Just under a hundred thousand dollars in fines has been handed down to Waikato farmers charged with discharging effluent

Otorohanga farmer Gary Blackler has been fined 57 thousand dollars, for a September 2017 discharge, which was spotted contaminating a nearby stream.

Regional council staff were able to track the stream back to the Blackler property, where effluent was also found to be a risk to groundwater.

Judge Melanie Harland highlighted the Resource Management Act has been in place for 27 years, giving Waikato farmers ample time to know the rules.

Last week another Waikato farmer was fined 41 thousand dollars for discharging effluent.