Compliance of monitored coastal swimming spots for 2003–2009
These results suggest that recreational water quality at monitored coastal sites has been relatively stable at a national-scale over the last six years. The number of sites with samples that met the guidelines for contact recreation on at least 95 per cent of sampling occasions has fluctuated between 65 and 80 per cent.
Compliance of monitored coastal swimming spots with guidelines for contact recreation, 2003–2009
Compliance category |
Proportion of sites in each compliance category |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003-04 |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
2006-07 |
2007-08 |
2008-09 |
|
95 to 100% of samples comply (water quality is suitable for swimming almost all the time) |
65.2% |
76.8% |
70.6% |
80.2% |
71.9% |
72.1% |
90 to <95% of samples comply |
18.7% |
14.6% |
16.7% |
13.5% |
18.0% |
15.4% |
75 to <90% of samples comply |
14.0% |
8.0% |
10.7% |
5.3% |
7.1% |
9.9% |
Less than 75% of samples comply (water quality is often unsuitable for swimming) |
2.0% |
0.6% |
1.8% |
1.1% |
3.0% |
2.6% |
Notes:
1. Data is based on samples collected typically over the period from November to March so spans two calendar years.
2. Results for each summer are based on data from about 350 coastal sites where at least 10 water quality samples were taken. The number of sites varies from year to year as regional monitoring programmes change. For example, the summer with the fewest monitored sites (342) was 2003-2004 and the summer with the most monitored sites (384) was 2005-2006.
3. Compliance with the guidelines for contact recreation for coastal water is based on the ‘action’ threshold of 280 enterococci per 100 millilitres of water sampled.
Source: Data collected by regional, city and district councils and collated by the Ministry for the Environment.
Want to know more?
The snapshot report on coastal recreational water quality for 2003 to 2009 has more detail on:
- what affects coastal water quality
- the associated public health risks
- how samples are collected
- what sites are monitored
- accessing data for beaches in your area
- what the results mean.
Individual councils may know the cause of non-compliance with guidelines at certain sites. If you would like to know more about water quality in your area, contact your local council.
The above information has come from the snapshot report on recreational water quality and Environment New Zealand 2007.
Return to the compliance of water quality at coastal swimming spots with guidelines page.
Last updated: 26 February 2010
