Pareora River unswimmable for 12 months

Swimming near the Pareora River huts settlement is off limits for at least 12 months as Environment Canterbury looks to find out the cause of the site’s decline in water quality.

The site was previously graded as ‘‘fair’’ for swimming water quality, but according to a report to ECan’s Orari-Temuka-OpihiPareora (Otop) zone committee, there has been a degradation in ‘‘microbial water quality’’.

‘‘This means swimming is not recommended at this site over the 2019-20 summer,’’ Shirley Hayward, ECan’s principal scientist for water quality and ecology, said.

‘‘Swimming poses a risk of ingesting water that may be contaminated by disease-causing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa.

‘‘In most cases the ill-health effects from ingesting contaminated water are minor and short-lived. However, there is the potential for more serious diseases such as hepatitis A and salmonella.’’

The report also recommends against eating any fish from this part of the river.

‘‘Increases in E coli at the site has resulted from faecal contaminants entering the water nearby or upstream. The exact source of these faecal contaminants is unclear. They may be the result of several sources, including run-off from surrounding land-use after heavy rain, sewerage system leakages, or stock access in the waterway,’’ Hayward said.

ECan estimates the warning will be in place for at least a year, but it could be extended beyond that if it doesn’t improve.

‘‘ECan will engage landowners in the Pareora catchment to ensure their farming activities are compliant and good management practices are being implemented,’’ the report says.