Warning over swimming spots
It pays to check it’s safe before you swim - that’s the message from Northland Regional councillor Justin Blaikie with a number of Far North swimming spots recording high levels of e.coli bacteria.
When checked on January 30, water tested at sites in Ahipara, the Hokianga Harbour, Rawene at Clendon Esplanade, Tirohanga River, Waitangi River (Spinnaker Point), the Kerikeri River (Stone Store), and the Waipapa River showed levels of e.coli bacteria meaning it is deemed unsafe for swimming.
‘‘There has been concern around the number of water site closures and when people can’t go for a swim,’’ Blaikie says.
He encourages people to check whether it’s safe to swim and report it to NRC if people believe they have become ill from swimming in water or consuming shellfish. The Northland District Health Board should also be informed.
‘‘It’s a complicated science, my hope is over time there will be technological advances which would give us more certainty over how to manage the risks.’’
He says a number of factors can contribute to ‘poor’ water quality - with farmers often being unfairly blamed.
Blaikie says at times the Puketi Forest catchment has been unsuitable for swimming, which is surrounded by DOC land, while forestry operations can also contribute sediment to harbours and waterways. NRC advises people not to swim or collect shellfish within two or three days after a big weather event.
NRC’s water quality monitoring programme began in the sum- mer of 2002-2003. Weekly monitoring occurs at 46 coastal sites and 14 freshwater sites from the first Monday of December through to the first Tuesday of March each summer.
Environmental monitoring manager Jean-Charles Perquin says common sources of bacteriological contamination come from ruminant animals such as cattle, deer, sheep and goats, wild birds such as seagulls, ducks and pukekos and plant decay.
‘‘On very few occasions, contamination have been attributed to a human source,’’ Perquin says.
Some sites may be prone to elevated bacteria levels due to land run off following heavy rainfall, he says.
Residents should visit lawa.org.nz to see if a swimming site is safe.