4.16 Wastewater network management
Introduction
The following provisions apply to the management of public and private wastewater networks. These rules do not address on-site discharges of wastewater from individual treatment systems, or discharges of wastewater directly to the CMA, both of which are covered Auckland-wide - On-site wastewater rules and the General Coastal Marine zone rules. 

Resource consent applications granted under the rules of this part are pursuant to s. 15 of the RMA.
1. Activity table
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The following table specifies the activity status of discharges from public and private wastewater networks via either planned or unplanned discharges of contaminants to land and/or water.

Activity

  Activity status
Discharge of untreated wastewater overflows from a wastewater network servicing new development areas and new wastewater networks within existing urban areas  P
Discharge of wastewater from wastewater networks by way of exfiltration  P
Discharge of untreated wastewater overflows from a wastewater network servicing new development areas and new wastewater networks within existing urban areas where the discharge does not comply with the permitted activity controls  C
Discharge of untreated wastewater overflows from an existing separated wastewater network servicing existing urban areas  C
Discharge of untreated wastewater overflows from an existing combined sewer network  RD
Discharge of treated wastewater from a wastewater treatment plant  D
Discharge of wastewater from a private wastewater network  D
Any other discharge of wastewater from a network that does not comply with the permitted, controlled or restricted discretionary activity controls  NC
2. Controls
2.1 Permitted activities
A permitted activity that does not comply with the controls below is a discretionary activity unless otherwise specified. 
2.1.1 Discharge of wastewater from a public wastewater network servicing new development areas and new wastewater networks within existing urban areas
1. The network must be designed and constructed so that:
a. capacity is provided for at least five times the average dry weather flow from the maximum probable development of the serviced network area at the time the network is constructed
b. all pump stations must be designed for a minimum of four hours storage, in the pump station or the network
c. all pump stations must be continuously monitored by telemetry so that the wastewater network operator is immediately informed of any pump station failure or fault that may result in an overflow.
2. The network must be designed and operated to prevent dry weather overflows during normal operation of the network, and the network operator has an operational and maintenance programme in place that minimises unforeseen dry weather overflows to the environment.
3. A wastewater network operations plan must be prepared, and implemented, which provides:
a. a description of the network
b. maintenance procedures and levels of service for key elements of the network
c. operations procedures including response to system failures, and overflow events.
d. monitoring and reporting procedures.
4. Engineered overflow points must be designed and located so that any discharges from them generate a minimum of nuisance, damage, public health risk and ecological effects and must not cause scouring and erosion at the point of discharge.
2.1.2 Discharge of wastewater from public wastewater networks by way of exfiltration
1. The discharge must not render any potable water source unsuitable for human consumption, as defined in the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards 1995.
2. The network utility operator must have a programme in place to determine the general extent of exfiltration within the network and identify areas of proportionally high exfiltration.
3. The network utility operator must implement an operations and maintenance programme aimed at the progressive reduction, where practicable, of wastewater exfiltration.
2.2 Controlled activities
2.2.1 Discharge of wastewater from a wastewater network servicing new development areas and new wastewater networks within existing urban areas
1. The network must be designed and operated so it does not overflow other than in emergency overflow situations.
2.2.2 Discharge of wastewater from existing public separated wastewater networks servicing urban areas
1. A programme must be in place to reduce network overflows to an average of no more than two events per discharge location per annum by 2040.
2. Emergency overflow points must be designed and located so that any discharges generate a minimum of nuisance, damage, public health risk, and ecological effects and do not cause scouring and erosion at the point of discharge.
3. A wastewater network operations plan must be prepared, and implemented, which provides:
a. a description of the wastewater network
b. maintenance procedures and levels of service for key elements of the network
c. operations procedures including response to system failures, incidents and significant overflow events
d. monitoring and reporting procedures.
4. All pump stations must be continuously monitored by telemetry so that the wastewater network operator is immediately informed of any pump station failure or fault that may result in an overflow.
5. The wastewater collection network must be designed and operated to prevent dry weather overflows during normal operation of the network, and the network operator has an operational and maintenance programme in place that minimises unforeseen dry weather overflows to the environment.
2.3 Restricted discretionary activities
2.3.1 Discharge of wastewater from a combined sewer network
1. A wastewater network operations plan must be prepared, and implemented, which provides:
a. a description of the wastewater network
b. maintenance procedures and levels of service for key elements of the network
c. operations procedures including response to system failures and significant overflow events
d. monitoring and reporting procedures.
2. All pump stations must be continuously monitored by telemetry so that the wastewater network operator is immediately informed of any pump station failure or fault that may result in an overflow.
3. The network operator must have an operational and maintenance programme in place that minimises unforeseen dry weather overflows to the environment.
3. Assessment - Controlled activities
3.1 Matters of control
Council will restrict its control to the following matters when assessing controlled activity resource consent applications.

