Canterbury swimming spots closed after sewage contamination warning

Canterbury residents are being warned to avoid four popular swimming spots contaminated with untreated sewage.

Diamond Harbour/Te Waipapa, Purau Bay, Church Bay/Kaioruru, and Charteris Bay/Te Wharau have all been closed to protect the public from effluent runoff in the harbour.

Tim Drennan, service excellence manager for Christchurch City Council, said the contamination occurred when a water pipe burst, damaging a sewerage pipe and contaminating the water.

Contractors are already on site at Diamond Harbour to repair the damage.

Swimming in the water in the meantime risks contact with bacteria and other pathogens, said Dr Imogen Evans, public health medicine specialist for the National Public Health Service.

Four Canterbury bays have been closed under a sewage contamination health warning. Image / Health New Zealand

“Water contaminated by human matter may contain a range of disease-carrying micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa.”

Residents should also avoid eating shellfish harvested at the bays and must gut and wash fish in clean water before consumption.