River's 'not safe' for New Zealand

First it was water in the tap that wasnt as healthy but a report that has been released on New Zealand river's shows the pollution in the NZ Rivers is very high, Dribble NZ News reports exclusivly. 

 

Not quite '100% PURE' but a report made by the Green Party shows the revlotion of pollution in NZ rivers, New Zealand residents never really hear about it but here is what we are looking at..

THE FACTS

• Waikato River, Lake Taupo and Manwatu River in the top 10 of the most polluted which could be TOO LATE for a clean up
• Taranaki's Whaiwakio River is also one of the polluted but if cleaned could lose polution and see the report wrong

 

"It's not too late to clean up our rivers" says the Green Party but water pollution in NZ is very high, the water quality was at a all time low at 27% to 28% on 'Very poor' followed by around the same ammount on 'poor' then around 30% on 'Fair'.

"Farm runoff and sewage going into rivers is the main problem, but also dumpage of rubbish in our rivers, rivers including Waikato River has also caused the problem too occur" says the Green Party

"One good rule for residents and visitors of NZ, Dont drink any of the river water, its dangerous", that quote going from every river, it is now 'too dangerous' to drink river water because of polluted water."

Even on mountains it has become polluted "My kids do eat the snow, now I tell them not too because you can just tell pollution is rising" Quote by a Taranaki resident talking about Mount Taranaki"

"ITS NOT OUR FAULT"

"Farmers we spoke too said it isnt their fault the goverment does not give us much places to dump sewage and farm runoff. You cant not expect rivers to get abit dirty, I mean rivers grounds are dirt" said a farmer in the Waikato region.

Another farmer in Taranaki said "Normally we clean up our farm reguarly which includes atleast some of the runoff going in streams which connect with rivers."

WHAT CAN I DO?

"Nothing, Simply nothing" says a Taranaki farmer but the Green Party is pushing for cleaning up the rivers of New Zealand, "We are suppost to be 100% PURE, Not 100% Polluted" says a Manukau, Auckland resident.

"If your on a farm dump your farm runoff, some place else, not in NZ rivers and streams"  said a Christchurch resident Mark.

So what we have discovered, its rather easy, help clean New Zealand rivers and streams, pick up your rubish that can polute the rivers and put it in the bins, our rivers arent safe for swimming in, and we need to change this.

New Zealand is known for the rivers and streams and being 100% PURE, but we arent showing that can do attitude, lets clean up our rivers and show off how good we are.

 

WORST POLLUTED RIVERS

1.WAIKATO RIVER: North of Huntly the river has high levels of E. coli and nitrogen caused by agricultural runoff. The river is used by duckshooters, whitebaiters and waterskiers.

2.TARAWERA RIVER, BAY OF PLENTY: Pulp and paper mills have reduced wastewater discharges into the river and oxygen levels are now high enough to support fish life. Still known as the "black drain".

3.LAKE TAUPO: Nitrogen leaching into the lake — more than 90% of which comes from farming — has degraded water quality and colour. Environment Waikato last year forced sheep, beef and dairy farmers to get a resource consent and has capped how much nitrogen they use.

4.TUKITUKI RIVER, HAWKES BAY: A tributary, the Pah Flat stream, takes sewage, including heavy metals and bacteria. There are toxic blue-green algal blooms at Havelock North near fishing lodges and popular swimming holes.

5.MANAWATU RIVER: Dairy effluent, wastewater discharges from Fonterra's Longburn milk processing plant and treated sewage from Palmerston North, Horowhenua, Tararua and Fielding. There are permanent "no swimming" signs downstream of discharge points.

6.WAIWHETU STREAM, WELLINGTON: Past discharge of toxic waste (including heavy metals) from industry has left a thick sludge of contaminants, with "mineable" quantities of lead, zinc and copper. In the Environment Minister Trevor Mallard's own electorate, the stream is considered to be New Zealand's most polluted urban waterway. A $6 million cleanup began this year.

7.NGAKAWAU RIVER, WEST COAST: Above the Stockton Plateau it is pristine, below the Stockton Opencast Mine it is contaminated by sediment and toxic chemicals — although a recent cleanup has reduced levels of metals. People fish and catch whitebait in the river's lower reaches.

8.KAIAPOI, AVON AND HEATHCOTE RIVERS IN CANTERBURY: High E. coli counts regularly make these urban rivers unsuitable fro rowing, kayaking and swimming during summer — although rowers continue to use the Avon and Kaiapoi. The upper Kaiapoi runs through a rural catchment where grazing stock use the river as a toilet.

9.LAKE FORSYTH/WAIREWA, CANTERBURY: Toxicity from high levels of blue-green algal bloom over the past 15 years has killed animals and made people sick. Recreational use is strongly not sadvised in summer. Eating shellfish is never advised although people do catch eels.

10.SELWYN RIVER: High bacteria counts make the Selwyn unsafe for swimming at several spots. It has a farming catchment in the foothills and often runs dry.

11.LAKE ELLESMERE: An overload of nutrients has led to a massive decline in trout numbers at this former world class fishery. A series of dry summers and water extraction for irrigation has affected water flows.

12.MATAURA RIVER, SOUTHLAND: The upper to mid reaches of the Mataura get farming pollution as well as discharges from factories. Used for trout fishing and catching whitebait. Fishing and bathing are not recommended before and after rainfall because of increased E. coli bacteria levels.

 

Dribble NZ News, Taranaki