Health Warning Waingongoro River at Eltham Presbyterian Camp

South Taranaki District Council (STDC) regulatory manager, Chantelle Denton, has today issued a health warning for the area at Eltham Presbyterian Camp on the Waingongoro River.

“Routine sampling by the Taranaki Regional Council has found high levels of Escherichia coli (E.coli) at this location. Visitors to this site should not collect shellfish and plant life or come into contact with the water,” says Chantelle.

“Keep your pets away from the water too as they can also be affected,” she says.

The STDC has erected warning signs. Warning signs also remain in place for the Waingongoro River mouth at Ohawe.

Further water samples will be taken next week, and the warning signs will be removed when the levels are considered safe.

Chatelle reminds people that the general rule is to not swim after heavy rainfall.

“Heavy rain flushes contaminants from urban and rural land into waterways and we always advise people not to swim in streams/rivers for at least three days after heavy or prolonged rainfall – even if a site usually has good water quality.”