Parents of Tauranga canoeists are concerned a recent sewage overflow into Waikareao Estuary poses health risks to the youngsters practising at Kopurererua Stream.

But Tauranga City Council staff are assuring residents the spills are not significant and do not pose any danger to the athletes.

Canoe slalom athletes on the Wairoa River. Photo: Supplied

Chris Munro's son Daniel is one of 70 Canoe Slalom Bay of Plenty athletes who train before and after school on Kopurererua Stream or the Wairoa River.

On August 6 sewage overflowed into the Waikareao Estuary, near the intersection of Waihi Rd and Churchill Rd, caused by a build-up of baby wipes block a sewer.

Chris says hassles of sewerage overflows –and constantly cleaning up debris after wet weather – highlights the need for better water quality in the city's streams and rivers.

'A blockage is a blockage but it's a filthy creek [Kopurererua Stream] even without a sewage spill,” says Chris.

'We are worried because kids they do roll over and put their face in the water every now and then.”

After approaching TCC three years ago to train on the stream, parents are now seeking council input on developing it into a popular and clean environment.

Chris plans to meet with council next week to address the concerns and what mitigation can be implemented.

'They develop skate parks and do everything else. If they cleaned up the river and made it a nice amenity down there we would use it, but it wouldn't cost them anything.”

TCC pollution prevention manager Toby Barach says council is yet to receive test results back following the recent overflow, but says it isn't deemed a significant issue.

Toby says if a significant overflow council would inform all river-users of the pollution and the health risks associated.

In the latest incident health warning signs were installed around Kopurererua Stream and along the walkway at the Waihi Road end of the estuary.

Toby says there might be a reduction in water quality when it rains because of dairy run-off, but the Kopurererua Stream and Wairoa River have a 'good amount of flow through them” for concentrations not to be significantly high.

Canoe Slalom Bay of Plenty president Sue Clarke says believes there is no 'real risk” associated with training on the stream because the athletes don't actually put their heads under the water.

But Sue says she welcomes any improvements in water quality.

Canoe Slalom Bay of Plenty offered hand sanitizer during the latest overflow, and parents were informed of the overflow.

Sue says the club understands the problems associated with any stormwater overflow and that it runs into the stream, but the club has a close relationship with council to work through this.

'To be honest I have been in Prague, with teams away, where the water quality is terrible and we have had some dead bodies floating past while some people are training,” says Sue.

'We have limited options for training facilities, so we are prepared to take the risk.”