Canine-killing algae return to Hutt River
TOXIC algae that can be deadly to dogs have again flared up in the Hutt River.
Greater Wellington regional council and Regional Public Health are urging river users to protect themselves and their pets after detecting an increase of algal growth in the Hutt River this week.
The river has been plagued with toxic algae since 2005, and 11 dogs have died from eating it.
Toxic algae – or cyanobacteria – form brown or black clumps in rivers and the river’s edge, and can kill livestock and dogs.
Dogs that eat it can die very quickly, and contact with toxic algae can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and skin irritations in humans.
The regional council monitors rivers weekly and found increased coverage of toxic algae at Birchville, Maoribank and Silverstream.
People should avoid touching water or swimming in affected areas, and dogs should be stopped from scavenging at the water’s edge.
The Hutt and Upper Hutt city councils are erecting warning signs at key access points to the river.
The regional council’s senior environmental scientist, Summer Greenfield, said toxic algae occurred naturally in many New Zealand waters.
‘‘Toxic algae can be present in rivers where the water quality is good. However, there’s often an increase in toxic algae during summer because it’s warmer, river flows and levels are usually lower, and there’s less frequent rain to flush the algae away.’’
The conditions were likely to continue, with below-average rainfall forecast for the next few months, she said.