All stormwater discharges into the Waimakariri District Council’s stormwater network must comply with the Waimakariri Stormwater Drainage and Watercourse Protection Bylaw 2024 (Bylaw).

A copy of this Bylaw can be downloaded here.

If you plan to discharge stormwater into the Council’s reticulated stormwater network, you must first obtain a stormwater discharge approval from Council.  This is a requirement under Rule 5.93A of the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan

Important: Council authorises discharges only where stormwater flows directly into the Council’s reticulated stormwater network.

Council does not provide approvals for discharges via private stormwater outfalls into the receiving environment, or for discharges onto land within individual properties. Any discharge outside the Council’s reticulated network requires approval from Environment Canterbury (ECAN).

What is a Stormwater Discharge Approval?

A stormwater discharge approval grants permission for stormwater from individual sites to be discharged into the Council's reticulated stormwater network. It enables Council to manage discharges into the public network and ensure compliance with Environment Canterbury's discharge requirements.

Before starting any work on site and discharging stormwater runoff into a Council reticulated network, you must first obtain the required approvals.

Please note that two separate approvals are required for stormwater discharge:

1. Construction Phase Approval
   You must apply for or obtain a Letter of Approval to Discharge Construction Phase Stormwater before any stormwater is discharged during the construction period.
2. Operational Phase Approval
   You must apply for or obtain a Letter of Approval to Discharge Operational Phase Stormwater before any operations on site commence. Operational phase stormwater is stormwater runoff generated from a site once all construction works have been completed and the site becomes operational.

How Approval for Discharge is Granted

Stormwater discharge approval can be granted in two ways:

1. Under a General Authorisation (GA)
If your discharge meets all the requirements and conditions outlined in the GA, you may qualify to discharge under this authorisation.

• Download a copy of the GA for the construction phase
• Download a copy of the GA for the operational phase.

You must comply with all conditions outlined in the GA.

Not sure if you meet the General Authorisation (GA) requirements? Email Council at stormwater.approvals@wmk.govt.nz for a free assessment.

2. Site-Specific Approval

If your site does not meet the conditions of the general authorisation approval letter, you must apply for and obtain a site-specific Letter of Approval to Discharge from Council.
Council will assess your application and determine whether your site can discharge under General Authorisation (GA), or if a site-specific approval is required.

When do I need a Site-Specific Approval?

You may require a site-specific approval to discharge for construction phase or operational phase stormwater discharge if you answer YES to any of the following:

Construction Phase

• Discharges from a site that Council determines pose an unacceptable risk to the reticulated network or receiving environment, including:
  • Contaminated land (see Section 11 of the Bylaw)
  • Other unacceptable risks (see Section 12 of the Bylaw)
• Construction site area is greater than 2 hectares
• Site is or will be associated with a resource consent
• Site intends to use water treatment chemicals (e.g., flocculation) to treat stormwater runoff before discharge
• Dewatering activities will be undertaken on site

Operational Phase

• Site is or will be associated with a resource consent
• Site is defined as a high-risk activity under Schedule 1 of the Stormwater Bylaw

How do I apply for an approval to discharge?

Email Council at stormwater.approvals@wmk.govt.nz

What happens once my application is approved?

After we assess your application, we will confirm whether you are approved under the General Authorisation (GA) or require a site-specific approval. If a site-specific approval is required, we will issue you with a Letter of Approval to Discharge.

If Council declines your request

If your discharge poses an unacceptable risk to the network or receiving environment, Council may decline your request. If your request is declined, you will need to apply for a discharge consent from Environment Canterbury (ECAN) under Rule 5.97 of the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan (CLWRP).