Swimming water quality in Tasman

The decision about which sites get monitored is based on the risk of contamination by disease-causing organisms and the number of swimmers. Estimates of the numbers of people using over 50 of Tasman’s most popular river swimming holes and coastal beaches was collected during the 2010-11 summer. This information is also used for improving the management of facilities at particular Council reserves.

We sample sites on a two-yearly sampling cycle. One year all sites are sampled; the following year a reduced number of sites are tested. The reduced sampling plan includes the most popular beaches in the area - Lee River Reserve, Moturoa/Rabbit Island, Māpua, Kaiteriteri, Tākaka River at Paynes Ford and Pōhara.

Coastal water is tested for enterococci and fresh water is tested for Escherichia coli (E. coli).

Enterococci and E.coli live in the gut of warm-blooded animals and are associated with both harmless and disease-causing bacteria (pathogens). Their presence indicates that faecal matter can be found in the water and that pathogens may be present. These tests are the standard indicator of potential risk.

During summer we monitor the water quality at popular swim spots across the District. We make the results available for everyone to access here on our website and on the LAWA website.

Would-be-swimmers can check LAWA for the latest recreational water quality results, along with historical data, local conditions, and other information about facilities to help them decide where’s good for a dip.

Most monitored swim spots in Tasman are suitable for swimming most of the time. However, water quality can change, particularly after rain when contaminants that can make people ill may be washed into waterways.

Whether you’re boogie boarding at Moturoa / Rabbit Island, cooling off in the Lee River, or swimming at Kaiteriteri, we recommend you check the LAWA website and consider the following points to help keep you and your whānau well this summer.

Swim smart checklist

• Avoid swimming after heavy rain: Wait at least two days before swimming after heavy or prolonged rain.
• Follow any warning signs: Please follow the advice of any safety and warning signs from authorities.
• Check the water is clean and clear: Don’t swim if you notice potentially toxic algae or the water is murky/smells unpleasant.
• Stay away from any pipes, culverts, and flocks of birds: Avoid swimming and other water activities near sources of potential contamination.
• Check for hazards: Hazards at swim spots may include strong currents, tidal rips, underwater objects, stinging jellyfish, steep drop-offs and potentially toxic algae.

Sites are sampled following Ministry for the Environment and Ministry of Health guidelines. Further information about why and how sampling is carried out is available from the Ministry for the Environment.

More detailed information can be found in the following end-of-season and summary reports.

• Environmental monitoring reports