Red Alert At Foxton River Loop

Tuesday, 22 December 2009

A red health risk status has been advised at the Foxton River Loop with results of testing showing a high level of E.coli in the loop.

The testing was part of routine monitoring of the Foxton River Loop as part of the Horowhenua District Council's Foxton Waste Water consent.

The Council has received negative publicity in regards to its wastewater discharge, however, the monitoring results taken from the loop found Council is not to blame for the high E.coli contamination.

Readings downstream of the consent site returned values of 2,300 E.coli. The Foxton treated wastewater effluent result is only 36 E.coli, within the compliance limits of consent conditions.

While the contamination is not Council's doing, it is our responsibility to notify potential users of the loop and as such recommend there be no swimming in the Foxton River Loop and care should be taken whilst undertaking activities in or on the water.

 

The "traffic light" status code is as follows:

Green - should be safe for swimming

Amber - should be satisfactory for swimming

Red - could be a health risk for swimming