Reviews

In accordance with 21 (1) (a-c) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water:

This effluent plan was prepared in February 2024 and will be reviewed by February 2025 with the results noted in this section with changes recorded automatically.  The contents of this Effluent Management Plan are available to the regional council on written request.

Location and Ownership

In accordance with 21 (2) (a-e) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

The physical location of the farm where the effluent system is located is 1048 Weston-Ngapara Road Ngapara-Weston and the effluent is applied to the same address. Refer to the legal descriptions below for full details.

Land Owner:

Clydesdale Dairy Farming Ltd
PO Box 16343
Hornby
Christchurch 8441  

Person in Charge:

Francois Tillard
027 357 2718

Legal descriptions:

LOT 1 DP 506271 SECS 99 103 PT SEC 102 BLK IX AWAMOKO SD 

Existing Consents

RM22.442.01 Intensive Winter Grazing Land Use Consent

RM20.225.02 Dam Water Permit

RM20.225.04 Discharge to Water Permit (for dam)

RM20.225.03.V1 Surface Water Take Permit

Map

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (e) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water.

Effluent Discharge Area: 140.6ha. 

The system features gravity feed from the shed and feed pad through two settling ponds to the storage pond. 

From the sump the effluent can be screened and filtered to inject into the irrigation system through one of three zones. 

Effluent is also used to operate the yard wash.

Safety features include pump cut out for low pressure or high/low flow, and the irrigation system has back flow preventers.

The dairy shed makes use of recycled cooler water for wash down to minimise effluent quantity. Nozzles in the shed are operated at the lowest pressure and flow at which they can be effective

No effluent is to be discharged within:

• 20m of the farm boundary (or further if necessary) in conditions where spray drift will cross the farm boundary

• 50m of any surface watercourse - particular care to be taken on heavier soils near Waiareka Creek, and near Critical Source Areas (CSA's) and subsurface drainage that leads the ponds or creek.

• 100m of any water abstraction point - particular care to be taken around neighbouring irrigation well J48/0848.

• 200m of place of dwelling or assembly not on the property - in particular Ray and Janice Walker's.

Cows: Up to 900 cows milking twice a day during the season and 700 cows per day for winter milking.

Soils

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (e) (iv) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

Soil Types and Risk Profiles

Click here to access the S - Map for Clydesdale. The effluent application area consists of mainly Timaru Soils which are high risk FDE Category B land, with some Mayfield Soils which are low risk FDE Category D land, and Bobbing Soils which are low risk FDE Category D. The effluent application area for Clydesdale has over 10km of subsurface drainage which cannot be avoided by irrigators so all of these areas are high risk FDE Category A. 

According to Dairy NZ industry best practice the maximum effluent irrigation depth allowed in all of these soils is 25mm through low rate application when a soil water deficit is identified that is greater than the application rate. This is achieved by application using low rate tools, specifically centre pivots which apply as little as 1.5mm and up to 10mm Bucket tests are used to verify application rates and soil moisture deficit is determined a minimum of 24 hours after rain by a calibrated probe. The application rate must not result in exceeding Field Capacity.

• Timu_1

  • Moderately deep silt loam.

  • Imperfectly drained.

  • High profile available water (55mm).

  • FDE risk category B

• Mayf_1

  • Deep silt loam.

  • Moderately well drained.

  • Moderate profile available water (47mm).

  • FDE risk category D.

• Bobb_4

  • Deep silt loam.

  • Imperfectly drained.

  • High profile available water (56mm)

  • FDE risk Category D

Subsurface Drains

Known subsurface drains are located on the map above and are high risk FDE Category A. To mitigate the risk of effluent application to the soil above the drains effluent is only applied where a soil moisture deficit exists that is greater than the application rate of the irrigator to a maximum of 25mm per application as verified by bucket testing. A 50m effluent exclusion zone applies to all waterways, and effluent is applied in diluted form. The effluent pump has low pressure and high/low flow cut outs to detect and stop any leakage in the system.

Critical Source Areas

Critical source areas are shown on the map above. Mitigation of the effluent application risk is achieved by applying the same management as with subsurface drains described above.

Operational Procedures and Maintenance

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (f) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

The effluent pump is maintained monthly as part of the dairy shed inspection. For major issues that can't be repaired in-house the relevant engineer, electrician or water professional is called by Francois.

All maintenance and repairs are recorded.

Operation

1. Establish there is a soil moisture deficit using the soil moisture meter. This doesn't need to be done every time - only if there has been rain since the last reading. Do not apply effluent if there is already ponding, if cows will graze it within 24 hours, or if the ground is frozen or covered in snow.

