Health warnings on lakes lifted

Health warnings issued for parts of Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti were lifted yesterday after tests showed the number of toxic algal blooms has declined.

But the cyanobacteria blooms still plague Lake Rotoehu and Okawa Bay at Lake Rotoiti, where a ban on swimming and drinking water from the area remains.

Bay of Plenty medical officer of health Dr Phil Shoemack said experience suggested health warnings for Okawa Bay could be in place for months.

"This is a shallow, relatively small and sheltered bay which receives extra septic effluent, making it particularly susceptible to the cyanobacteria bloom," he said.