LAWA provides New Zealand's most comprehensive recreational water quality information to help you decide where and when to swim. The swim icons on LAWA show how water quality results compare to national guidelines.
For all sites:
- Avoid swimming for at least 2-3 days after heavy or prolonged rain, even at sites that usually have good water quality.
- Don't swim if the water is murky or smells unpleasant. Wait until it clears before taking a dip.
- Use your judgement. If unsure, check with the local council or choose another site to swim. Refer to the Swim Smart Checklist for more tips and information.
Latest result
The circle-shaped swim icons represent the most recent water quality result from weekly monitoring or the current predicted risk.
|
|
Suitable for swimming Low risk of illness: This site met the water quality guidelines for faecal indicator bacteria and/or toxic algae when tested, OR the water quality is predicted to meet faecal indicator bacteria guidelines. |
|
|
Caution advised Elevated health risk: The faecal indicator bacteria were slighted elevated when tested, OR the predicted result indicates a slightly elevated health risk. While within the guidelines, young children, the elderly or individuals with health conditions may be at an increased risk of illness. For freshwater sites routinely monitored for toxic algae, this site exceeded the alert level criteria when tested. Avoid contact where toxic algae levels are elevated. |
|
|
Unsuitable for swimming High risk of illness: This site exceeded water quality guidelines for faecal indicator bacteria when tested, OR the water quality is predicted to exceed the guidelines. For freshwater sites routinely monitored for toxic algae, this site exceeded the action level criteria when tested. Avoid contact with the water and any toxic algae along the water's edge. |
|
|
Not available Monitoring data is over two weeks old (or three weeks for toxic algae), or predicted data is unavailable. |
Weekly monitoring: Popular swim sites are tested weekly during the recreational bathing season by most councils. Results provide a snapshot of water quality at the time of sampling. Keep in mind that water quality can change - avoid swimming after heavy rain or if the water looks or smells unpleasant.
Predicted risk: In the Auckland, Northland and Wellington regions, the water quality at most sites are modelled to provide 'real-time' predictions of the current conditions. While these generally provide accurate predictions of water quality, there may be times or conditions where they are less reliable.
For more information on the national guidelines, see the Recreational water quality monitoring in New Zealand factsheet.
Long-term grade
The square-shaped swim icons indicate a site's long-term grade. Updated annually, this provides a precautionary risk guide to water quality during the recreational bathing season and should be considered alongside the latest monitoring results.
|
|
Excellent This represents some of the best recreational water quality sites. A site with this grade has been shown over a number of years and conditions to have water quality that is excellent for swimming. |
|
|
Good This represents sites that usually meet water quality guidelines, and water quality is considered generally suitable for swimming. |
|
|
Fair This represents sites in New Zealand that sometimes exceed the water quality guidelines, and water quality is often suitable for swimming. To better understand the risk at this site, we recommend looking at the monitoring history. |
|
|
Poor This represents sites that occasionally or frequently exceed water quality guidelines. To better understand the risk at this site, we recommend looking at the monitoring history or contacting the council for more information. |
|
|
Not available There are insufficient data to determine a long-term grade. |
Long-term grade swim icons are displayed by default when no recent monitoring results are available. They are determined from weekly faecal indicator bacteria testing over the past five bathing seasons. For more information, see the Recreational water quality monitoring in New Zealand factsheet.
Special status
This category is applies to sites with a history of poor water quality or temporary water quality issues that pose a risk to health. A special status overrides the recent test results and is removed once local authorities confirm the issue has resolved or the conditions have improved.
|
|
Unsuitable for swimming Long-term: A history of poor or variable water quality, often due to discharges like stormwater or sewage. Temporary: Assigned in response to a recent event causing water quality issues (e.g. a pollution event, a toxic algal bloom), or if the site has otherwise been determined unsuitable for swimming by local authorities. |
|
|
Caution advised Current conditions at this site may pose an elevated health risk to swimmers. There may be temporary water quality issues, or elevated toxic algae levels where you should avoid contact. |
For more information, visit the swim site page to learn why a site has been given a special status.
Conditions may have changed
Heavy or prolonged rain can impact water quality, which is why we recommend avoiding swimming for 2-3 days after significant rainfall. At some sites, nearby 'real-time' rainfall or river flow data are available. If rainfall or flow exceeds certain thresholds, it often indicates that water quality may be affected.
A raindrop icon may appear at sites* that met the guidelines when last tested, but there has been subsequent rainfall or flow rates that could have impacted water quality.
 |
Conditions may have changed Significant rainfall has occurred since the last water quality test result met the guidelines, which may have affected the water quality at this site. |
*Applies to sites where 'real-time' rainfall or river flow data can be correlated with water quality and this feature is enabled.