Discovery of a 'goldmine' of historical data offers new insight into Mid-Canterbury’s groundwater quality

Waterways student Romy Van der Boom is investigating historical water sampling results for the Mid-Canterbury water catchment - an area spanning from the Rakaia River to the Rangitata River and up to the Canterbury Main Divide.

Romy’s work is part of the Water Science Update, a project led by the Mid-Canterbury Catchment Collective alongside the Ashburton Water Zone Committee. The project aims to collate all recorded water samples in the region to find a historical benchmark for water quality. This will mean trends in water quality can be compared to changes in land use and agricultural practices over time.

The findings will help those using and managing water in the region make the best decisions to protect groundwater. They may also suggest which interventions or changes in practices would have the greatest impact on water quality.

Find out more here!