Farms that dispose of FDE to land under the permitted activity rule are inspected annually to make sure that they comply with the conditions of the rule.
The treatment/disposal system at each farm is graded on a scale of 1P to 4P. A 1P grade indicates a system that is well managed and meets all the ‘permitted activity' criteria, including having adequate emergency storage. The grading 4P indicates a non-complying system that requires urgent or major work and/or better management.
Any system not complying with the permitted activity criteria may be graded ‘C', which means it needs resource consent, or ‘X', which means that a discharge of untreated effluent to water has been identified.
Photo: 1P grade compliant farm dairy effluent treatment ponds