Following the heavy rain that's struck the region recently Waikato Regional Council is reminding farmers it can help with advice on managing effluent pond levels.
Effluent should not be irrigated on to saturated pastures as this risks contaminants getting into waterways and affecting their health.
However, heavy rain helping to fill up ponds means farmers can be under more pressure to empty them to stop effluent spilling out in large and difficult to manage amounts, which can end up in waterways.
"We acknowledge some ponds will be close to overtopping due to the rain but farmers still need to do everything they can ensure they don't overtop and that effluent is not applied to saturated pasture," says the council's farming services team leader Stuart Stone.
"They should actively manage their ponds and take all reasonable steps to prevent effluent from entering waterways."
