Greater Christchurch waterways update
Environment Canterbury is advising residents to check the status of water quality in their area ahead of the Labour Day weekend and avoid using waterways that are showing high levels of bacterial contamination.
Environment Canterbury surface water quality scientist Michele Stevenson said that specific testing sites along the Avon/Otakaro, Styx, Kaiapoi and Waimakariri rivers, and at the northern part of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai continue to be affected by sewage discharges as a result of damaged sewer lines and pumping stations.
“Although the remedial work on the sewerage system is making good progress, there are still areas throughout the Christchurch and Waimakariri districts where not all the wastewater is being captured back into the system,” said Ms Stevenson.
“People need to check Environment Canterbury’s website for updated information and avoid areas where sewage discharges are still occurring and high levels of contamination have been recorded.”
Some reaches of the rivers and part of the Avon-Heathcote estuary/Ihutai are coded red on the maps and this indicates they are closed for activities such as boating, whitebaiting and fishing.
Ms Stevenson said that infiltration of water can increase the volume of wastewater that overflows from the system into waterways. The risk to water quality and public health is therefore higher following significant rainfall. Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Alistair Humphrey says that the southern half of the estuary can be used between two hours before high tide and four hours afterwards but residents should avoid contact with all waterways for 48 hours after a rainfall event.
Christchurch City Council reports that there are still flows into the Avon/Otakaro and Styx Rivers, however good progress is being made with completing repairs reducing overflows by almost 40 percent.
Waimakariri District Council reports that in Kaiapoi, there are still flows into the Kaiapoi River, and at Pines and Kairaki, there are discharges into Saltwater Creek and the Waimakariri River. Information will be made public when the discharges are due to cease.
Signage has been put up along affected waterways where the water may be dangerous to health and Environment Canterbury will be directly contacting recreational water user groups to inform them of where information on water quality and the levels of contamination is available.
Information on water quality and shellfish safety around Christchurch is online at http://ecan.govt.nz/services/