No Images? Click here Across the Region December 2018, summer editionIt’s that time of year again! Summer has arrived and that means long balmy evenings, jandals, barbeques, festive celebrations and of course plenty of swimming. Our region has so much to offer, with some fantastic lakes, rivers and beaches to swim at, so I encourage you to hit your favourite swim spot or even discover new ones over the holiday season. A map with the locations of each of the monitored swim spots in your district can be found over the page. Horizons’ swim spot monitoring programme aims to provide our communities with up to date, relevant information so they can best make decisions on where they wish to swim. Results are available on the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website as well as www.horizons.govt.nz. These sites are a fantastic resource, accessible via mobile, tablet or home computer, and very easy to check before heading to your favourite swim spot. As the days become longer and drier, I also want to take this opportunity to remind farmers to keep an eye on soil moisture, and for consent holders to comply with their water take conditions. We have already experienced drier than usual periods over the last few months and anticipate city and district councils will have water restrictions in place on occasion. Enjoy the holiday break, take care and keep safe. I look forward to seeing you in 2019. Bruce Gordon Swim Spot MonitoringHere at Horizons we are continuing our swim spot monitoring programme in order to provide our communities with reliable, accurate information regarding water quality. In 2016, we increased the number of sites that we monitor each swim season from 17 to over 80 swim spots. From early November until the end of April samples are taken from these sites on a weekly basis and sent to an independent and accredited laboratory for testing. They are tested for faecal indicator bacteria including E. coli in freshwater and Enterococci in coastal waters. Our team also check each site for phormidium, known as potentially toxic algae or cyanobacteria. The bacteria and cyanobacteria results are made available on Horizons’ and LAWA’s website, so that you and your family can make an informed choice and about when and where to swim in our region. In addition to our swim spot monitoring programme, Horizons monitors water quality from sites across the region on a monthly basis. Water collected from these sites is tested for levels of nutrients, bacteria, sediment, clarity and physico-chemical stressors such as pH and temperature. We also have a network that measures some aspects of water quality on a continuous basis (every 15 minutes). All of this data helps us to make informed decisions about what work programmes we need to prioritise and implement to help improve water quality in our region. Currently this data is telling us that there is an improving trend regionally, however two thirds of sites in the Manawatū are declining so more work needs to be done. Last year, 48 of our region’s swim spots were swimmable more than 75 per cent of the time, with 15 sites swimmable 95 per cent of the time. The best swimming sites were in the coastal areas, with several of our beaches and estuaries being swimmable all season. Our best river site was the Whanganui River at Manunui, which maintained a swimmable status 96 per cent of the time. It was a summer of extremes with heavy rain events resulting in high levels of E. coli at some sites, and long periods of hot dry weather resulting in increased amounts of potentially toxic algae cover in rivers. Based on feedback from our communities, we have added two new sites to our programme this year - Ototoka Stream at Beach Road in Whanganui and Mangawarariki at Ruahine Dress Circle, north of Rangiwahia in the Manawatū. Action From ResultsSwimmability in our region is determined by parameters such as cyanobacteria and E. coli. A recent report, commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment and Horizons found strong evidence of regional improvement in water quality over the past ten years for sediment (which is associated with cyanobacteria growth), as well as E. coli. The study, by Land Water People (LWP) and reviewed by NIWA and StatsNZ, found a link between the proportion of an upstream catchment that has been subject to land management interventions, and the degree of water quality improvements. Horizons, along with landowners, iwi and community groups, have been doing a huge amount of work to improve the state of our rivers and streams. Horizons’ Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) targets erosion prone hill country, while our freshwater programme assists farmers and community groups with fencing and planting, all of which is beginning to make a difference. What’s more, in order to reduce the impact of faecal bacteria on swimming suitability Horizons has been prioritising work in areas where E. coli levels exceed guideline values. This work includes intensive monitoring surveys and faecal source tracking to determine the source of the bacteria (generally cows, sheep, birds or human), working with landowners in identified catchments to exclude stock from waterways and plant riparian margins, and working with district councils to install UV treatment on wastewater discharges and/or seek funding for land application of wastewater. Explaining the LingoWe often hear about levels of E. coli or cyanobacteria as indicators of water quality but what are they? Why do we measure them and why do we need to be wary if they reach high levels? E. coli is a type of bacteria commonly found in the gut of warm-blooded mammals, including people and birds. Common sources of E. coli are untreated human wastewater discharges, stormwater run-off and animal waste. Too much E. coli means that the water is likely to be unsafe to drink or swim in and can cause infection. Cyanobacteria (commonly known as blue-green algae) are microscopic organisms that play a very important role in our aquatic ecosystems. Cyanobacteria inhabit all natural waters and usually only become a problem when they increase to high concentrations, forming ‘blooms’. An increasing number of cyanobacterial species are known to produce toxins that can be a threat to humans and animals if consumed or if people come into contact with them during recreational activities. In most instances, dog deaths have been associated with dogs eating a mat forming cyanobacteria called phormodium, which produce a deep earthy odour that dogs seem to be attracted to. If you are interested in finding out more on E. coli, cyanobacteria and the science behind the measuring and reporting of these indicators, check out the handy factsheets at www.lawa.org.nz. What To Consider Before Diving InWater quality is just one of a number of things to consider before diving in at your favourite swim spot. It is also important to remember:
When checking the water quality status on LAWA or our website, you’ll see a grading for each site according to a handy traffic light system that is part of the Ministry of Health and Ministry for the Environment guidelines. The system provides guidance to Councils and District Health Boards on how they should act when certain levels of indicator bacteria or algae are detected. For our lakes and rivers: If a site falls into the red category we contact Public Health, who advise when warning signs need to be erected and that information is provided to the public that the site is considered unsuitable for recreational use. SWIM SPOT MONITORING |