Community groups tasked with setting goals for water quality have had to stop work for the duration of the Covid-19 lockdown. On the West Coast, four units will ultimately make recommendations for waterways in their districts: Kawatiri (Buller), Mawhera (Grey), Hokitika and South Westland. But Covid-19 put paid to that - and the work of the two northern groups is also on hold. Compared to other regions, the West Coast freshwater management groups had fewer problems to deal with, he said. But unlike Canterbury's aquifers which were deep, old and confined, aquifers on the West Coast were uncapped and strongly linked to surface water.

Source: Stuff April 16, 2020 02:03 UTC