NRC: Freshwater swimming quality results for week starting 01 March

Posted 14 years ago    2 comments

Northland Regional Council's samples taken week beginning 01 March 2010:

Please find attached results from this week's recreational swimming water quality programme. You’ll see that there are quite a few elevated results this week. These results can largely be linked to the rainfall received across the region earlier in the week.

Status system

NRC give a three tier status system for swimming water quality.  This is based by assessing the risk of contamination at a freshwater swimming site using levels of the indicator bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli).  Click here to find out more about what NRC test for.

Please note: A reduced number of sites will now be sampled until 31 March 2010. Sites that are no longer monitored are still listed but graded according to their median result for the season.

This week's results

The table below shows the most recent results for all the freshwater sites sampled in Northland.  All locations are in alphabetical order.

LOCATION Site No. Status Result
Coopers Beach Stream 101870

Red: unsafe to swim Red:
 Unsafe to swim

1211
Kaihu River, at campground 102221 Green - safe to swim Green:
 Safe to swim
Season median
Kapiro Bridge, at Purerua Road 102838

Red: unsafe to swim Red:
 Unsafe to swim

1483

Kerikeri, Stone Store bridge 101530 Red: unsafe to swim Red:
 Unsafe to swim
4106
Lake Taharoa 105434

Green - safe to swim

 Green: Safe to swim

Season median
Langs Beach Stream 104539

Orange: caution Orange:
 Caution

441
Ocean Beach Stream
102077

Red: unsafe to swim Red:
 Unsafe to swim

573
Omamari Beach Stream 102305

Green - safe to swim Green:
 Safe to swim

Season median
Otamure Bay Stream 108859 Red: unsafe to swim Red:
 Unsafe to swim
669
Otaua Stream 108510

Green - safe to swim Green:
 Safe to swim

Season median
Raumanga Stream, Whangarei 103246

Orange: caution Orange: 
 Caution

295
Tirohanga Stream 102252 Green - safe to swim Green:
 Safe to swim
Season median
Twin Bridges 105973

Green - safe to swim Green:
 Safe to swim

Season median
Victoria River 104908

Green - safe to swim Green: Safe to swim

201
Waipapa Basin 105706

Red: unsafe to swim Red:
 Unsafe to swim

11199
Waipapa River, Puketi 103248

Green - safe to swim Green:
 
Safe to swim

97

Waipoua River, at DOC campground

108613

Green - safe to swim Green:
 Safe to swim

Season median

Waipu Stream

101207 Red: unsafe to swim Red:
 Unsafe to swim
3654
Waitangi, at Lily Pond 104830

Red: unsafe to swim Red:
 Unsafe to swim

855
Waro Lake, Hikurangi 107272 Green - safe to swim Green:
 Safe to swim
145
Whangarei Falls 105972

Red: unsafe to swim Red:
 Unsafe to swim

565

Check before you swim

In general, water can be contaminated and unsafe for swimming if:

  • there is a warning sign erected indicating water is unsafe.
  • there has been heavy rain recently.
  • the water looks dirty (murky).
  • there are several potential sources of contamination nearby and upstream such as:
    • houses on septic tanks;
    • stock with access to the water; or
    • a sewage treatment plant discharge. 

Who to contact

We are responsible for routine surveillance monitoring. These results are sent to the District Councils and Northland Health, who then carry out follow-up sampling as required and warn the public of any swimming sites that may be unsafe.

For information about a specific area or a warning sign contact your local District Council or the on-duty Health Protection Officer at Northland Health.

Far North District Council
Phone: 09 405 2750

Whangarei District Council
Phone: 09 430 4200

Kaipara District Council
Phone: 09 439 7059

Northland Health
Phone: 09 430 4100

For general information contact:

Northland Regional Council
Freephone: 0800 002 004


Comments

TinaLee Yates
14 years ago
I would like to know what is happening to try to prevent the algae bloom from spreading into Doubtless Bay. There is algae bloom in the Taipa Sewerage Ponds which the overflow is getting pumped over to Parapara and into our awa and out into Aurere River. What preventative methods have NRC got to stop the spread.
11 years, 3 months ago
Reporters on the scene found.The TOD S this show is the display of the classic Peas shoes

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