DOMESTIC USE
We all use water to drink, cook, and wash with.
The water we use needs to be clean and free of harmful germs, sediment and potentially harmful dissolved substances such as nitrate. And it needs to taste good too.
At present Canterbury’s domestic water all comes from bores. It’s cool and clear and totally safe to drink. In fact there’s probably no better water anywhere else in the world. But the supply is dwindling, and the risk of aquifer contamination is getting greater. One day soon we may have to start treating our water.
If you live in Christchurch or Canterbury, you probably notice whenever you travel to another city that the water tastes different - like it’s come from out of a swimming pool. This is because other cities have to take their water supply from rivers and reservoirs. That water has to be treated with chlorine before it is safe. We will have to do the same thing if our wells dry up and we have to start taking the water from rivers.
Many other countries have realised the folly of unsustainable water use, and have imposed rigorous environmental standards. The European Union introduced its Nitrate Directive in 1991 to arrest the growing contamination of water among member countries. New Zealand has no such directive. Even worse, our region’s water management plan won’t be ratified and fully operative at least until 20 years after legislation authorising its development was passed (The 1991 Resource Management Act). We are also at risk of being seen to be taking a large environmental subsidy for our agricultural exports which may encourage non-tariff barriers to be imposed by some importers of NZ produce.
RECREATION
Swimming, boating, fishing ….
There was once a special joy for many people in being able romp about, splash, or catch fish (not necessarily in that order) in any of Canterbury’s myriad lowland waterways. Tourists also relished our clean environment. For many people, there is a deep connection with the image of pure, running water and clean unpolluted lakes. The knowledge that they are there is enough, even if you rarely visit or use them. Many anglers, and canoeists develop a deep bond to a particular waterway. Families too. It becomes ‘their place’. Clean water contributes to people’s sense of well-being.
There are lots of places you can’t do these things anymore in Christchurch. Lowland streams are drying up. Remember when Coes Ford used to have lots of great swimming holes? When the Orari, the Hinds and the Selwyn Rivers were full of trout? These places and many more have all deteriorated owing to climate change or over-use of water.
Remember when Lake Georgina was a lake? When people used to be able to water ski on Lake Lyndon? These are further signs of declining rainfall and water availability.