h-member-login

MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER  header call 
Melody sales@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 021454814
Nadia n.lewis@xtra.co.nz 021677978
Reporting: Julia news@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 0274641673
 Accounts: Richard info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 021678358

 

Archives

Testing shows summer swim water quality generally good

 

 

Investigations show water quality at most popular Northland swim spots – especially those on the coast – met swimming guidelines over summer, with birds and stock a common link to those which didn’t. 

The Northland Regional Council carried out hundreds of samples at 58 sites – 16 freshwater sites and 42 coastal – between December 7 last year and March 8.  

Justin Blaikie, chair of the council’s Water and Land Working Party, says the council tests for faecal bacteria, used to gauge the risks of contracting gastrointestinal and other infections while using beaches, rivers and lakes for swimming, water sports and other forms of recreation. 

The council had found that in coastal areas 98 per cent of the 577 samples taken at 48 sites had complied with the Ministry for the Environment’s Recreational Bathing guidelines; just nine samples (or two percent) failing to comply. 

Subsequent microbial source tracking at six different sites had revealed birds as the major source of the coastal faecal contamination. 

Non-compliance was higher at freshwater spots with 28 non-compliant samples (12 per cent) of the 234 taken. 

“Most of the non-complaint results were ‘one offs’ for some sites, which correlated with a rainfall event 72 hours prior to sampling.” 

As usual over summer, results were also regularly forwarded to the Whangarei, Far North and Kaipara District Councils, the Northland District Health Board (DHB) and other interested parties. 

“We let the health board and relevant district council know of any results showing elevated bacterial levels, typically within 48 hours, as part of a jointly agreed protocol and it’s their responsibility to undertake follow-up sampling and other action. 

That action can include public warnings not to swim or gather shellfish and putting up permanent warning signs at the worst sites. 

Council advice is not to swim for two or three days after heavy rain, which can carry run-off from land, or if there are warning signs indicating unsafe water.” 

A useful rule of thumb is don’t swim if the water looks dirty or murky, smells or has scum on its surface and also look out for, or consider, any potential sources of contamination, both nearby and upstream. 

 Water quality concerns can be reported to council’s freephone 24/7 Environmental Hotline on 0800 504 639. Full 2020/21 swimming water quality results are still to be finalised. Weekly monitoring results for all swimming sites can be found on the LAWA website lawa.org.nz/explore-data/swimming

 


 
ABOUT US
  CHECK IT OUT
The Mangawhai Focus is the only 'Mangawhai' community Newspaper and is the paper of choice within the local area.

For more information on distribution and circulation please 
click here
 

Directory

Archives

Contact Us


 

 

 

FOLLOW US

facebook   twitter   174855-378

CONTACT US


Sales: 021 454814
  sales@mangawhaifocus.co.nz
Editorial: 027 4641673
  news@mangawhaifocus.co.nz
Office: 021 678357
  info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz