Print view

State of the Environment freshwater monitoring programme

Rivers and Streams Water Quality Programme

On this page: 

What is the Rivers & Streams Water Quality Programme?

This programme monitors the amount of contaminants in some streams throughout the Auckland region. In its current form, this programme began in 1986. It gives us a good idea of the water quality in each of these streams.

Another programme, the Freshwater Ecology Programme, enables us to assess the biological health and physical condition of the streams.

When the results from both programmes are combined, they indicate the overall health of each stream and its physical, chemical, and biological condition.

This helps us to identify any short-term changes and long-term trends in the quality of the water and the condition of the stream so that, if necessary, we can try and fix any problems.

This programme is part of our responsibility under Section 35 of the Resource Management Act.

How Does It Work?

Rivers and streams receive their water in several ways;

  • directly from rain,
  • from surface runoff draining off the surrounding land,
  • from the groundwater that seeps into them.

Any of these water sources may contain contaminants that pollute the waterway and can eventually reach the sea.

The water quality is checked monthly at the 31 sites shown on the map below.

River and stream water quality monitoring sites 2009 (1.6 MB PDF)

Together, these sites are a good representation of all the streams and the different catchment types (native bush, exotic forest, rural, and urban) within the Auckland region.

Detailed results for each site are shown in annual reports that are available from our Technical Publications. A five yearly summary showing the state and trends in our rivers and streams is also produced.

Continue to Lakes Water Quality Programme