Rural Land drainage
Rural land drainage is necessary to reduce surface flooding from rainfall and allow landowners to manage the groundwater level on their property.
Waipā District Council has responsibility for the bulk of rural drainage int he district, excluding a portion around the peat lakes in Ōhaupō and north of Hautapu which remains as Waikato Regional Council catchment management.
Part of Council's role is to ensure there is an effective rural land drainage system within the Waipā District in association with private landowners to a community agreed standard.
Under bylaw provisions, there are two types of rural land drains:
- Private drains - Land drains constructed and maintained by property owners chiefly for
their own (and in some locations their adjacent property owners) benefit.
- Public drains - Land
drains identified as being critical assets for land drainage and are regularly
maintained by Waipā District Council or Waikato Regional Council.
Public drain areas include areas where we have resource consents, historic agreements in place, or flood protection that requires active involvement. These include:
- Te Kawa Drainage Area - Administered by Ōtorohanga District. Council is committed to meeting its share of works in the small area inside Waipā District
- Puniu River - Committed to maintenance of willow re-growth
- Mangapiko - Committed to stream channel works to prevent flooding in the Te Awamutu urban area
- Lake Ngā Roto - Resource consent for control of lake level for recreational use
- The Rotomanuku, Fencourt and Hautapu drainage areas in the district are controlled by Waikato Regional Council.
For more information, download the Land Drainage information brochure
Stormwater pollution
Stormwater drains aren’t wastewater drains. Only clear, unpolluted rainwater should enter stormwater drains as water flows untreated into our rivers, lakes, and streams.
If pollutants get into the stormwater drains, they will enter our natural environment and potentially harm our wildlife, and people’s health. Do your part by keeping chemicals and pollutants out of stormwater drains – this includes oil, mud, paint, chemicals, and rubbish.
Stormwater network capacity
The districts urban stormwater system and rural land drainage systems have limited capacity to treat, transport and discharge stormwater.
While we assess and control stormwater generated from new developments, private property owners need to make sure the stormwater devices on their property are maintained.
Secondary stormwater overflow paths should not be blocked or diverted without suitable and sufficient engineering consideration.
Stormwater bylaw
View the latest bylaw documents: Bylaws
