Health Warning for Pātea Boat Ramp
South Taranaki District Council (STDC) regulatory services manager, Chantelle Denton, has today issued a health warning for the Patea boat ramp.
“Routine sampling by the Taranaki Regional Council has found high levels of Escherichia coli (E.coli) at the boat ramp. Visitors to this area should not collect shellfish and plant life or come into contact with the water,” says Chantelle.
“Keep your pets away from the water too as they can also be affected,” she says.
Levels at Patea’s Mana Bay have tested clear.
Warning signs are being erected today. Further water samples will be taken next week, and the warning signs will be removed when the levels are considered safe.
Chantelle reminds people that the general rule is to not swim after heavy rainfall.
“Heavy rain flushes contaminants from urban and rural land into waterways and we always advise people not to swim in streams/rivers for at least three days after heavy or prolonged rainfall – even if a site usually has good water quality.”