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Why this status?
Click here for detailed information on water quality monitoring
The scienceSummer season monitoring
LAWA shows the best available water quality information to help you decide where to swim.
Special Status
Special StatusUnsuitable for swimming.
This site has a long-term notice in place, as there is a moderate to high risk of illness for swimmers.
Sites with this special status have a history of poor or highly variable water quality.
This status is applied if known risk factors occur, such as:
- having known discharges (e.g. stormwater, sewage) impacting on water quality, or
- having consistently poor water quality based on monitoring data collected.
Reminder
Heavy rain flushes contaminants from urban and rural land into waterways and we advise you not to swim for 2 – 3 days after heavy or prolonged rain – even at sites that generally have good water quality. Check that the water is clean and clear before taking a dip.
Summer season monitoring history
- Samples this season
- Samples from last 5 years
Enterococci sampling graph- View as graph
- View as donut
What do the monitoring results mean?
Suitable for swimming – The monitoring result met national water quality guidelines at the time of testing.Caution advised – The monitoring result was slightly elevated at the time of testing. Water quality generally suitable for swimming, but young children, elderly or those with compromised health may be at increased risk of illness.Unsuitable for swimming – The monitoring result did not meet the national guidelines at the time of testing.Long-term grade information
Long-term grade based on five years of dataMinimum data points required 50 Highest Enterococci per 100ml value {{riskData.maxValue | number:0}} Number of data points available {{riskData.dataPoints | number:0}} Lowest Enterococci per 100ml value {{riskData.minValue | number:0}} Hazen 95th percentile result {{riskData.hazenResult}} Long-term grade {{riskData.rating}}What do the long-term grade icons mean?
Excellent – Risk of illness is less than 1% from contact with the water during the summer bathing period.
95th percentile of Enterococci / 100 mL is 0 - 40.Good – Risk of illness is less than 5% from contact with the water during the summer bathing period.
95th percentile of Enterococci / 100 mL is 41 - 200.Fair – Risk of illness is between 5 and 10% from contact with the water during the summer bathing period.
95th percentile of Enterococci / 100 mL is 201 - 500.Poor – Risk of illness is more than 10% from contact with the water during the summer bathing period.
95th percentile of Enterococci / 100 mL is more than 500.Not available – There were not enough data to determine the long-term grade at this site.Learn more
See factsheets for more information.
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Unpatrolled
Stay safe - never swim or surf alone. Find out more.
SwimmersUnpatrolled Beach
When swimming at an unpatrolled beach please watch out for yourself and others, never swim or surf alone, be aware of the dangers and know your limits. If in doubt, stay out.
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What's at this site?
Find out all recreational activities and facilities at this site
Activities & facilitiesSite suitable for these activities and has these facilities
Our lakes, rivers, and beaches are great natural playgrounds but they can be unpredictable. Be aware of other potential risks such as rips, strong currents, sudden drop offs, or underwater objects before jumping in. LAWA recommends that you avoid swimming for 2 - 3 days after heavy rainfall and follow the advice of any warning signs in place.
Activities
Swimming
Canoeing/Kayaking
Dog walking
To find out when and where you can exercise your dog please refer to your local authority.
Boating
Facilities
Picnic area
Car parking
Governors Bay
at Sandy Beach
Current status
Local authorities advise this site is ‘unsuitable for swimming’ this season due to the elevated risk to public health from contact with the water.
This special status is determined by the site's long-term water quality results. Weekly results may vary and may not reflect the health risks for contact recreation at this site. To access the results from monitoring at this site and understand the health risk, click ‘why this status’ below.
Sandy Beach is located above an extensive area of very soft mudflat. The access road is narrow and hazardous to enter/exit. Parking at the bottom of Sandy Beach Road. Monitored weekly between November and March by Environment Canterbury.
