Algae found: Swim-spot warning
The beautiful summer weather is attracting people to Manawatu¯ swimming holes, but the blessing has come with a curse.
Horizons Regional Council staff have found brown and black algal mats of cyanobacteria at swim spots throughout the region, prompting Midcentral DHB’S medical officer of health Dr Rob Weir to issue a warning.
Cyanobacteria can produce harmful toxins, which do not have to be swallowed to make people vomit or suffer from diarrhoea and skin irritations.
‘‘Boiling water does not remove toxins produced by cyanobacteria,’’ Weir said.
‘‘Drinking water suspected to have cyanobacteria in it should be avoided at all times. ‘‘Boiling water does not remove toxins produced by cyanobacteria.’’ The mats are often found at a river’s edge and are only visible because of the dry conditions. Either high levels of cyanobacteria or exposed mats have been found at swim spots on the Mangatainoka, Manawatu¯ , Pohangina, Oroua ¯ and O¯ hau rivers, and at swim spots like Woodville’s Ferry Reserve and To¯ tara Reserve, near Pohangina. Weir said people can check the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website, to see if their swim spots were safe. The website collates data on swimming spots across the country, with Manawatu¯ Whanganui information provided by Horizons. Horizons science and innovation manager Abby Matthews said regional council staff collected samples from more than 80 sites every week, gathering information about E coli and cyanobacteria,.
Signs have been placed at swimming spots making people aware of the LAWA website and showing images of cyanobacterial algae.
As of yesterday, 14 tested spots were found to be unsuitable for swimming, according to LAWA, including Gladstone Reserve, near Levin, and Raumai Reserve on the Pohangina River.
Most of the spots were unsuitable because of toxic algae.
But that did not put off many punters at Raumai Reserve when the Standard visited yesterday afternoon, with plenty of people enjoying the water. No algal mats were visible along either riverbank. Rawiri Royal said it was his fourth visit to the river this summer, which was great after last year’s poor run. ‘‘We were lucky to get one day like this last year.’’ He worried about water quality generally and expected the new Government to improve it. Swimmers at Horseshoe Bend, near Tokomaru, were enjoying especially clear water at a spot with no E coli or algae problems. Rustah Edwards said his nephews were fans of the swimming hole. ‘‘I asked if they wanted to go to the Lido or here, and they said ‘Horseshoe Bend’. It’s a top place for the kids. The bottom is deep enough.’’