Update 9 February 2024
Regarding the Stephens Bay Lagoon faecal bacteria readings - we are continuing to take tests at the site and the latest results should be made available in the next couple of days. Results to date have fluctuated but the presence has been declining overall. Therefore our current advice of refraining from swimming or accessing the Lagoon area remains in place for the time being. Please note that the Stephens Bay Beach has tested below alert levels, so is still safe to swim in.
UPDATE Tuesday 30 January: We have received the results from the sampling taken at Stephens Bay Lagoon on Friday 26 January and they came back as 414 Enterococci/100ml which is still above the alarm level although much lower than the two previous results which is a good sign. So, our previous advice stays in place and signage will stay up for the time being.
We have further sampling scheduled for today, Wednesday and Friday. We will provide updates as the results come in.
The Stephens Bay Beach sample on Friday was well below alert levels so it is still safe to swim at.
Please note, this alert is only for the lagoon area and not the beach.
Previous information
Tasman District Council wishes to inform the public that a high level of enterococci and faecal bacteria has been recorded at Stephens Bay Lagoon this week.
As a result, people should not swim, paddle or take kaimoana in the small lagoon until further notice.
Results from samples taken immediately south of where boats are launched show that these activities are safe at this point and likely to be from the south of here. As a precaution we suggest not swimming etc. between the boat launching area and the far north end of Stephens Bay.
The sample was taken very close to high tide at 8.55am on January 22, as part of our routine Bathing Water Quality Monitoring Programme.
A thorough check of our wastewater network at Stephens Bay hasn’t been able to pinpoint the source of the contamination at this stage.
The bacterial count is above acceptable levels and could cause some people to become ill.
However, this contamination is isolated to a very small area and the Enterococci concentrations at the beach nearby have been consistently low. Therefore, we are confident that this is not a widespread issue.
Further water sampling will be undertaken in the coming days.
Warning signage is already in place in the vicinity of the lagoon, recommending that no swimming, paddling or taking of shellfish occurs and this advice remains very much in place.
Ongoing monitoring of water quality investigation to determine the source of contamination, will continue.
If you are concerned about your health or are feeling unwell please contact Healthline for advice 0800 611 116, or seek medical attention immediately.
More information on enterococci and faecal bacteria can be found here: Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) - Faecal Indicator Bacteria(external link)