Industrial Stormwater Licence
I already have a licence, why do I need to re-apply?
Previous stormwater licences have expired and have not been re-issued. We require a new application to ensure the information we hold is current and accurate.
How much does it cost for a stormwater licence?
Current fees and charges are listed on our website.
If you return your application by 10 Feb 2023, you will be charged $114.00 for the 2022-2023 year. Stormwater licence exemption applications incur no charge unless an officer considers a licence is required.
If you do not return a form by 10 Feb 2023, a RLC water quality officer will need to follow up to assess whether a licence is required. If an officer considers a licence is required, you will be charged $114.00 for the Licence plus the hourly rate plus $171 site inspection fee if required.
Thereafter, an annual admin fee (as at Jan 2023 $57.00).
How do I arrange a site visit?
If you would like a site visit to assist your understanding of the stormwater on your site, please contact the Council customer centre on 07 348 4199 to arrange for a water quality officer to contact you.
What quality stormwater is required?
Stormwater should consist of clean rainwater. Waterways in urban, farming, and forestry areas are polluted by contaminants. This threatens our freshwater ecosystems and can make the water unsafe for us to use and enjoy.
Healthy waterways are important for many cultural practices, including exercising ahikaroa, kaitiakitanga, and mahinga kai.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council Regional Natural Resources Plan (RNPP) lists levels of contaminants permitted in stormwater - refer to DW (Rule 30), page 36 of the plan.
What contaminates waterways?
Sediment - which can degrade ecosystems by making water cloudy (turbid) and smothering natural habitats on the bottoms and banks of rivers and lakes.
Nutrients – like nitrogen and phosphorus can lead to algal blooms that degrade rivers and lakes, and reduce their cultural and recreational value.
Heavy metals – such as copper and zinc threaten freshwater species. The metals can also accumulate and make them unsafe for us to eat.
Pathogens – threaten freshwater species and make people ill if they drink or swim in polluted water.
What contaminants come from industrial sites?
Water can carry heavy metals, oils and hydrocarbons, and any other chemicals stored or used on the site. Water can also carry sediment and gravel from unpaved sites.
If the site is well managed, with controls in place, the risk of contaminating our water can be low.
What happens if water from my site is contaminated?
Rotorua Lakes Council monitors water quality and if water is found to be contaminated, will conduct investigations to find the source of the contamination, which may include inspecting and sampling stormwater from your site.
If there are no issues with stormwater quality, there will be no charge for this sampling. If the stormwater leaving your site is found to be contaminated – the cost of inspecting and sampling may be passed on to the owner of the business operating on the site.
Rotorua Lakes Council will work with you to help you identify and remedy any contamination. If the risk remains high then BOPRC will be informed. BOPRC may also require you to hold a resource consent for your stormwater discharge.
What is a Pollution Prevention Plan?
A Pollution Prevention Plan is a plan developed by the business to address pollution risks from businesses.
· Check out this guide from Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Tauranga City Council which has been designed to help commercial and industrial sites assess pollution risks from their businesses and develop a pollution prevention plan to address the risks.
This guide will help you write your plan, step-by-step and includes checklists to assess actual and potential stormwater pollution issues.
· Need a Pollution Prevention Plan template? Click here.
