Section 69 — Resource Management Act 1991: Rules relating to water quality

69 Rules relating to water quality (1) Where a regional council— (a) Provides in a plan that certain waters are to be managed for any purpose described in respect of any of the classes specified in Schedule 3 ; and (b) Includes rules in the plan about the quality of water in those waters,— the rules shall require the observance of the standards specified in that Schedule in respect of the appropriate class or classes unless, in the council's opinion, those standards are not adequate or appropriate in respect of those waters in which case the rules may state standards that are more stringent or specific. (2) Where a regional council provides in a plan that certain waters are to be managed for any purpose for which the classes specified in Schedule 3 are not adequate or appropriate, the council may state in the plan new classes and standards about the quality of water in those waters. (3) Subject to the need to allow for reasonable mixing of a discharged contaminant or water, a regional council shall not set standards in a plan which result, or may result, in a reduction of the quality of the water in any waters at the time of the public notification of the proposed plan unless it is consistent with the purpose of this Act to do so.