Agricultural effluent disposal

Agricultural effluent is a term that includes wastewater and washdown from dairysheds, piggeries and other places where livestock are kept in large numbers. In our regional plans, agricultural effluent is defined as "treated and untreated effluent collected during the management of livestock".

Disposal of effluent collected from livestock is controlled in our regional plans because it can result in pollution of land, water, and air (by spray droplets). Rules about agricultural effluent disposal apply only when a person discharges the effluent, for example after hosing down the milking parlour or emptying out the piggery pens. The rules do not apply to discharges from the animals themselves!

Dairy InSight have a manual Dairying and the Environment - Managing Farm Dairy Effluent - 2006 . The manual was prepared to help dairy farmers and farm management specialists with the practical, effective, safe and legal management of farm dairy effluent. They also have information covering Waste Management, Soils, Nutrient Management, Irrigation, Feedpad & Standoff Facilities, Farm Tracks & Races, Chemical Storage & Disposal .

Using or discharging composted agricultural effluent is not restricted under any regional plan, and is allowed as of right provided there is no consequential discharge to water. However, if the compost contains any human faecal matter it cannot be discharged to land or water without a discharge permit (see Activity page Sewage Treatment and Disposal).

The discharge of artificial fertiliser, such as super phosphate, onto or into land is a Permitted Activity ( Rule 12 of the Regional Plan for Discharges to Land). If the fertiliser contains any human faecal matter it cannot be discharged to land or water without a discharge permit (see Activity page Sewage Treatment and Disposal).

Discharges of agricultural effluent to land are controlled in the Regional Plan for Discharges to Land. Discharges to fresh water are controlled in the Regional Freshwater Plan. Discharges to air are controlled in the Regional Air Quality Management Plan.

Discharges to land

Rule 13 Your Link of the Regional Plan for Discharges to Land requires a discharge permit for discharges into or onto land of agricultural effluent from dairy sheds, piggeries, poultry farms, and other premises where livestock are kept. This is a controlled activity. Discharges of factory farm effluent to land require an air discharge permit as well. See "discharges to air" below.

Rule 2 of the Regional Plan for Discharges to Land requires a discharge permit for discharges of agricultural effluent that do not comply with the standards in Rule 13. This is a discretionary activity discretionary activity.

Discharges to air

Rule 4 of the Regional Air Quality Management Plan permits discharges of contaminants to air from the management, treatment and disposal of agricultural effluent, provided the discharge complies with conditions stated in the rule. This rule does not apply to discharges from factory farms.

Rule 23 of the Regional Air Quality Management Plan requires a discharge permit for any discharge of agricultural effluent that does not comply with the conditions in Rule 4, for the management of factory farm effluent, and for discharges to air from buildings at factory farms used to house animals. This is a discretionary activity.

Discharges to fresh water

Rule 5 of the Regional Freshwater Plan requires a discharge permit to discharge agricultural effluent to water. This is a discretionary activity.