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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

The results of these tests are shown below.

Date E. Coli Enterococci
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
18/07/2018 320 220
22/08/2018 450 100
19/09/2018 13,000 2,300
17/10/2018 94 260
15/11/2018 150 170
19/12/2018 1,300 510
27/12/2018 210 180
02/01/2019 230 300
08/01/2019 2 7
14/01/2019 2,600 340
22/01/2019 92 10
30/01/2019 140 72
07/02/2019 25 4.9
14/02/2019 270 94.0
20/02/2019 25 16.0
28/02/2019 350 150.0
04/04/2019 68 200.0
04/04/2019 68 200.0
11/04/2019 620 2,700.0
07/06/2019 18 52.0
12/06/2019 220 350.0
08/07/2019 42 33.0
11/09/2019 770 260.0
17/10/2019 2,000 200.0
14/11/2019 <1.6 25.0
05/12/2019 580 520.0
19/12/2019 290 570.0
24/12/2019 78 200.0
03/01/2020 18 72.0
11/01/2020 18 1.6
22/01/2020 63 31.0
28/01/2020 28 15.0
03/02/2020 <1.6 <1.6
11/02/2020 44 6.6
12/03/2020 64 8.2
1/042020 330 350.0

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 storm water 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

Wigmore Sample Point

Wigmore Estuary Lab Tests Details

Historical Data

If you would like to see Wigmore Stream Water Quality from 2010, as an excel spreadsheet, click on Wigmore Stream Data to download it. This information is provided by TCDC/Veolia

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.