Love Our Lakes

If you’re planning a trip to the Waitaki lakes, make sure you’re responsible with your rubbish and use the bins provided (or take it with you). Rubbish in the waterways can impact both the water quality and the wildlife that lives there.

A good idea is to pack a waste-free picnic to reduce food and drink rubbish when visiting your favourite lakeside spot.

It may take a little more planning but a waste-free picnic - using reusable containers, a water bottle, flask and plates – really cuts down on the rubbish that’s le­­ft when you pack up. The difference is surprising, a couple of apple cores versus a bag of rubbish.

Ideas for a waste-free picnic:

• Use a picnic set rather than disposable plates and cutlery.
• Fruit is a great low-waste option.
• Aim to pack sandwiches rather than buying prepackaged items.
• Use beeswax wraps or reusable containers for storing food.
• Remember to pack a reusable drink bottle and a flask for hot drinks
• Don’t forget some yummy home baking brought in a cake tin or container.
• Pack a face cloth for wiping hands and faces rather than paper serviettes or baby wipes
• Make sure you either take home any waste or dispose of it in provided bins.

When visiting our lakes, it’s important to use the public toilets provided to protect the waterways from pollution. 

Bacteria and other pathogens from poo can make swimmers very sick and affect mahinga kai; food gathering and the māuri (life force) of the water. If bacteria levels reach the level for health warning, the recreation area may be closed, which can affect thousands of holiday-makers.

It only takes a small amount of poo to cause a health alert. If you’re looking after babies or toddlers that aren’t toilet trained, make sure they wear a swim nappy. Dog poo can also be harmful so scoop up any dog poop and dispose of it in the rubbish.

If you’re travelling in a campervan, remember improper disposal of toilet waste can contaminate water, damage the environment and is culturally offensive. Use disposal facilities for any campervan sewage waste.

Find out more about how poo impacts water quality and what you can do to keep our lakes poo-free.

Our lakes and rivers are not a drain – so make sure you do your washing in a tub and dispose of all soapy water properly, preferably down a dedicated camp bathroom or kitchen drain.
Soaps and detergents can harm the tiny wildlife that lives in our waterways so it’s important not to tip any leftover washing water into the lake or river.

If you have no access to camping facilities: When cleaning and washing in open waterways, take the water and wash far away from the water source. Drain used water into the soil to allow it to be filtered.

And don’t forget - improper disposal of toilet waste can contaminate water, damage the environment and is culturally offensive. Use disposal facilities for any campervan sewage waste.

Some of the aquatic pest species present in New Zealand exist within our region, but many of our lakes and rivers remain pest-free. You can help keep it this way.

Prevent aquatic weed invasions

• Check boats, trailers and anything else that was in the water, including your dog’s paws if your dog is in the water with you, for any plant material and remove it. Leave debris at the site or, if you find any later, treat and dispose of it in the rubbish. Do not wash down drains.
• Clean all equipment (eg, nets, machinery, footwear and clothing) thoroughly with an appropriate decontamination solution before putting it in any new waterway.
• Dry - if you can't clean your gear or animals, restrict use to a single waterway or dry completely to the touch inside and out, and leave to dry for at least another 48 hours.

For more, visit our dedicated Check, Clean, Dry webpage.