- Longest river in Aotearoa at 425km.
- Catchment area: 14,258km2.
- Source: Central North Island volcanoes of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro.
- Flows northwest to enter Tasman Sea just south of Auckland.
- Descends 307m from Lake Taupo to Te Puaha o Waikato.
- Water at Lake Taupo is classified as excellent but the Lower Waikato is nutrient-rich. (Algae grow rapidly in nutrient–rich water and block the light. Nutrient-rich water is murky and is generally caused through nutrient input from soil, agriculture and pollution on land).
- Over 80 point source discharges to the main stem alone, that is 80 sources discharge directly into the Waikato River.
- A further 1,600 discharges to it's tributaries (streams, branches and offshoots).
- Tributaries: There are some 300 ranging from semi-permanent trickles to the major tributary, the Waipa River.
- 472 resource consents take nearly 250.6 million m3 of surface water per day (enough water to fill around 100,000 Olympic Swimming Pools).
- Virtually all is used for non-consumptive purposes (i.e. more likely use for cooling water for industry or similar).
- Most storm water drains empty directly into the river without any treatment.
- Mighty River Power has eight hydro dams along the river's length.
- Nuisance aquatic plants and phytoplankton are encouraged because water is held in the hydro lakes.
- 22 communities plus Watercare Services Ltd, use the river for drinking supply.
- Watercare Services Ltd is entitled to take 150,000m3 per day (which is equivalent to 150 million litres every day).
- At full capacity, the river will provide 15% of Auckland 's water supply.
- Energy supplier Contact Energy Ltd, discharges an approximate daily loading of 210kg of arsenic via the Waitakarei plant (almost 12 buckets of poison a day).
- Used for discharging of treated sewage, storm water and water supply for Franklin, Waikato, Waipaa and South Waikato District Councils and the Hamilton City Council.
- Non-point discharges (such as farm effluent run off) constitute 80% of discharges. The waste of the 3,000 dairy herds in the Waikato River catchment, equals that of about 5 million people.
- Hamilton sewage makes up 9% of the sewage put in the river.
"Spiritually the Waikato River is constant, enduring and perpetual. It brings us peace in times of stress, relieves us from illness and pain, cleanses and purifies our bodies and souls from the many problems that surround us."
––Te Kaapo Tuwhakaea Clark
Claims and Environment Unit
Waikato-Tainui Te Kauhanganui Incorporated
451 Old Taupiri Road, Hopuhopu,
Private Bag 542, Ngaaruawaahia
Freephone: 0800 TAINUI
Telephone: +64 7 824 8689
Fax: +64 7 824 5667
|
Home
