Popular Welcome Bay swimming spot Kaiate Falls has been given a permanent health warning after officials failed to find the cause of the bacterial contamination that has been a feature of the site in recent months.
A health warning was first issued in January, and Medical Officer of Health Dr Phil Shoemack has now made that warning permanent.
Kaiate Falls has seen its health warning upgraded to permanent. Photo: File.
Ongoing water monitoring by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council shows high levels of bacterial contamination at Kaiate falls and the stream.
The council insist they have done extensive testing of the wider catchment upstream from Kaiate Falls, but no one source has been identified.
Regional council is working with land owners to reduce agricultural sources, says Phil.
The permanent health warning advises against recreational water contact with Kaiate falls and stream.
'Contamination of recreational water can cause a number of illnesses such as gastroenteritis - a diarrhoea and vomiting illness,” says Phil.
The warning posted in January was because of high levels of faecal coliform bacteria.
Officials at the time said regional council would be checking agriculture or stock access.
The Kaiate Stream headwaters originate in bush a relatively short distance away in the Papamoa hills.
The main stream crosses a kilometre or so of farmland before flowing beside the road for a short distance.
9 comments
Pathetic
Posted on 18-05-2015 19:38 | By peecee09
Surely with the huge fire power that the Reg Council has it is ridiculous that the source of this pollution can't be found. Work harder this is a popular place. Solve the problem .
Simple really
Posted on 18-05-2015 20:58 | By The Caveman
The crap is either coming from a "farm" operation that is feeding into an outlet to the river (underground or otherwise) OR its coming from a sewerage tank attached to a house that is leaking into the groundwater flowing into the river, OR it is a deliberate overflow release from one of the above. Solution - take water samples every 50 meters upstream from the falls - dirty, dirty, dirty, CLEAN ! So between the dirty / CLEAN samples is the problem - find it! - but your university know it all's have no practical experience............
Not looking hard enough
Posted on 19-05-2015 01:05 | By benkfie
It is really not hard to find the source, BoP council need to get it together
Convenient
Posted on 19-05-2015 08:45 | By Willem
Easier to slap a permanent warning sign on than to ensure that the source is found and measures taken to rectify this. The Reg Council has a RESPONSIBILITY to continue investigating until is is eliminated. If they can't do it themselves,they should get a private company to do it. It's that simple.
Farmers privatising their profits....
Posted on 19-05-2015 11:13 | By jed
Assuming that farmers are at fault (not much else in the area?) it is just another example of farmers privatising profits and socialising the cost of environmental damage. Although, I'm just guessing, could be wrong about the source.
Fix it, don't be scared council.
Posted on 19-05-2015 15:37 | By dgk
So, according to the article, the regional council have found several sources, and are working with some of them. Sounds like a wet bus ticket approach to me as the council should be fining them for fouling our waterways.
Sad
Posted on 20-05-2015 11:48 | By marygold
That's pretty sad that such a beautiful spot is contaminated. We are a tourist area and finding and fixing this problem should be a priority. It used to be so refreshing to walk to the falls and have a dip on a hot day. Come on EBOP - you get our rates so hurry up and fix this pollution so we can be proud of where we live.
90% of low lying waters
Posted on 20-05-2015 21:15 | By Blessed
are polluted, and NZers are drinking and swimming in crap.... this problem has been going on for ages, we pay increasing rates yet you cant fix the water problems around the country.. do something about it now, we dont get new water after all, it jst gets recycled, and its more and more polluted each time it comes back. ffs
I wonder
Posted on 21-05-2015 22:04 | By GreertonBoy
If caravaners and people in motorhomes might be emptying septics where the road is near the river? That's is a shame, I have been going to Kaiate fall since I was a kid... how can the council not find any permanent (actual) smoking gun? Sure hard to find visitors emptying van septics, but if it is from a farm or whatever, it shouldn't be difficult at all?
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