Otago councils' wastewater performance will be assessed by Otago regional councillors concerned local authorities are getting off lightly compared with dairy farmers.
Waitaki District Council and Dunedin District Council wastewater treatment plants were recently audited by the Otago Regional Council.
The findings were reported to the council at a recent committee meeting. Cr Michael Deaker said problems with the Waitaki plants at Moeraki, Palmerston and Kakanui seemed to have been ongoing for many years without anything happening.
''We could be seen to be accommodating our local government colleagues while we're hauling dairy farmers off to court ...''
Council environmental services manager Martin King said with local authorities any improvements required significant expenditure to bring it up to standard, funded mainly by ratepayers.
''I'm satisfied most TLA [territorial local authorities] are making constant improvements and we take that into consideration.''
The Waitaki council had been very proactive. Its upgrades included a new pipeline from Kakanui to the Oamaru plant, upgrading work at Palmerston and investigating future options for Moeraki.
However, many dairy farmers did not go through similar processes or plan upgrades.
''TLA's have dedicated people looking after their systems. Dairy farmers do not.''
Many sharemilkers were hamstrung by working on farms with absentee owners. Overall only 5% of farmers had not upgraded.
Chief executive Peter Bodeker said a report would be brought to the council on TLAs' wastewater performance.
There were issues in other parts of the region, such as Queenstown Lakes.
While the council inspected dairy farms annually it did not do so for other intensive farming practices, he said.
