2011 Monitoring Summary Groundwater Quantity

Groundwater is a key natural resource for Marlborough’s economic, social and ecological prosperity. Because of this, Council continually monitors its status. Council reports on this monitoring each spring. This is when aquifers are at full capacity and plans regarding how much is available for use over the coming summer can be made, together with a review of what effect abstraction during the previous summer had on groundwater supplies in relation to consented use.

Marlborough’s groundwater resources are in good shape heading into the 2011/12 summer irrigation season and there should be no regional scale shortages of groundwater or other issues up until the New Year at this stage. This reflects relatively low use since 2008, together with higher than average rainfall or river recharge, which has topped up the deeper aquifer system faster than model forecasts.