Swimmers are warned not to hit the water at 12 popular beaches this summer due to human FAECES contamination
- Swimmers warned to not swim at 12 beaches due to human and animal faeces
- A high public risk alert has been issued for eight beaches in New Zealand
- Contamination comes from properties with illegal connected wastewater drains
Swimmers have been warned to not swim at 12 beaches due to human and animal faeces contamination.
A high public risk alert has been issued by Auckland Council’s water quality monitoring system for eight beaches in West Auckland, two in central Auckland, a beach on the North Shore, and one on Waiheke Island, Stuff.co.nz reported.
Contamination on the beaches includes human and animal faeces from properties that have no or illegal connected wastewater drains and leaking septic tanks.
Swimmers have been warned to not swim at 12 beaches due to human and animal faeces contamination (pictured Te Henga)
A high public risk alert has been issued by Auckland Council’s water quality monitoring system
The Safeswim program manager Nick Vigar has asked beachgoers not to swim at any of the listed locations.
‘There are Safeswim long-term water quality warnings in place, and a high risk of illness if you swim at any of these 12 sites,’ he said.
Other contaminated materials which have made their way into the water may be from metals and chemicals that made their way through the stormwater drain when it rained.
Three of the listed beaches were named as having high contamination levels.
The Safeswim website contains advice on beach conditions that helps Auckland beach users to make informed decisions about when and where to swim before heading to the beach, their website reads.
‘It provides real-time data on the performance of the wastewater and stormwater networks, forecasts of water quality, and up-to-the-minute advice on swimming conditions at nearly 100 sites around the Auckland region.’
The Safeswim program manager Nick Vigar has asked beachgoers not to swim at any of the listed locations (pictured Cox’s beach)
Mr Vigar told the publication data collection has improved in the last couple of months which has allowed them to inform swimmers of where they should or shouldn’t swim.
He also said the website updates based on swimming locations which are also affected by the weather.
There are still 86 beaches and swimming outlets where people can attend to and enjoy a swim.
Safeswim lists most of the clean beaches on the North Shore and south Auckland.
Mr Vigar advises that all swimmers check the Safeswim website before hitting the water.
The Safeswim program manager Nick Vigar has asked beachgoers not to swim at any of the listed locations (pictured is Piha Beach)