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Marlborough's Best Swimming Spots

Friday 19 October 2012, 4:05PM

By Marlborough District Council

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MARLBOROUGH

Marlborough’s best swimming spots, based on the quality of the water, are Ngakuta Bay, Mistletoe Bay, Te Mahia, Bobs Bay, Marfells Beach and Whites Bay.

All these beaches are graded 'Very Good'; the highest level. The grades are based on five years of weekly data collected over the summer months so water quality has to be consistently very good in order to make the top grade.

Swimming spots which are graded as 'Good' are Anakiwa, Portage, Shelly Beach, Tirimoana, Waikawa Bay and Pelorus Bridge.

A very wet summer going into 2011 did mean the last year’s test results were not as good as usual in some areas. Bacteria counts are known to increase after rainfall.

The swimming spots with the lowest grade, 'Very Poor', are Moenui, Oyster Bay, Picton Foreshore, the Rai River, the Pelorus at Totara Flat and the Taylor River.

Mayor Alistair Sowman says sewage overflows and stormwater increase the bacteria load at Picton during bad weather - which is one of the key reasons a major sewage upgrade is underway for the town.

Cattle have been shown to be the source of contamination at Moenui, the Rai River and the Pelorus at Totara Flat. The Council has been working closely with the local dairy industry to deal with this issue.

Momorangi ‘s previous ‘Poor’ ranking improved to ‘Fair’ last summer. Momorangi has been shown to have water quality problems in recent years but the source has been tracked to wildlife in the area - primarily birds.

"It's a beach surrounded by bush so wildlife is part of the environment. I don't think anyone would suggest that birds be eliminated. It's just a case of being sensible. The Council posts up-to-date information about water quality on its website and, if water quality ever drops to unsafe levels, public health notices are put up at the beach," said Mr Sowman.

The Council takes regular samples over summer at 18 coastal sites, as well as 13 river-water spots, checking for organisms that could cause illness or infection for people swimming or playing in the water. Extended testing of the water will be done this summer at the worst performing sites to trace the major sources associated with high bacteria levels.

People are able to check the Council website for information on Beach and River Grades and also to get up to date information about water quality every week from November through to March.

Bacteria numbers are known to be high after a period of heavy rainfall so it is advisable not to swim after heavy rain or if the water looks dirty or murky.