Recreational water quality
New Zealand’s coastal beaches, rivers and lakes are widely used for a range of recreational activities such as swimming, sailing, surfing, water skiing and underwater diving. Maintaining and protecting recreational water quality is therefore an important public health and resource management issue.
Regional and district councils in New Zealand monitor water quality for contact recreation at about 200 fresh water and about 350 coastal beaches sites every summer.
Environmental snapshot
The environmental snapshot gives a summary of our exposure to risk from microbiological contamination at the freshwater and coastal beaches we use for recreation.
Did you know?
- Recreational water quality can be affected by effluent run-off from farmland, human wastewater discharges and stormwater outfalls. Bacteria levels are often highest after rainfall.
- Water that has been contaminated with human or animal effluent can carry a variety of disease-causing organisms.
- Disease-causing organisms can pose health risks to people using the water for activities such as swimming. Very young children, the elderly or people with impaired immune systems are particularly vulnerable.
Return to the main fresh water page
Last updated: 14 July 2011
