Groundwater quantity

Monitoring groundwater levels provides information on the effects of climate, land use and abstraction on groundwater resources, and it can tell us how much groundwater is available for use.

Levels are currently recorded continuously at nine sites, monthly at 25 sites and quarterly at 29 sites. Water level information is also collected at 10 sites as part of specific aquifer investigations. The location of monitoring sites was shown in the 2009-2010 Annual Monitoring Report, for a map of sites visit www.nrc.govt.nz/amr

In 2010-11, groundwater levels for most aquifers in Northland were found to be near long-term monthly mean levels in autumn and winter months despite the 2009-2010 drought. The levels dropped slightly to below monthly mean during early summer due to near drought conditions during spring and early summer. The levels recovered in late summer and are now above monthly mean.