L. J, 2000, 'Groundwaters of the Canterbury Region' Environment Canterbury Report R00/10.
- de Joux, R.T. 1988, 'An assessment of the groundwater resources within the Opihi River Catchment' South Canterbury Catchment Board and Regional Water Board Publication No 55.
- McEwan, G, 2002., 'The Hydrogeology of the Orari River Shallow Aquifer: MSc Summary', University of Canterbury U02/02
- Scarf, F. 2003: Low flow of the mainstem and tributaries of the Orari and Temuka Rivers and Ohapi Stream. Environment Canterbury Unpublished Technical Report U03/38.
- Environmental Consultancy Services, 1995, Groundwater Issues and Investigations within the Opihi Catchment. Canterbury Regional Council Unpublished Technical Report U95/33.
- Environmental Consultancy Services, 1997, 'Rangitata-Temuka Groundwater Review, Issues and Recommended Future Investigations' Canterbury Regional Council Unpublished Technical Report U97/34.
- Scott, D, Callander, P, Pattle Delamore Partners, 1995, Effect of Groundwater Abstraction on Surface Water Flows in the Opihi River Catchment U95/37
Allocation history
Effective allocation
30 August 2010
Effective Allocation (million m3): 69.60
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 98%
3 May 2010
Effective Allocation (million m3): 71.19
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 100%
7 December 2009
Effective Allocation (million m3): 70.31
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 99%
3 November 2009
Effective Allocation (million m3): 69.94
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 98%
3 August 2009
Effective Allocation (million m3): 69.19
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 97%
2 June 2009
Effective Allocation (million m3): 69.08
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 97%
9 February 2009
Effective Allocation (million m3): 69.14
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 97%
1 December 2008
Effective Allocation (million m3): 69.13
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 97%
3 November 2008
Effective Allocation (million m3): 68.79
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 97%
13 October 2008
Effective Allocation (million m3): 68.08
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 96%
8 September 2008
Effective Allocation (million m3): 68.00
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 95%
11 August 2008
Effective Allocation (million m3): 67.63
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 95%
7 July 2008
Effective Allocation (million m3): 66.84
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 94%
9 June 2008
Effective Allocation (million m3): 66.81
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 94%
12 May 2008
Effective Allocation (million m3): 67.19
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 94%
31 March 2008
Effective Allocation (million m3): 67.14
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 94%
3 March 2008
Effective Allocation (million m3): 67.49
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 95%
4 February 2008
Effective Allocation (million m3): 66.47
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 93%
3 December 2007
Effective Allocation (million m3): 66.30
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 93%
5 November 2007
Effective Allocation (million m3): 66.49
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 94%
1 October 2007
Effective Allocation (million m3): 66.47
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 93%
3 September 2007
Effective Allocation (million m3): 66.79
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 94%
23 July 2007
Effective Allocation (million m3): 67.91
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 96%
19 February 2007
Effective Allocation (million m3): 68.06
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 96%
19 February 2007
Effective Allocation (million m3): 68.00
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 95.63%
5 December 2006
Effective Allocation (million m3): 67.81
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 95.4%
16 October 2006
Effective Allocation (million m3): 69.17
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 97%
18 September 2006
Effective Allocation (million m3): 69.15
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 97%
29 June 2005
Effective Allocation (million m3): 60.26
Reason for Change: Effective allocation recalculated using a revised table of irrigation standards to address concerns with Schedule WQN9 of Chapter 5 NRRP, as approved by the Water Allocation Panel
Source: Consents database live-read on 29 June 2005
Proportion Allocated: 85.00%
29 October 2004
Effective Allocation (million m3): 58.01
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database
Proportion Allocated: 81.59%
11 October 2004
Effective Allocation (million m3): 53.02
Reason for Change: Consents update.
Source: Consents database
Proportion Allocated: 74.57%
26 July 2004
Effective Allocation (million m3): 52.7
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database
Proportion Allocated: 74.12%
23 January 2004
Effective Allocation (million m3): 50.8
Reason for Change: This is the first estimate made
Source: Report U04/02 (Table 6.2)
Proportion Allocated: 71.45%
Allocation limit
23 January 2004
Allocation Limit (million m3): 71.1
Reason for Change: This is the first estimate made
Source: Report U04/02 (Table 6.2)