HUTT CITY COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE
7 FEBRUARY 2014

Swim spot closed

People are urged to stay clear of the Wainuiomata River at Richard Prowse Park.
Regular water quality monitoring results have found the presence of enterococci bacteria at levels which make it unsuitable for swimming or recreational activities. The health risk is determined from the number of bacteria found in water samples.

Hutt City Council together with Greater Wellington Regional Council and Regional Public Health are urging people to stay clear of the water as ingestion of contaminated water could result in diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting. Cuts and skin lesions can also become infected.

Divisional Manager of Regulatory Services Geoff Stuart says “Signs have been put up at the river site to warn people to stay clear and we are still investigating the source of this bacteria.

“Testing will continue with the next round of results due later today. Usually samples return to normal after two to three days and as soon as they are clear we will take the signs down.

“We will continue, as we do every year, to take samples weekly at various swim spots across the city to check water quality during summer.”

Results of the testing are also posted on the Greater Wellington Regional Council website.

ENDS

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