Lake Rotoehu Health Warning Lifted

Lake Rotoehu Health Warning Lifted

The health warning in place for Lake Rotoehu since the end of 2009 has been lifted. Medical Officer of Health, Dr Phil Shoemack, says that “results of regular water testing performed by Environment Bay of Plenty confirm that the algal bloom has disappeared. This follows the usual pattern seen over the past 15 years where blooms start to be noticed around Christmas in some of the Rotorua lakes and they often continue till the early months of winter. All health warnings associated with algal blooms in any of the lakes have now been lifted.”

“Over recent summers blooms have still occurred in some of the lakes but they have not persisted for as long. This may represent some initial success of the various measures which have been taken to reduce nutrient levels in the lakes, but it is still likely to be many more years before the risk of algal blooms is fully addressed,” according to Dr Shoemack.

At any time people should still make their own judgement about water quality in the lakes. Blooms of blue-green algae can occur almost overnight. If a lake looks off colour or smells then stay out of the water.

ENDS

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