Guidance on the wastewater discharge to land standard published

The discharge to land standard was published as part of New Zealand’s first national wastewater standards, which became law on 19 December 2025, following public consultation and extensive engagement.

The standard provides a framework to check if land is suitable for receiving treated wastewater and then sets discharge limits based on the specific risks at that site.

The guidance material covers:

• Information on applicability of the discharge to land standard, including what exceptions apply.
• An overview of processes to carry out site-specific assessments to determine land suitability, considering factors such as soil type, drainage, slope, groundwater and land use.  
• How to accurately assign a relevant land class and apply appropriate discharge limits for Total Nitrogen,  Total Phosphorus and pathogens (e.g. E. coli).  

Read the standard and download the guidance