With the summer season upon us, everyone is looking to get out and enjoy the water and Waitaramoa / Hobson Bay is a great place to do that. However, it is important to note that the bay does suffer from poor water quality in some locations, due to ageing wastewater and stormwater networks.
Watercare and Auckland Council’s Eastern Isthmus Programme is building the new stormwater and wastewater networks required to fix these problems, and to bring the old network up to modern standards – but this will take many years. In the meantime, the water quality of streams flowing into the bay cannot be guaranteed, in wet or dry weather, and they pose a public health risk.
In collaboration with Auckland Regional Public Health Service and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, we have developed a simple guide for keeping safe in and around the water at Waitaramoa / Hobson Bay and Ōrākei Basin this summer.
Last year we added Te Tinana / Wilson’s Beach to the Safeswim network so that you can find up-to-date water quality data for the area by visiting safeswim.org.nz
So, before you head out to the water this summer check Safeswim so you can be confident of the water quality, and remember, if it has rained in the past 48 hours the water quality across the whole of Hobson Bay (including Ōrākei Basin) is likely to be poor and a risk to both people and pets. If in doubt, stay out.
- Download the Waitaramoa / Hobson Bay and Orakei Basin guide here [PDF]
