Rivers, lakes and the coast are places that help give Tāmaki Makaurau its unique identity and are special places for Aucklanders.
Auckland Council monitors water quality and freshwater ecology at many sites across the region, and now Aucklanders have easier access to information about this through an enhanced online tool.
The Water Quality and River Ecology Data Explorer provides an interactive summary of water quality and freshwater ecology data covering Tāmaki Makaurau rivers, lakes, groundwater, and the coast.
Dr Jane Atoa, Auckland Council Scientist, says the new tool enhances access for Aucklanders to view water quality data.
“Previously, annual reporting for water quality was delivered as reports. This has been replaced by the interactive data explorer. This change is part of our commitment to continually improve access to council data – it’s about transparency and sharing the wealth of data we have access to with our community and colleagues,” says Dr Atoa.
“Summary reports have been produced to provide highlights about the state of our waters around the region and will be the first port of call for most Aucklanders but some groups will find the extra detail in the data explorer more useful.”
The data explorer is publicly available on the council’s Environmental Data portal, along with detailed guidance on what is displayed so users can see how to use the data explorer. Aucklanders can also use the data portal to access other environmental data and find details of a range of the council’s environmental monitoring programmes – like rainfall data.
Cr Richard Hills, Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee welcomes this tool and reiterates the importance of sharing our data with Aucklanders where we can.
“Aucklanders can use the interactive data explorer to compare water quality and ecology data across the region on maps, compare between areas and view the data over time. This will be invaluable for community groups, schools and universities, volunteer groups and those simply just interested in our water quality monitoring,” says Cr Hills.
“For example, community groups that test water quality can use the data explorer to look at the data the council holds for their stream, and volunteer groups carrying out riverbank plantings can use the data explorer to assess water quality information about the awa/river they are working on. Students and researchers will find a wealth of information about water quality in Auckland reaching back several years.”
“After several years, increased access to data testing and modelling can give rise to the increased perception that water quality is far worse than it has ever been. However, it is important to note that much of the data and testing was not available in decades past. As the council obtains more information, we can use the data to direct investment to the right places to improve outcomes for our awa and moana.”
How the data is collected
The Auckland Council Environmental Evaluation and Monitoring Unit monitors the state of the environment from maunga to moana, including rainfall, terrestrial biodiversity, air quality and marine ecology. This work measures the health of the environment, tracks changes over time and identifies emerging issues.
Decide with Safeswim
The Water Quality and River Ecology Data Explorer should not be used as a tool to make decisions about entering water for recreational activities, like swimming. But don’t worry – we already have that covered.
Aucklanders should visit Safeswim for information to make informed decisions on when and where to swim. Safeswim provides access to real-time information on water quality, swimming conditions, and safety hazards for popular swimming locations around the region.
