Following last week's heavy rain, Toi Te Ora is warning of potential health risks associated with contaminated recreational water.
"If you swim in or drink contaminated water, you risk getting sick," said Dr Phil Shoemack, Medical Officer of Health.
Illnesses you can catch include a tummy bug, a sore throator skin infection.
After heavy rain water is likely to be contaminated with animal faeces from rural and urban run-off. As a precaution people should avoid swimming in rivers, streams and harbour areas for 48 hours after heavy rainfall events, Toi Te Ora Public Health said in a statement.
It said local councils kept a close eye on the quality of or bathing spots and tested the water regularly. If a recreational water site was found to be significantly contaminated, with risk to public health, Toi Te Ora Public Health informed the public by issuing a health warning and the local council erected warning signs.
What action to take: • Avoid swimming for at least 48 hours after heavy or prolonged rain. • At any time if you notice the water in your local lake, river, harbour, estuary or beach is murky or has a musty smell, go somewhere else.
Up-to-date information on health warnings for the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts is available through these channels: • Phone: 0800 221 555 • Website: www.toiteora.govt.nz/health_warnings • Facebook: www.facebook.com/toiteora • Twitter: www.twitter.com/toiteora • Email alerts for subscribers: www.toiteora.govt.nz/alert
