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 Community and Public Health is involved with maintaining and protecting the quality of coastal waters and freshwater waterways which are used for a range of recreational activities such as swimming, sailing, boating, surfing, water skiing, underwater diving and shellfish gathering.
Maintaining and protecting the quality of recreational water is an important environmental health and resource management issue.
Water can be contaminated by human or animal excreta containing disease causing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa.
Algal blooms are an additional contaminant that is appearing more frequently in our waterways. These can be blue/green in colour floating on the surface of lakes or blackish benthic mat-forming cyanobacteria clinging to rocks or collecting at the sides of rivers. Some cyanobacteria species are known to produce toxins.
Health Risks Associated with Contaminated Water
Contamination poses a health hazard when the water is used for recreational activities such as swimming and other high contact water sports. There is a risk that water will be swallowed, inhaled or come into contact with ears, nasal passages, mucous membranes or cuts in the skin, allowing pathogens or algal toxins to enter the body.
The symptoms of exposure to contaminated water are usually minor and short lived, however there is the potential for more serious diseases such as:
Symptoms of exposure to toxic algae can range from allergic reactions, asthma, eye irritations, and rashes to rapid onset of nausea and diarrhoea to gastroenteritis to other specific effects such as liver damage and possibly developing cancers.
Responsibility for Monitoring Water Quality
 The local regional council (e.g. Environment Canterbury or the West Coast Regional Council) coordinates the monitoring of the various sites throughout our region. The regional council informs Community and Public Health and the territorial local authority (TLA) if contamination levels present a potential health risk. Community and Public Health are responsible for supporting the TLAs in advising the public of the risk and ensuring that the TLAs take all steps to remove the contamination (if possible). Warning signs and media releases are used to inform the public of areas where a health risk has been identified.
Documents
Downloads
Order copies from the Community Health Information Centre
Links
Environment Canterbury (ECAN)
West Coast Regional Council (WCRC)
Christchurch City Council (CCC)
Selwyn District Council
Waimakariri District Council
Hurunui District Council
Ministry for the Environment
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Toxic Algal Bloom Warnings in Place around Canterbury
Updated 25 January 2012
Community and Public Health has issued a health warning because of increased concentrations of toxic algae (planktonic cyanobacteria) found in Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere.
The health warning for Lake Forsyth/Te Wairewa has been lifted.
Additionally, a health warning is in place after potentially toxic algae (benthic cyanobacteria) were found in:
- the Hurunui River downstream of the Hurunui Bridge on State Highway One
- the Ashley River at the Loburn Bridge
- the Waipara River at the Teviotdale Bridge and Stringers Bridge
- Pareora River at the Pareora Huts
- Opihi River at the State Highway 1 Bridge
Read the full media release on the Hurunui River Algal Bloom (CDHB).
Latest information on Canterbury lake and river water quality (Environment Canterbury).
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Coastal area shellfish ban partially lifted
Updated 6 January 2012
With effect from January 6th, Community and Public Health have lifted the ban on non-commercial collection and the eating of shellfish from the coastal area from Amberley to Birdlings Flat.
A ban remains in place for the area around the Avon/Heathcote Estuary, including Sumner Beach. This warning around the Avon/Heathcote Estuary, including Sumner Beach relates to the ongoing risk from bacterial contamination found in shellfish.
Around the remainder of the coastline from Amberley to Birdlings Flat, levels of phytoplankton (toxic algae) and DSP (Diarrehetic Shellfish Poisoning) toxin in seawater and shellfish as monitored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry are now within the safe limits.
Signage around the formerly affected areas of the coast will be taken down over the next few days.
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Rivers, Beaches and the Estuary open for Recreational Use
Updated 10 November 2011
The Avon and Heathcote rivers and estuary have been re-opened for recreational use following the completion of work to repair earthquake-damaged sewer pipes.
All city beaches are also now open for public use, including Scarborough.
There is likely to be bacteria and viruses in sediments of the rivers and estuary. Recreational users are advised to avoid contact with water containing sediment they have stirred up. People should also avoid contact with all waterways for 48 hours after heavy rainfall.
Latest information on Christchurch water quality (Environment Canterbury).
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For additional information, contact:
ECAN River and Flood Infoline (charge applies)
Ph: 0900 RIVER (74 837)
Didymo Emergency Hotline
Ph: 0800 809 966
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