Avoid going in the Waikawa River after heavy rain. The most recent swim spot monitoring result was Red at 21 November 2022, with an E. Coli level of 683.
Horizons Regional Council’s swim spot monitoring results have shown many river and beach sites are currently not suitable for swimming or collecting kai following the recent heavy rainfall across the region.
Indicators that determine the grading for swim spots, which is E.coli for freshwater sites and Enterococci at coastal sites, can increase significantly with high rainfall as contaminants from urban and rural settings are washed into waterways. …
The region has experienced a decent amount of rain over the past week, so although it might be a beautiful day at your swim spot, it is important to remember that a location at the bottom of the catchment can be affected by rainfall upstream. It’s really important to always check the water is clear before getting in.
This may take some time depending on forecasted weather and river conditions.
Source: Swimmers advised to take care before diving in after rainfall - Horizons Regional Council, 25 November 2022, 3:47 PM.
