"We alone cannot achieve these targets."
The ORC could only "engage, educate, monitor and encourage those in our community" whose activities could have "a direct impact on the quality of our waterways".
A survey showed 91% of landholders were aware of the ORC water quality provisions, and that was "great".
"[However] we need to ensure that landholders understand their responsibilities for water quality, how their activities may impact on water quality, and what the quality of water coming off their farms and entering waterways actually is."
The ORC had been working with "our rural communities" and stakeholder groups such as Dairy NZ, Federated Farmers, Beef and Lamb, and the forestry industry, to "get key messages out about water quality, options and best practice".
The aim was that the ORC and the groups could together "achieve the limits for the level of contaminants discharged" and "ultimately achieve the water quality we want in Otago".
And when it came to water allocation, the ORC wanted to ensure that "we get the balance right between the amount of water people are allowed to take for irrigation and other purposes" and "protecting the aquatic habitats and natural character of our rivers".
The ORC had continued its programme of work for setting minimum flows for certain rivers around Otago, including the Lindis, Clutha, Cardrona and Manuherikia.
ORC staff had also been working with people holding mining privileges, as they would need to replace them with resource consents to take water before they expired in 2021.
"We are encouraging those with mining privileges to form groups wherever practicable, and seeking group resource consents to taken water."
In this way there would be "many efficiencies to be gained, resulting in more sustainable water use".
The ORC's work had included producing a water user's manual and video, and writing to all mining privilege holders.
ORC staff had also been holding meetings, including with groups of affected landholders, rural professionals, stakeholders and lawyers, they said.
