Groundwater is a source of recharge for lakes, rivers, and wetlands. It's found underground in the spaces and cracks in the soil, sand, and rock and it moves slowly through geologic formations called aquifers.
October 2023
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October 2023
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May 2023
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March 2021
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November 2017
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The groundwater basins in South Otago, including Pomahaka, Clydevale, Wairuna, and Kuriwao, are mainly made up of weathered rock and clay-bound gravels. These basins have aquifers managed as unconfined systems, with different water flow rates and characteristics. Changes in management and protection measures are suggested based on these findings.
July 2014
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The Otago Region Council (ORC) is responsible for managing Otago’s water resources on behalf of the Crown and the community. The basin investigations that ORC conducts from time to time for the 20-plus groundwater areas around Otago are important building blocks in delivering informed water resource management.
March 2014
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The purpose of this report is to investigate the flows required to maintain the habitat of the fish species in the Benger Burn and to recommend a sustainable allocation limit for the Ettrick Basin Aquifer.
October 2012
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The Cromwell Terrace Aquifer, close to Lake Dunstan, is an important water source formed from merging gravel terraces. The aquifer's water level rose significantly after Lake Dunstan was created in 1993. Testing showed that water moves easily through the aquifer in the Cromwell area.
October 2012
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South Dunedin was originally coastal land reclaimed for urban use, with a shallow water table close to the surface, comprising sandy aquifers connected to the sea, making it susceptible to rising sea levels, as confirmed by recent drilling investigations and groundwater modeling.
September 2012
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The Alexandra groundwater basin includes four aquifers situated in glacial outwash, alluvial fans, or flood plains, with the Earnscleugh Terrace and Dunstan Flats aquifers originating from glacial outwash but differing in their proximity to the Clutha River.
March 2012
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This study has successfully used the aerial geophysical data to delineate groundwater drilling targets in the Ida Valley. Exploratory drilling into the Tertiary sediments has shown the existence of productive groundwater-bearing horizons in the south-western part of the Poolburn catchment.
December 2011
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Rainfall is a primary source of groundwater replenishment in Otago, with this report estimating recharge for 13 groundwater basins to inform allocation assessments in the Regional Plan: Water, utilizing a soil moisture model with data from NIWA and Landcare Research, archived in ORC's Hilltop database.
December 2010
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The Bendigo-Tarras groundwater basin faces increasing demand for irrigation water in its dry climate. Groundwater is found within Quaternary and Tertiary sediments, with varying permeability levels. Geophysical data, including cross-sections and spatial maps, helped define the basin's depth and identify low permeability silts underlying the area.
2010
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The Bendigo-Tarras groundwater basin faces increasing demand for irrigation water in its dry climate. Groundwater is found within Quaternary and Tertiary sediments, with varying permeability levels. Geophysical data, including cross-sections and spatial maps, helped define the basin's depth and identify low permeability silts underlying the area.
August 2010
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This technical study assesses environmental impacts using available data, offering insights for future policy decisions following comprehensive public consultation on socio-economic factors. Groundwater pumping in the Lower Taieri Basin.
December 2009
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This summary covers the context and findings of an investigation that was conducted in 2008 and 2009 for the Lower Taieri Basin.
April 2009
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The council monitors 101 bores throughout the region. The water quality results vary depending on location, age and depth of the bore and connection with surface water.
April 2009
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Groundwater levels (groundwater hydrographs) give a good indication of the state of groundwater quantity. Looking for long-term trends in the groundwater levels indicates if a system is reaching its sustainable abstraction limit.
December 2008
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Otago Regional Council (ORC) manages groundwater quality in terms of its responsibility under the Resource Management Act and has been monitoring ambient groundwater quality in groundwater intensive areas throughout Otago since 1995.
December 2008
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The groundwater bearing volcanic marine sediments surrounding Oamaru have been classified under a variety of names and hydrogeological schemes. This study has chosen to group the variously associated sediments, such as tuff, limestone, basalt, siltstone and diatomite, into a single aquifer unit named the North Otago Volcanic Aquifer (the Aquifer).
December 2006
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This report summarises knowledge about groundwater in the Ettrick Basin, and recommends the introduction of integrated water management to achieve sustainable management of both the aquifer and to provide protection of the Benger Burn.
August 2006
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This report provides an analysis of groundwater quality monitoring in the Kingston and Glenorchy areas over the 2002-2003 period, as well as results of preliminary groundwater investigations by J K Lindqvist Research for the Otago Regional Council during 1996-1997. Houses in Kingston have individual wells for water supply whereas Glenorchy has a community water supply now, which is sourced from one well adjacent to the Buckler Burn.
October 2005
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This report summarises knowledge about groundwater in the Alexandra Basin and recommends further work focused on improving water allocation.
December 2023
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March 2021
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May 2023
PDF | 8 MB
June 2024
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This report provides an overview of the current natural and regulatory context that will inform the development of the Toitū Te Hakapupu – Pleasant River Catchment Management Plan (CMP).
November 2023
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June 2024
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If you or your business work with concrete, lime or cement products, this guide helps you to make sure your activities do not result in air, land or water pollution.
June 2024
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Groundwater contamination is a serious risk that can result in significant adverse health, environmental, and economic effects.
May 2022
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March 2023
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November 2022
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November 2023
PDF | 132 KB
October 2023
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November 2023
PDF | 747 KB
August 2023
PDF | 538 KB
November 2022
PDF | 708 KB
October 2022
PDF | 985 KB
October 2022
PDF | 3 MB
