The number of farmers in Bay of Plenty failing to comply with their consents for disposing of dairy effluent is rising, bucking the national trend.
Over the same period, the number of dairy farms taken to the Environment Court in Bay of Plenty this year has almost doubled.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council says the increase could be because of old infrastructure on farm.
Pollution prevention manager Nick Zaman says it also could be related to an increase in cow numbers in the past few years.
Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty president John Scrimgeour says that while the level of non-compliance is very high, it does not necessarily mean that pollution has occurred.
