New online tool gives up to date information on Whanganui swimming water quality

The Ruatiti Domain, with its Manganui o te Ao River, is one of the region's top swimming spots. Photo/ file

Dudding Lake and the Kai Iwi Stream are unsafe for swimming - but Whanganui's South Beach has had a clean record for a full 12 months.

The new online tool for finding out where the swimming is good has thrown up some surprising results in the Whanganui region.

The Land, Water, Air Aotearoa website has a new Can I Swim Here? online tool updated several times a day. To find it type LAWA Can I Swim Here? into a computer search engine.

The site uses information from the 80 swim spots monitored weekly during summer by Horizons Regional Council staff. It's national, with 700 swim spots covered.

In this hot summer a lot of people are taking a dip. And population pressure, a warming climate and intensifying farming is putting pressure on New Zealand water quality.

This week 10 Auckland beaches and parts of Lake Taupo were off limits for swimmers. The Phormidium cyanobacteria/bluegreen algae in parts of Lake Taupo can cause skin rashes and stomach upsets - or more seriously muscle weakness and breathing difficulty.

The Horizons Region has a huge range of sea, river and lake swim spots. On Thursday 55 were given the all clear, caution was advised at four and 19 were unsafe for swimming due to water quality issues.

Website is https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/swimming/

GREEN FOR GO
Manganui o te Ao River at Ruatiti Domain
Whanganui's South Beach
Whanganui River at Union Boat Club
Rangitikei River at Vinegar Hill

ORANGE FOR CAUTION
Lake Wiritoa
Mowhanau Stream at the footbridge
Ongarue River at Cherry Grove

RED FOR DON'T SWIM
Kai Iwi Stream at Archer's Bridge
Ototoka Stream
Dudding Lake
Hautapu River at Papakai Park