2. Select application area to maximise an even rotation around the entire effluent area then check that effluent will not enter a waterway - including over land, directly or indirectly or through storm water or pipe. Only apply effluent within the effluent area on the map above.

3. Consider wind direction to prevent effluent spray or odour leaving the boundary. Do not apply effluent within 50m of the boundary upwind of the boundary in more than fifteen knots of wind.

4. Check the irrigator is set up, including that drag hose bends have a radius of 1.5m to prevent kinking.

5. Start pump. Listen for unusual noise which may indicate a fault.

6. Inspect system as detailed below.

7. Record effluent application.

Minimisation of Effluent

• Limit flow on D gate to minimum.

• Pre-wet concrete ahead of milking to speed up hose down at the end.

• Cooler water used for washdown.

Risks

• • All paddocks have slopes which can cause potential run-off. Pivots and timers to be adjusted for application depth according to soil moisture.

  • Subsurface drainage risks carrying effluent to waterways. Risk mitigation is described above.

  • The Waiareka Creek runs through the property and there are three ponds. To mitigate the risk of accidental discharge to water effluent is not applied within 50m of waterways.

  • Critical Source Areas run through the effluent discharge areas. Risk mitigation is described above.

Solids

• Solids are spread annually, and cannot be spread on the same area more than once every two months, preferably by incorporating into cultivation of land.

• Solids are not spread onto land when the soil moisture exceeds field capacity; or within 20 metres of waterways, or the farm boundary. 

• Solids are also not spread where previous applications are still visible on the ground, or where soil moisture exceeds field capacity.

• Hazardous substances, hazardous waste and human effluent is not to be added to the effluent system.

Inspection, Monitoring and Reporting

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (g) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

Inspections

Inspect the system for leaks, ponding and run off each time the pump is started up and in between shifts. Weak points are at the manifold, the hydrants and the feeder hose. Check for kinks in the hose, holes, leaks or blowouts. Check that the sprinklers are under pressure and turning normally. Check that sprinklers located lower than the pump are not siphoning after the pump is off. Leaks, ponding, run off and flow through drainage can cause the effluent to enter a waterway which must not occur. Check that the irrigator is set to an appropriate setting less than the soil moisture deficit.

As part of the monthly shed inspection check the area below the storage pond for wet patches, areas of grass that are greener than the grass surrounding it or any other signs of leaking from the pond. Include a check of the stone traps to ensure they aren't becoming blocked.

Bucket tests are completed every three years on the irrigators to verify application depth and rate.

Inspections, audits and certificates from North Otago Irrigation Company, Fonterra and Otago Regional Council are kept on record.

Monitoring

In addition to the checks after start up staff are to check the same components while the effluent is running when they are passing the irrigator, and at least once a day.

All staff are to report any odour from the system if it reaches the farm boundary, or if any complaints are received about the effluent system including odour.

Reporting

When a leak, ponding or run off are discovered the pump must be turned off immediately and the fault reported to Francois within half an hour. Where possible the problem should be fixed immediately and recorded.

For major issues that can't be repaired in-house Francois will contact an engineer, electrician or water professional as required.

Effluent applications are recorded and reported at audits for NOIC, ORC and Fonterra.

Pond Drop Test Records

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (h) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

Date of last test: 5th July 2022

Date next test is due: 5th July 2027

The effluent pond meets the permitted activity criteria.

Drop Test Report
Drop Test Graph
Visual Inspection
Dairy Effluent Storage Calculator to be linked.

Contingency Measures

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (i) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

The effluent system has several measures to prevent discharges to water:

• Staff training

• Monitoring

• Low pressure, and high/low flow automatic pump cut out.

• Low rate application systems.

• Large storage pond. We never know when we will need to pump to storage or when we can empty the storage so we use every opportunity to lower the level of the storage pond and apply to the paddocks. If there is effluent in storage and the soil has the appropriate soil water deficit to irrigate then lowering storage is a priority.

• Efficient water use in the shed creates less effluent.

Leak Response

In accordance with Schedule 21 (2) (j) of the Otago Regional Plan for Water

• When a leak, ponding or run off are discovered the pump must be turned off immediately and the fault reported to the Francois within half an hour. Where possible the problem should be fixed immediately and recorded.

• For major issues that can't be repaired in-house Francois will contact the relevant engineer, electrician or water professional.

• If a leak is detected in the effluent storage pond it must be emptied as soon as possible within the limits of the soil water deficit and the leak found and repaired.