Freshwater quality: NRC results for week starting 01 February 2011

Posted 13 years, 1 month ago    1 comment

Each summer, Northland Regional Council test the water quality at a number of Northland’s popular coastal and freshwater swimming spots to make sure it’s safe for swimming.

Some results this week are still high as a result of the heavy rain from ex-tropical cyclone Wilma. Between 60-200mm of rain fell across most of Northland during the storm on 28-29 January.

NOTE: A Public Health Advisory was issued by Northland District Health Board following ex-tropical cyclone Wilma. View the Public Health Advisory here

Freshwater quality for week starting 01 February:

Warning signs have been placed by District Councils at the following sites (please see all the results below):

  • Ocean Beach Stream
  • Otamure Bay Stream
  • Lake Waro
  • Whangarei Falls
  • Raumanga Stream
  • Waipu Cove Stream
  • Langs Beach Stream
  • Ruakaka River
  • Coopers Beach Stream
  • Aurere River
  • Waipoua River at DoC headquarters

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).  Find out more about what NRC test for

Green - safe to swim Green: safe to swim
 E. coli less than 260/100ml

Orange: caution

 Orange: caution, potentially unsuitable to swim
 E. coli count more than 260/100ml

Red: unsafe to swim Red: unsafe to swim
 E. coli count more than 550/100ml

This weeks' 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
Aurere River, at Aurere Beach Road 110324 Red: unsafe to swimRed:
Unsafe to swim
1565
Coopers Beach Stream 101870

Red: unsafe to swimRed:
Unsafe to swim

650
Kaihu River, at campground 102221 Green - safe to swimGreen: 
Safe to swim
231
Kapiro Bridge, at Purerua Road 102838

Orange: cautionOrange:
Caution

272

Kerikeri, Stone Store 101530

Orange: cautionOrange:
Caution

305
Lake Coca Cola 110323

Orange: cautionOrange:
Caution

345
Lake Ngatu, south end 100402 Green - safe to swimGreen: 
Safe to swim
86
Lake Taharoa 105434

Green - safe to swimGreen: 
Safe to swim

10
Langs Beach, toilets  100686

Green - safe to swimGreen: 
Safe to swim

187
Ocean Beach Stream 102077 Red: unsafe to swimRed:
Unsafe to swim
933
Omamari Beach Stream 102305

Orange: cautionOrange:
Caution

341
Otamure Bay Stream 108859

Orange: cautionOrange:
Caution

402
Otaua Stream 108510

Green - safe to swimGreen: 
Safe to swim

243
Raumanga Stream, Whangarei 103246

Orange: cautionOrange:
Caution

512
Tirohanga Stream 102252

Orange: cautionOrange:
Caution

275
Twin Bridges 105973

Green - safe to swimGreen: 
Safe to swim

240
Victoria River 104908

Green - safe to swimGreen: 
Safe to swim

108
Waipapa Basin, at Charlies Rock 110348

Green - safe to swimGreen: 
Safe to swim

<10
Waipapa River, Puketi 103248

No data

No data

Waipoua River, at DOC campground

108613

Green - safe to swimGreen: 
Safe to swim

63

Waipu Cove Stream

101207

Green - safe to swimGreen: 
Safe to swim

240
Waitangi, at Lilypond 104830

Orange: cautionOrange:
Caution

488
Waro Lake, Hikurangi 107272

Orange: cautionOrange:
Caution

354
Whangarei Falls 105972 Red: unsafe to swimRed:
Unsafe to swim
657

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

NRC 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
Freephone: 0800 920 029

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


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