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Water management units and water quality classes(Refer Chapter 4: Schedule WQL1 and Rules WQL1, WQL4, WQL7, WQL8, WQL21, WQL48)Water management units have been developed for all river and lakes outside the natural state areas, excluding rivers and lakes covered by the operative Opihi River, and Waimakariri River regional plans. For rivers, the management units are based on the source of the river flow, and additionally for some rivers, whether they are located in the upland or lowland areas of the region. For lakes the management units are based on the location of the lake in either high country or coastal areas, with separate units for artificial lakes either on a river or off river.Water quality and bed substrate outcomes for each management unit are set out in the tables in Objective WQL1. The outcomes take into account geology and location of the river or lake and other influences on water quality such as land use and the contribution from tributaries. Water quality classes have been defined for rivers and lakes in the natural state areas and for each water management unit. all rivers and lakes in the Canterbury region, excluding the areas covered by the operative Opihi and Proposed Waimakariri River regional plans and the Ahuriri River and Rakaia River water conservation orders. A water quality class has the same name as the corresponding water management unit. Each water quality class contains standards for water quality that are to be achieved for a point source discharge into a river or lake, after mixing of the discharge with the receiving water, in a defined zone |