Lake warnings

We monitor more than 100 popular recreational sites in Canterbury during summer.

Each swim site is given a long-term grade prior to each summer monitoring season for suitability for swimming and recreation. The grade is based on the last five years of bacteria sampling. Sites that are not recommended for swimming because of their long-term grade are red on the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website and signage should be in place at the site.

Temporary Health warnings are issued when a site was graded as good to swim but there is now an increased risk of cyanobacteria or faecal contamination. Advisory notes may be present but are not an official public health warning.

Cyanobacteria can occur in any waterway, at any time, so it is important that you know what it looks like. Find out more about cyanobacteria in waterways and how you can protect yourself and your animals.

Faecal contamination poses a risk to health, check out LAWA’s swim smart checklist, to know what to check before you swim.

Find out more about our monitoring programme.

Temporary Health Warnings

Lake Opuha

1 March 2023
 

Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health has issued a health warning after potentially toxic algae scums (planktonic cyanobacteria) were found in Lake Opuha.

People should avoid contact with the lake and downstream water bodies until further notice and animals, particularly dogs, should also not be allowed near the water until the health warning has been lifted.

No one should drink the water from the lake or any downstream waterbodies at any time. Boiling the water does not remove the toxin.

Exposure may cause skin rashes, nausea, stomach cramps, tingling and numbness around the mouth and fingertips. If you experience any of these symptoms visit your doctor immediately and please let your doctor know if you have had contact with the lake water.

Animals that show signs of illness after coming into contact with algal mats or scums should be taken to a vet immediately.

Environment Canterbury continues to monitor the lake weekly.

Mata Kopae/St Anne’s Lagoon

07 July 2022
 

Long-term water testing indicates that potentially toxic cyanobacteria bloom periodically in Mata Kopae/St Anne’s Lagoon.

There is a permanent health warning advising people (and animals) to avoid contact with water at this lake.

Fish and shellfish can concentrate toxins and their consumption should be avoided. If fish are eaten, remove the gut and liver and wash in clean water. No one should drink the water from the lake at any time. Boiling the water does not remove the toxin.

Exposure to cyanobacteria toxin may cause skin rashes, nausea, stomach cramps, tingling and numbness around the mouth and fingertips. If you experience any of these symptoms visit your doctor immediately and please let your doctor know if you have had contact with the lake water.

Animals that show signs of illness after coming into contact with algal mats or scums should be taken to a vet immediately.

Find more information about Mahinga Kai on the CPH website.

Environment Canterbury continues to monitor the lake on a quarterly basis.

Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere

8 February 2022
 

Canterbury DHB’s Community and Public Health unit has issued a health warning after potentially toxic blue-green algae (planktonic cyanobacteria) was found in Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere.

People should avoid the lake and animals, particularly dogs, should not be allowed near the water until the health warning has been lifted. Fish and shellfish can concentrate toxins and their consumption should be avoided. If fish are eaten, remove the gut and liver and wash in clean water.

Environment Canterbury continues to monitor the lake on a regular basis.

Find more information about Mahinga Kai on the CPH website.

Lake Rotorua (near Kaikoura)

Last updated 8 March 2019
 

Long term water testing indicates that there is a regular bloom of the potentially toxic cyanobacteria Anabaena and/or Microcystis present.


There is a permanent health warning advising people to avoid contact with water at this lake.


Environment Canterbury continues to monitor the lake on a regular basis.