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Wigmore Stream Water Quality

TCDC has agreed to provide Hahei Residents and Ratepayers Association with water quality test results from the Wigmore Estuary on a  regular basis.

Here is a copy of the agreement, HRRA TCDC Water Testing MOU

Samples are taken monthly except over the busy holiday season when they are taken weekly.

They are taken from the estuary of the Wigmore Stream as shown in the here

A summary of the results of these tests is shown below.

Date E. Coli Enterococci Ammoniacal Nitrogen (as N) mg/l Weather Prior to Sample/Comments
22/12/2017 23 46
10/01/2018 600 410
17/01/2018 40 11
26/01/2018 650 840
02/02/2018 2,300 530
11/02/2018 1,700 2,200
18/06/2018 17,000 5,000 <0.4
18/07/2018 320 220 <0.4
22/08/2018 450 100 <0.4
19/09/2018 13,000 2,300 <0.4
17/10/2018 94 260 <0.4
15/11/2018 150 170 <0.4
19/12/2018 1,300 510 0
27/12/2018 210 180 <0.4
02/01/2019 230 300 1
08/01/2019 2 7 <0.4
14/01/2019 2,600 340 <0.4
22/01/2019 92 10 <0.4
30/01/2019 140 72 0
07/02/2019 25 4.9 0
14/02/2019 270 94 0
20/02/2019 25 16 0
28/02/2019 350 150 0
03/02/2019 68 200 <0.4
04/04/2019 68 200 <0.4
11/04/2019 620 2,700.0 1.1
07/06/2019 18 52 <0.005
12/06/2019 220 350 0.1
08/07/2019 94 220 0
19/08/2019 42 33 0
11/09/2019 770 260 0.1
16/10/2019 2,000 200 0.1
13/11/2019 <1.6 25 0.2
05/12/2019 580 520 0.4
19/12/2019 290 570 0
23/12/2019 78 200 0
03/01/2020 18 72 0
11/01/2020 18 1.6 0.5
22/01/2020 63 31 0.1
28/01/2020 28 15 0
03/02/2020 <1.6 <1.6 0.1
11/02/2020 44 6.6 0
12/03/2020 64 8.2 0
01/04/2020 330 350 0.1
28/05/2020 1,400 480 <0.4
17/06/2020 390 540 0.1
15/07/2020 240 130 0.1
28/08/2020 460 30 0.2
07/09/2020 1,800 3,000.0 0.1
05/10/2020 11 4.9 0.044
16/12/2020 25 21 0.31
22/12/2020 98 110 0.037
31/12/2020 25 1.6 0.151
06/01/2021 510 350 1.1 40mm Rain 3 Jan, then dry Hot weather. Busy holiday season

All levels are reported as cfu/100 ml

To set these results in perspective, the Ministry of Environment provides guidelines for Recreational Fresh Water. These guidelines state that the maximum levels for E Coli   is 550 cfu/100ml and Entrococci is 280 cfu/100ml. As you can see, the water quality in the Wigmore frequently exceeds the maximum level. High levels normally occur during and after rainfall when stormwater washes organic material into the stream.

Our recommendation is to avoid swimming in the Wigmore Stream, particularly when it is raining and for a day or so afterwards

For detailed information on guidelines for recreational water quality in Seawater and Fresh Water, see NZ Ministry of Environment Guidelines here. Microbiological Quality Jun03. Go to table E2 in this publication. See below

Lab Test Results can be viewed by clicking here.

Waikato Regional Council Coastal Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Programme.

Waikato Regional Council (WRC) monitors beaches in the Coromandel. Click here to see the latest information. 

When reviewing WRC data however, note that only seawater from beaches is sampled. We think it is important to also monitor streams that flow into the ocean as many children like to play in the stream estuaries.