'Can I Swim Here?' launched today, delivers water quality info for Canterbury

A new ‘Can I Swim Here?’ online tool launched today means Canterbury’s residents and visitors can enjoy our rivers, lakes, and beaches with confidence this summer. The online tool launched by Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) shows the most up-to-date water quality information for nearly 100 sites across our region and is freely available on LAWA.org.nz/swim.

With Cantabrians now making the important decision of where to swim this summer, the launch is well timed. It comes three weeks after Environment Canterbury staff started their weekly summer-season water quality monitoring, and just before the council’s public information campaign begins.

Environment Canterbury Chief Scientist Tim Davie says that he is pleased to see that the information from samples they collect is freely available to the public.

“Each week we collect samples from 99 sites across the region and they are sent to an independent lab for water quality testing.

“We’re interested in the bacteria concentrations in rivers and the coast, as these indicate the risk to human health. The results are shown on LAWA’s ‘Can I Swim Here?’ website, with unsafe for swimming bacterial levels marked red and good levels marked green,” said Tim Davie.

In freshwater swimming spots, scientists also look for toxic algae, a mat-forming Cyanobacteria called Phormidium.

The LAWA website contains valuable information for families on other swim smart things to look out for before taking a dip. This includes advice on checking if the water is clean and clear, avoiding swimming for two days after heavy rainfall, and looking out for other possible hazards.

Environment Canterbury CEO Bill Bayfield is looking forward to using ‘Can I Swim Here’ this summer.

“This tool will help Cantabrians get out and enjoy the stunning rivers, lakes, and beaches our region has to offer.

“The website covers popular sites such as Ashley Gorge, Chamberlains Ford and Lake Hood, so I recommend people thinking of heading out for a swim take a look,” said Mr Bayfield.

Bill Bayfield says the regional council has created a public awareness campaign to help people know where to find safe swimming information.

“Just after Christmas, we’ll be launching our ‘Where’s good to swim today’ campaign, so that Cantabrians have access to this data at their fingertips,” he says.
“It’s a stunning summer so far, so it’s all about getting out there and enjoying all our region has to offer,” says Mr Bayfield.

LAWA is a partnership between regional councils, Cawthron Institute, Ministry for the Environment and Massey University and has been supported by the Tindall Foundation.
ENDS
The new ‘Can I Swim Here?’- www.lawa.org.nz/swim
For more information - https://www.lawa.org.nz/learn
Environment Canterbury – www.ecan.govt.nz/water

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