Contents

Reviews

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

This effluent plan was prepared in September 2026 and will be reviewed by September 2027 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 117 Irvine Rd and the effluent is applied to the same address. Refer to the legal descriptions below for full details.

Farm Owner

G & V Purvis Ltd

117 Irvine Rd, 

Herbert 

9495

gvpurvis@farmside.co.nz

Person in Charge

Grant Purvis

0274 977 091

Legal Descriptions
Lot 1 DP 555592 

Lot 2 DP 361264 

Lot 3 DP 344177 

Lot 1 DP 478315 

Lot 2 DP 450955 

Sections 7, 25, 49, 51 - 53, 62, 69, Part Sections 50, 58, 60 & 61, 63, 64, 70, 76 - 79 Block VI Otepopo SD 

Existing Consents

RM11.101.01 To discharge odour to air for the purpose of operating a dairy effluent storage pond. Expiry Date 13/4/2046.

RM22.461.01 & .02 Use of land for intensive winter grazing. Expiry Date 1/11/2032.

RM24.617.01 To discharge animal effluent to land for the purpose of operating a dairy farm. Expiry Date 15/11/2034.

RM20.162.01 To take and use ground water for the purpose of irrigation. Expiry Date 8/4/2037.

Map

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

Total Farm Area: 507.13ha

Effluent Discharge Area: 402ha through pivot, tanker, travelling irrigator, K line and pods.

Effluent is collected from the dairy and is collected in the effluent pond.

From the pond the effluent can be pumped directly to the irrigators.

No effluent is to be discharged within:

• 50m of any surface watercourse.

• 50m of any subsurface drainage.

• 100m of any water abstraction point.

• 200m of place of dwelling or assembly not on the property.

Cows: 3150 

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 the farm. The effluent application area consists mainly of Claremont soils which are high risk FDE Category C land. According to Dairy NZ industry best practice the maximum effluent irrigation depth allowed is 10mm when a soil water deficit is identified that is greater than the application rate. This is achieved by application using low rate tools as the first option, specifically pivots and large effluent pods which can apply a custom amount depending on how long it runs in the same spot or how the pivot is set. Effluent tankers are not currently used but they are a high rate option and a travelling irrigator is also used.

Bucket tests are used to verify application rates and soil moisture deficit is determined a minimum of 24 hours after rain. The application rate must not result in exceeding Field Capacity.

• Clar_1a.1

  • Moderately deep silt loam.

  • Poorly drained.

  • High profile available water (57mm).

  • FDE risk category C.

Subsurface Drains

No subsurface drains are known in the effluent area.

Critical Source Areas

Critical source areas are excluded from the effluent application area to the extent shown above. There is total exclusion with a 10m buffer for some CSA's with higher risk. Application to lower risk CSA's is undertaken when soil moisture deficit allows.

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 contact Waterforce.

Electrical issues are to be referred to Mark Perniskie at RES Otago Ltd.

All maintenance and repairs are recorded in the Whatsapp group.

ORC Fact sheets provide guidance for staff.

Operational Procedures

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, on the fastest setting and that drag hose bends have a radius of 1.5m to prevent kinking.

5. Start pump and set the timer for a maximum of 4 hours. Listen for unusual noise which may indicate a fault.

6. Inspect system as detailed below.

7. Record effluent application in the Whatsapp group.

Minimisation of Effluent

• Limit unnecessary hosing.

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

• Cooler water is recycled for wash water.

Risks

• • Paddocks have slopes which can cause potential run-off. 

  • Water troughs to be avoided.

  • Effluent area has been designed to reduce the risk of neighbours experiencing odour. Do not irrigate effluent when wind will carry odour across the boundary.

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. 

• 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 hydrants and hoses. Check for kinks in hoses, holes, leaks or blowouts. Check that the nozzles are under pressure, the irrigator is operating normally. Leaks, ponding, run off and flow through drainage can cause the effluent to enter a waterway which must not occur.

As part of the monthly shed inspection check the area around 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.

Monitoring

In addition to the checks after start up staff are to check the same components while the effluent is running if they are passing the irrigator during the day.

All staff are to report any odour from the system to the farm owner 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 the farm owner within half an hour. Where possible the problem should be fixed immediately and recorded.

Effluent applications are recorded in the Whatsapp group and reported at audits.

Pond Drop Test Records

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

Date of last test: 4th October 2024

Date next test is due: 4th October 2029

Drop Test Certificate
Visual Inspection
DESC

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/high flow automatic pump cut out.

• Timer.

• 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 drain effluent out of storage and apply to the paddocks. If there is effluent in storage and the soil has the appropriate soil water deficit to irrigate then emptying storage is a priority.

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 farm owner within half an hour. Where possible the problem should be fixed immediately and recorded.

• 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.

Effluent Complaint Record

A register of effluent complaints must be available to the Otago Regional Council on request. If a complaint is received use this form to collect the following information:

(a) The date, time, location, and nature of the complaint

(b) The name, phone number and address of the complainant – unless the complainant elects not to supply, this information

(c ) Action taken by the consent holder to remedy the situation and any policies or methods put in place to avoid or mitigate the problem occurring again.