kounga wai

Water Quality

Aroturuki Awa

Water Monitoring

Maintaining water quality is paramount for the health and sustainability of the catchment. With its network of streams, rivers, and wetlands, supporting overall habitat health is essential. Regular monitoring and proactive management practices have been implemented to mitigate pollution and contaminants, preserving the purity of our waterways and protecting the ecosystems they support.

Our Rivers & Streams

There are five main bodies of water within our catchment; the Ruaotehuia Stream, the Mangatangi River, the Ruato Stream, the Koteruato Stream and the Maramarua River. The waterways are home to an array of freshwater fish species, while the wetlands provide crucial habitat for birds and insects.

water quality

There are many variables to consider when looking at water quality. Using the latest technology, water is tested and compared against national and regional standards. There are five testing sites in the Mangatangi River and seven in the Maramarua River. Data is gathered four times a year and examines:

Turbidity/Flow
Water Clarity/Sediment
E.coli
Nitrates
Water Temperature

Each sample is compared to previous results and mapped against national and regional standards. The benchmark data and real-time stations will provide valuable insights to the group on the impact of environmental plans such as planting, fencing, and stock exclusions on water quality. Using this data, farmers can implement best practices and create freshwater farm plans based on science.

"UNDERSTANDING WHAT AFFECTS THE HEALTH OF OUR WATERWAYS, MONITORING ANY CHANGES, WILL DRIVE INFORMED ACTIONS"

- Robyn Budd

How we measure water health

GROUNDBREAKING ENVIRONMENTAL DNA TESTING (eDNA)

Understanding the biodiversity in a waterway has been revolutionised by Environmental DNA testing (eDNA). By collecting and analysing six samples from eight locations along the rivers, eDNA has allowed researchers to gain new and fascinating insights. Rather than handling potentially harmful organisms, eDNA tracks the genetic material left behind by any living organism as it moves around the waterway. As a result, this groundbreaking technology can identify thousands of species. For example, by analysing a single sample taken upstream of the Mangatangi marae, eDNA was able to detect up to 282 taxonomic groups, including 44 distinct species of insects, worms, mammals, plants, fish, birds, and molluscs. The remaining organisms were identified as microorganisms and other invertebrates.

How these results are used: