Safeswim is the essential tool for Aucklanders to use before heading out for a swim. It’s a website that gives up to date information about water quality and safety hazards at over 110 swimming spots across the region.
Using Safeswim helps you make the best decision about when and where to swim.
But ever wondered how the Safeswim programme works? Take a peek at what happens behind the scenes of Safeswim here:
The driving force of the Safeswim programme is its team of full-time water quality samplers. The team travel to 15-20 locations a day to collect water samples at popular swimming destinations and transport them to the laboratory. In total, there are over 200 locations around Auckland sampled, from Te Arai to Karioitahi.
The samplers drive up and down the region collecting samples in all conditions; rain, sun and wind. Typically, water quality sampling targets the periods during and after rain when the water is likely to be at higher risk from pollutants washed into the environment.
That’s why it is risky to swim during and immediately after heavy rainfall so avoid taking the risk and jump online before you jump in.
Always check Safeswim even if it hasn’t been raining, in case other risks are present such as physical hazards; it's a good habit to get into. Water safety hazards can include rip currents, dangerous weather conditions, jellyfish. Surf Lifesaving Northern Region has partnered with the Safeswim programme to help keep you safe at the beach.
While the programme is monitored on the ground by water samplers and surf lifesavers, what’s displayed on the website is made possible by millions of data points and calculations processed by predictive models. The Safeswim models have been calibrated to accurately predict from years of water sampling results.
To speed up the process, communities such as the Laingholm Wai Ora group have taken responsibility for their environment by getting involved. When there was a water quality issue at Laingholm Beach, community members collected hundreds of water samples to identify improvements in the water. This enabled everyone to get back in the water just in time for summer.
Have you checked if it’s safe before jumping in? Visit safeswim.org.nz for more information.
