"High levels" of faecal bacteria were found in water samples taken from a bay in Canterbury, prompting Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora to issue a health warning.
The water quality in Duvauchelle Bay on Banks Peninsula was "not considered suitable for recreational uses, including swimming, because of the risk to health from the bacteria and other pathogens", the National Public Health Service's Medical Officer of Health, Dr Cheryl Brunton, said today in a statement.
A number of other popular swimming sites in Canterbury may also have high levels of contamination after recent rainfall, she warned.
People have been advised to avoid all rivers and beaches for at least two days after heavy rain, and refrain from eating shellfish. If fish are eaten, the gut and liver should be removed, and the fish should be washed in clean water before cooking.
Water contaminated by human or animal faecal matter may contain a range of disease-causing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa.
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora lifted the warning for Duvauchelle Bay on January 15. The water was now safe for recreational use, Te Whatu Ora said.
More information about water quality could be found here.
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