1. The discharge of wastewater from a wastewater network servicing new development areas and new wastewater networks within existing urban areas
a. the management of the wastewater discharge and the mitigation of any adverse effects associated with the permitted activity controls that are unable to be met
b. the mitigation of potential adverse effects arising from wastewater overflows, including those on potable water supplies and public health
c. associated monitoring and reporting
d. the duration of the consent and the timing and nature of reviews of consent conditions.
2. The discharge of wastewater from a public separated wastewater network servicing existing urban areas
a. implementation of the overflow reduction programme
b. the mitigation of any adverse effects associated with the discharges, including effects on potable water supplies and public health
c. implementation of the wastewater network operations plan and the operational and maintenance programme
d. associated monitoring and reporting
e. the duration of the consent and the timing and nature of reviews of consent conditions.
3.2 Assessment criteria
1. The extent to which the overflow reduction programme and the network operations plan and operational and maintenance programme:
a. are the best practicable option for preventing or minimising adverse effects
b. adequately address wastewater discharges generated as a result of potential urban growth, urban redevelopment, and land use intensification within the catchment, taking into account the growth and intensification provisions of the Unitary Plan
c. prevent or minimise adverse effects on public health, potable water supplies, freshwater and coastal waters
d. take account of consultation undertaken, including engagement with Mana Whenua, on priorities and timing of overflow reductions.
2. Consultation undertaken on priorities and timing of overflow reductions.
4. Assessment - Restricted discretionary activities
4.1 Matters of discretion
1. The discharge of wastewater from a combined sewer network
a. the best practicable option for preventing or minimising the adverse effects of the wastewater discharges
b. the implementation and ongoing maintenance of measures and works necessary to give effect to the best practicable option
c. implementation of the wastewater network operations plan and the operational and maintenance programme
d. associated monitoring and reporting
e. the duration of the consent and the timing and nature of reviews of consent conditions.
4.2 Assessment criteria
1. The discharge of wastewater from a combined sewer network
2. The extent to which the proposed BPO
a. prevents or minimises adverse effects particularly on public health, safety and amenity, potable water supplies, Mana Whenua values, freshwater systems and coastal waters;
b. provides for wastewater discharges generated as a result of potential urban growth, urban redevelopment, and land use intensification within the catchment, taking into account the growth and intensification provisions of the Unitary Plan;
c. progressively reduces overflows and associated adverse effects, and the priorities and timeframes for doing so, having particular regard to:
i. areas of contact recreation and public use
ii. receiving environments that are sensitive to the adverse effects of wastewater overflows
iii. areas with high Mana Whenua values
d. takes account of consultation with key stakeholders, including Mana Whenua and the community
e. considers potential impacts on stormwater management
3. Whether the operations and maintenance plans and programmes provided will ensure the effective operation of the combined sewer network and minimise dry weather discharges.
4. Whether the response procedures and processes provided will mitigate the adverse effects of overflows.