If you’ve looked up your property in the proposed Auckland Unitary Plan geomaps viewer, you might have noticed it falls under the Macroinvertebrate Community Index.
But what does that mean?
While to a non-scientist a macroinvertebrate might suggest some sort of giant slug (maybe a Wilberforce?) they are actually animals that live in or around water—for example, insects, worms and snails.
Measuring the types and numbers of these animals helps show how healthy a body of water is.
Keeping our fresh water healthy
Auckland’s freshwater resources include many lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and aquifers (areas of rock that water can seep through).
A high standard of water quality and quantity is needed to maintain the health and other values of these ecosystems.
Measuring water quality
The Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan has set interim:
- freshwater objectives and guidelines using the Macroinvertebrate Community Index
- water quantity availabilities and limits.
These interim objectives, guidelines and limits will help protect aquatic systems and aim to prevent further freshwater degradation while the council develops catchment specific objectives and limits.
