Weekend swimming not advisable say scientists

With warm weather on the way and a swim becoming ever more tempting, local scientists are warning the public to think before taking a dip after Napier’s deluge.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is advising people not to swim for at least two to three days, following the prolonged rain.

HBRC marine and coastal principal scientist Anna MadaraszSmith said keen swimmers need to check before they jump in.

“With the recent rainfall, swimability and water quality at some of our swim spots will be affected,” she said. “It’s best to stay out of the water for two to three days following heavy rain, or if the water is discoloured.”

Heavy rain flushed contaminants from urban and rural land into waterways even around sites in Hawke’s Bay that have generally good water quality, according to the council.

An HBRC spokeswoman also encouraged people to use the “rule of toes”.

“A handy guide is — if you can’t see your toes when standing kneedeep in water, then water quality is not the best for a swim,” she said.

Director of lifeguarding at Westshore Nathan Berry said people should be cautious about getting in the water this weekend — whether in the ocean or a river.

“If you know somewhere and it’s changed because of this large water movement just have a think about whether it’s actually worth going in,” he said.

In terms of swimming in the ocean, Berry said the biggest concern is the pollution.

HBRC water quality team leader Vicki Lyon said their team tests more than 30 swimming spots across the region every Monday — from November until mid-March.

“It’s important to be aware that our samples were taken prior to the intense rainfall . . ..” The water quality team is working with the national team to feed up-to-date results online at LAWA.org.nz/ swim and on to the HBRC website.