Waikato regional economic profile - Waikato Regional Council

6.6 WaterFreshwater is important for the region’s economic, social, cultural and environmentalwellbeing. The freshwater resource, including ground water, is used in many ways.Uses include:domestic, industrial and community water supply and irrigation;electricity generation;absorbing contaminants; andrecreation such as swimming, duck shooting, boating, fishing or simply enjoyingbeing near the water.Māori have strong cultural, traditional and historic links with our wetlands and inlandwaterways. These freshwater resources are spiritually significant and closely linked tothe identities of the tangata whenua (people of the land). 334The region contains five major rivers, including the Waikato River, New Zealand’slongest river and sixth largest by mean annual discharge.6.6.1 AllocationWater is already over-allocated in some catchments. It was noted by WRC in 2010 that510 groundwater takes consumed 430,000 cubic metres per day and 570 surfacewater consents consumed 1.36 million cubic metres per day.The Waikato, Waihou and Piako rivers have the highest allocation levels. Every drop ofwater in the Waikato River is utilised at least seven times before flowing out to sea.This includes hydro power generation, cooling of Huntly thermal power station and theWairakei geothermal power station.The continued increase in demand for fresh water for irrigation and municipal uses isthe main pressure on allocation of the region’s fresh water. More droughts, predictedfor the east of the region, will intensify this pressure. Future population growth in theCoromandel will place further pressure on the Peninsula’s small streams. The WaikatoRiver will most likely meet increases in demand from Auckland city for water. 335Figure 104 shows the amount of the primary allocable flow allocated as at May 2012.334Waikato Regional Council (2011i) Rivers.335Waikato Regional Council (2010, p. 80).Page 96 Doc #: 2069885