Health warning lifted at Lake Tekapo
Media Release
SUBJECT:
Health
warning lifted at Lake Tekapo at camp
ground
17th
November 2019
The Community and Public Health division of South Canterbury District Health Board has lifted its health warning at Lake Tekapo at the camping ground.
Latest water testing results show faecal bacteria levels in Lake Tekapo at the camping ground are now below guideline values and the health warning issued on November 15th, 2019 has been removed with the water suitable for recreational use.
“This is great news for
swimmers and other recreational water users at Lake Tekapo
who would have been avoiding the water,” Dr Cheryl Brunton
says. “They can now get back in the water without the
risk of illness.”
When a health warning is in place,
water quality at affected sites is not considered suitable
for recreational uses including swimming because of the risk
to health from the bacteria and other pathogens.
Water
contaminated by human or animal faecal bacteria may contain
a range of disease causing micro-organisms such as viruses,
bacteria and protozoa.
“In most cases the ill-health effects from exposure to contaminated water are minor and short-lived. However, there is the potential for more serious diseases, such as hepatitis A, giardia, cryptosporidiosis, campylobacter and salmonella,” Dr Brunton says.
For more information about affected sites, visit the Environment Canterbury website:http://ecan.govt.nz/services/online-services/monitoring/swimming-water-quality/Pages/Default.aspx
For more information on Mahinga kai: Mahinga Kai
ENDS