Dodgy water still clean fun
Official warnings about poor water quality across Manawatu¯ and Horowhenua are not deterring people from cooling off in rivers.
Horizons Regional Council collectsweekly water samples from sites across its area – from Whanganui to Tararua and Ruapehu to Horowhenua – and uploads the results to the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (Lawa) website.
The samples test for E coli and cyanobacteria, a potentially toxic algae.
The sites are then graded on a traffic light system: green is good for swimming, orange means caution is advised, while red means a place is unsuitable for swimming.
Beaches along the west coast were all green, but rivers were a mixed bag, according to testing done before Saturday.
The Manawatu¯ River was mixed, depending on what area you looked at.
The water was clean enough for swimming near Foxton and
Palmerston North, but was red throughout Tararua.
Tributaries into the Manawatu¯ River were not so great.
All monitored sites along the roua River, including Timona Park in Feilding and Colyton Reserve, were unsuitable.
The Pohangina River was similar, rated unsuitable for swimming at Raumai Reserve, Totara Reserve and Piripiri, which were all last sampled on January 4 – a day after rainfall in Manawatu¯ and surrounding areas.
Rainfall contributes to nutrients running off land into waterways.
The ratings were given to the Pohangina River sites due to high levels of E coli.
Swathes of people were out at Raumai Reserve on Saturday, cooling off – the chattering of some children’s jaws suggested they’d spent a bit too long in the water – and picnicking.
The water appeared clear, with swimmers telling Stuff they felt it was clean.
Darren and Lyn Mehlhopt were there with their grandchildren.
Darren Mehlhopt said he had swum along the Pohangina River since he was a child.
Lyn Mehlhopt said the weather had come right in the pastweek and it was great to be out in nature rather than at a pool.
‘‘There is something about being outside.’’
Many riverswere not in great condition, but the Pohangina River was generally very nice, she said.
Horseshoe Bend on the Tokomaru River was also graded as unsuitable for swimming due to E coli – although toxic algae was not a problem – due to the last test on January 3.
Plenty of people were taking a dip at Horseshoe Bend on Saturday, where the water also appeared clean.
The cliff was especially popular, with children and adults scrambling up it to do bombs into the deepest section of the Horowhenua swim spot.
Jo Mclaughlin, who had travelled from Wainuiomata to meet relatives from Palmerston North and Feilding, said it was nice therewere still spots like Horseshoe Bend.
‘‘Where we come from there is nowhere we can really swim in rivers.
‘‘We used to swim in the Hutt River a lot, but you can’t at the moment.’’
Horizons resources and partnerships group manager Dr Jon Roygard said results came back within two days of tests, but people should use their eyes too.
People and animals should stay out of rivers if they see black or dark brown, slimymat-like growth that may also be musty smelling, he said.
Weekly sampling means the results may not reflect the water quality for thewhole week.
‘‘A general rule is if the water looks clear and it’s three days after rainfall, you should be good to go,’’ he said.
Results from across the year showed more work was needed to improve water quality, he said.
People can go to lawa.org.nz/ explore-data/swimming to check the latest swim spot information for sites across New Zealand.