How will I know if the beach or lake water quality is safe?
If water quality is not within national health guidelines temporary warning signs on bright red posts will go up at the main access points of the affected beach or lake site. If you see red, don’t swim! The signs will be removed when water quality is safe.
Check this website or call 0800SAFESWIM to check if your favourite swimming spot is safe. Warning signs are not put up due to heavy rain so always remember DO NOT swim for 24hrs following heavy rain at North Shore City beaches or Lake Pupuke.
To find out where the temporary warning signs would be located at your local beach see the documents listed on the right for the following areas:
- Birkenhead/Beachhaven Area: Little Shoal Bay, Chelsea Bay, Kendall Bay, Soldiers Bay, Island Bay, Beachhaven Beach
- Devonport Area: St Leonards Beach, Narrowneck Beach, Cheltenham Beach, Torpedo Beach, Devonport Beach, Stanley Bay, Bayswater Beach
- East Coast Bays: Long Bay North, Long Bay Awaruku, Waiake Beach, Browns Bay, Rothesay Bay, Murrays Bay, Mairangi bay, Campbells Bay, Castor Bay
- Takapuna Area: Wairau Outlet, Milford Beach, Thornes Bay, Takapuna Beach, Lake Pupuke sites
Permanent warning signs
Permanent warning signs using our Tina and Tane characters have been placed at all major stormwater outlets on beaches. These signs do not relate to beach water quality, they refer only to the outlet point. There are always high levels of contaminants at stormwater outlets so they should be avoided at all times.
Can beach and lake water make people sick?
If there is a wastewater overflow or pollution incident that may have impacted a beach or the Lake, we test for Enterococci and E.coli to indicate the presence of pathogens (bugs) in the water. Pathogens can cause disease in humans and animals. Pathogens found in beach and lake water often come from contaminated stormwater and sewage.
High levels of pathogens can cause:
- stomach and intestine illness (gastrointestinal illness)
- colds and flu (respiratory illness)
- skin, eye and ear infections.
During swimming or water sports pathogens can enter your body through the mouth, nose, mucous membranes, and skin abrasions. We advise people not to swim or participate in water activities when water quality tests show high Enterococci or E.coli levels (an indicator of pathogens) or 24 hours after heavy rainfall. We’ll place warning signs at areas where water quality is not within the national guidelines and continue to notify people of test results.
What causes water quality to be unsafe?
Pollutants and contaminants can enter our streams, beaches and lake via wastewater overflows or the stormwater system and may contain pathogens (bugs) that can make you sick.
Stormwater is rain runoff from roofs; driveways, roads, car parks and other sealed areas and can contain contaminants such as animal faeces, dirt and heavy metals. Pollutants such as paint, detergents, chemicals and oil may also be present in the stormwater due to them being poured down the stormwater drains. This runoff enters streams and pipes, eventually ending up at a beach or Lake Pupuke.
Wastewater overflows may occur when there has been very heavy rain, causing wastewater to leak into streams and onto beaches. Dry weather overflows can also occur when wastewater pipes are damaged or blocked with fat or tree roots.
Is it safe to swim in North Shore City?
Yes it is. Generally water quality is safe for swimming at all North Shore beaches, if water quality at a particular location is above national guidelines there is a small risk that people may get sick. In general it is the very young and the elderly who are more susceptible. Regular water users like sportspeople may also be more at risk because of the frequency of their water use. The most common risks are of getting a mild diarrhoeal illness or a slight respiratory infection. If you have any concerns about possible symptoms you should contact your General Practitioner. At all times we advise people not to swim within 24 hours of heavy rainfall or in streams, at stream mouths, stormwater outlets or ponds at beaches.