LAWA
Explore Data
Learn
Get Involved
About
Toggle navigation
LAWA
Explore Data
Regions
Auckland region
Bay of Plenty region
Canterbury region
Gisborne region
Hawke's Bay region
Manawatū-Whanganui region
Marlborough region
Nelson region
Northland region
Otago region
Southland region
Taranaki region
Tasman region
Waikato region
Wellington region
West Coast region
Topics
Air Quality
Swimming
Estuaries
Groundwater Quality
Lakes
Land Cover
River Quality
Water Quantity
Learn
Get Involved
About
Search
Glossary Item
Freshwater
Naturally occurring water on the Earth’s surface in bogs, wetlands, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers. Freshwater has low concentrations of dissolved salts (<1000 parts per million).