The warm weather is here, and it’s the perfect time to cool off in our rivers and at the beach. But before you dive in, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you and your whānau stay safe in the water this summer.
Watch out for hidden hazards! Floods earlier this year may have shifted debris in rivers, especially in the Motueka Valley. A lot of large objects such as trees, nets and truck wheels have already been found, so check underwater before diving in – things may not be as clear as last summer.
Our environmental officers test popular swim spots weekly for E.coli, enterococci, and toxic algae. Water quality is currently looking good, and post-flood data shows the Motueka River is back to normal.
We monitor water quality at the District’s hot spots throughout the season, from Collingwood and Tata Beach through to Kaiterieri, Māpua and Moturoa/Rabbit Island, and even the Tākaka, Motueka, Lee and Aniseed rivers.
Check the latest water quality and toxic algae results at tasman.govt.nz/swimming-water(external link) and tasman.govt.nz/toxic-algae-monitoring-results(external link).
Enjoy the water – safely!