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Medical Officer Advises Against Water Sports
Medical Officer Advises Against Water Sports In Northern Part Of Estuary
Following the latest water quality testing undertaken by Environment Canterbury, Canterbury District Health Board’s Community and Public Health division advises residents that no water sports should be undertaken at anytime in the northern part of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai north of the line from Sandy Point across to Plover Street at any time.
Due to infrastructure damage following the Canterbury earthquake, sewage is still being discharged into the Avon River and water can contain elevated concentrations of human faecal bacteria, so contact with water in the northern part of the estuary is not recommended.
However, sampling has shown that water quality in the estuary is improving since testing first began after the earthquake.
Canterbury Medical Officer of Health, Alistair Humphrey says a flood tide dilutes contamination in the estuary. It is therefore recommended that water sports in the estuary should only take place two hours before to fours after high tide at Lyttelton.
Information on water quality for contact
recreation around Christchurch and Kaiapoi is online at
http://ecan.govt.nz/services/online-services/monitoring/pages/water-
-christchurch-post-4-september-2010-earthquake.aspx
contamination.
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