Waikato Coastal Database
Back to Search

Coastal Water Quality - Stream Mouth and Recreational Beach

1. Identification information

Status
Ongoing
Data Collection Date
2015 - present
Summary
Waikato Regional Council monitors a number of popular open coast beaches during the summer months to assess the suitability of the water for recreation such as swimming and surfing. We monitor these beaches weekly from November to March and the results are presented on the Council's website. This monitoring programme considers the suitability of the water at a number of recreational beaches by measuring ‘faecal indicator bacteria’ (enterococci in coastal waters). The number of bacteria present in the water indicate the likelihood of contracting a disease from many possible pathogens in the water such as bacteria or viruses. Results from the monitoring programme are compared to national guidelines to determine the suitability for recreation. The Waikato Regional Council also conducted a one-off survey of 18 coastal stream mouths in the Coromandel area during January and February 2015. Sites were selected based on their popularity and whether members of the community had previously raised concerns regarding water quality. The purpose of the survey was to investigate the water quality at these locations to provide an initial assessment of the suitability of these water types for the organisms that live there and the people that use them recreationally.
Content
Enterococci concentrations provided online for each site and date.
Study Types
  • Monitoring
Categories
  • Water quality

2. Contact information

Commissioning Agencies
  • Waikato Regional Council
Contact Organisations
  • Waikato Regional Council

3. Spatial information

Geographic Coverage
Swimming beaches on the eastern Coromandel Peninsula and West Coast of Waikato Region.
Grid Coordinates
Locations
  • Name
    Buffalo Beach, Tohetea Stream, Tarapatiki Stream, Purangi River
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Mercury Bay (including Wharekaho, Buffalo, Maramaratotara and Cooks Beaches)
    East Coast
  • Name
    Hot Water Beach
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Mercury Bay to Tairua Harbour (including Tairua Ocean Beach)
    East Coast
  • Name
    Ngarunui Beach (Raglan)
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    West Coast
  • Name
    Pauanui Beach
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Tairua to Wharekawa
    East Coast
  • Name
    Sunset Beach (Port Waikato)
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    West Coast
  • Name
    Tairua Ocean Beach, Taiwawe Stream
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Mercury Bay to Tairua Harbour (including Tairua Ocean Beach)
    East Coast
  • Name
    Whiritoa Beach, Otahu River, Te Ramarama Stream
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Otahu Estuary to Waihi Beach (including Whiritoa Beach)
    East Coast
  • Name
    Onemana Beach
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Wharekawa to Whangamata
    East Coast
  • Name
    Te Puru and Te Mata Stream Mouth
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Outer Firth of Thames and Thames Coast: Tararu to Deadman's Point
    East Coast
  • Name
    Manaia River
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Manaia Harbour
    East Coast
  • Name
    Whangarahi Stream
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Coromandel Harbour
    East Coast
  • Name
    Kuaotunu River, Pitoone Stream, Otama Stream, Stewart Stream
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Kuaotunu Peninsula (incudes Matarangi, Rings, Kuaotunu, Otama and Opito Beaches)
    East Coast
  • Name
    Pepe Stream, Graham's Creek
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Tairua Harbour
    East Coast
  • Name
    Wigmore Stream
    NZMG Easting
    NZMG Northing
    Location
    Whangamata Harbour
    East Coast

4. Data acquisition information

Collection Date
Recreational beach water quality November - March ongoing. Stream mouth water quality snapshot January-February 2015.
Methodology
When collecting stream mouth data, water samples were collected during the outgoing tide to ensure sampling water that was coming down the stream. Laboratory results for each sample were compared to ANZECC guidelines and results relating to the suitability for recreation were compared to the New Zealand recreational water quality guidelines. The ANZECC guidelines are conservative, which means that exceedances do not imply that there are any adverse effects. Instead, further investigation may be necessary to determine the extent of the effects, if any.

5. Data quality information

Known Limitations
Water quality can change dramatically over relatively short periods of time due in particular to rainfall events. These measurements are just a snapshot.

6. Distribution information

Format
Data available online (see link below)
Applications
Used to provide water quality information online over the summer months.
Availability
Freely available.

7. Status information

Data Status
Freely available.

8. Metadata information

General Notes
Related Links
Publications
Related Publications
Related Datasets

9. Related files

No files have been attached to this dataset

Back to Top