Introduction

The Recreational Bathing Water Quality Programme is a joint project between the Northland Regional Council, the Northland District Health Board (DHB) and the three district councils – Far North (FNDC), Kaipara (KDC) and Whāngārei (WDC). The aim of the programme is to provide information so the public can make informed decisions about where to swim.

In Northland, swimming sites – particularly freshwater sites – are not always safe for swimming. Water can sometimes be contaminated with human or animal waste, particularly after rainfall. This 'effluent' can contain illness-causing organisms and swimming in contaminated water can lead to skin, eye and ear infections, and stomach and respiratory illness.

Swimmers at Kapiro Stream.