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The Hekeao/Hinds catchment (our catchment) faces the pressures of reduced water quantity combined with reduced quality because of increased nitrate concentrations.

This situation is not unique to the catchment and represents an unforeseen consequence of historic farming practice alongside other community use of the water resource.

Plan Change 2 to Environment Canterbury's Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) includes the requirement to reduce on-farm nitrogen losses by 36% by 2035 and to reduce median annual shallow groundwater concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen to a target of less than 6.9 mg/l by 2035.

These requirements follow 2014 nitrate-nitrogen figures showing average annual shallow groundwater concentrations exceeding the New Zealand drinking water maximum acceptable value and being well above the 2035 target.

Additionally, the Freshwater National Policy Statement 2020 came into force on 3 September 2020. Its new requirements include managing freshwater to give effect to Te Mana o te Wai, improving degraded water bodies, and maintaining or improving all other freshwater sources.