On the beaches Recreational water quality monitoring results for the 2013/14 summer Cover photos Report prepared by: S Morar Environmental Monitoring Officer S Greenfield Senior Environmental Scientist Report reviewed by: J Milne Team Leader – Aquatic Ecosystems and Quality Report approved for release by: G Sevicke-Jones Manager, Environmental Science Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Environmental Science Department in association with: Cover photo: Castlepoint Beach, eastern Wairarapa, Juliet Milne DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared by Environmental Science staff of Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and as such does not constitute Council policy. In preparing this report, the authors have used the best currently available data and have exercised all reasonable skill and care in presenting and interpreting these data. Nevertheless, GWRC does not accept any liability, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, arising out of the provision of the data and associated information within this report. Furthermore, as GWRC endeavours to continuously improve data quality, amendments to data included in, or used in the preparation of, this report may occur without notice at any time. GWRC requests that if excerpts or inferences are drawn from this report for further use, due care should be taken to ensure the appropriate context is preserved and is accurately reflected and referenced in subsequent written or verbal communications. Any use of the data and information enclosed in this report, for example, by inclusion in a subsequent report or media release, should be accompanied by an acknowledgement of the source. The report may be cited as: Morar, S and Greenfield, S. 2014. On the Beaches: Recreational water quality monitoring results for the 2013/14 summer. Greater Wellington Regional Council, Publication No. GW/ESCI-T-14/63, Wellington. Executive summary This report summarises the results of weekly water clarity following freshes accounted for the recreational water quality monitoring undertaken majority of occasions when the guideline was not over the 2013/14 summer bathing season (1 met, with upstream river works affecting clarity on November 2013 to 31 March 2014). The recreational a few occasions at some sites such as Hutt River at water quality monitoring programme is undertaken Poets Park. by Greater Wellington Regional Council along with Forty one of the 61 coastal sites (67%) failed to meet Kapiti Coast District Council, Porirua City Council, the MfE/MoH (2003) action guideline on at least one Hutt City Council and Wellington City Council to occasion during the 2013/14 summer. Sites that most identify risks to public health from disease-causing frequently went over the action guideline were Island organisms and toxic cyanobacteria. Bay at Reef Street Recreation Ground, Island Bay at Over the 2013/14 bathing season recreational water Derwent Street and Owhiro Bay; several guideline quality was monitored at 24 freshwater sites and 61 breaches at these sites were not associated with coastal sites. At each site, weekly water samples were significant rainfall prior to sampling. taken for analysis of faecal indicator bacteria (E. coli As of the end of the 2013/14 bathing season, 28 (46%) at freshwater sites, enterococci at coastal sites and coastal monitoring sites have SFRGs of ‘good’ or faecal coliforms at coastal shellfish gathering sites) better. Twenty five sites are graded ‘fair’ and the and results were assessed against the Ministry for remaining eight sites are graded ‘poor’: South Beach Environment (MoH)/Ministry of Health (MoH) (2003) at Plimmerton, Porirua Harbour at Rowing Club, national microbiological water quality guidelines. Titahi Bay at South Beach Access Road, Island Bay At freshwater sites, filamentous algae, mat algae at Surf Club, Island Bay at Reef Street Recreation and benthic cyanobacteria cover were assessed Ground, Island Bay at Derwent Street, Owhiro Bay and results compared to the MfE (2000) nuisance and Rona Bay at Cliff Bishop Park. periphyton guidelines and the MfE/MoH (2009) interim cyanobacteria guidelines. Water clarity was Faecal source tracking investigations undertaken also assessed at freshwater sites (for the first time, at coastal sites graded ‘poor’ in the 2013/14 bathing replacing previous turbidity measurements) and season suggested a range of faecal contamination results compared to the MfE (1994) guideline for sources including human sewage (Porirua Harbour at recreational waters. Rowing Club and Owhiro Bay as well as all tributary streams sampled), wildfowl (Titahi Bay at South Of the 20 freshwater sites monitored weekly over Beach Access Road and Rona Bay at Cliff Bishop the 2013/14 summer season, 12 sites (60%) went Park as well as all tributary streams sampled) and above the MfE/MoH (2003) action guideline on at dogs (South Beach at Plimmerton and Owhiro Bay). least one occasion. All but two of these instances Capacity Infrastructure Services and local councils coincided with significant rainfall in the 24 hours are investigating sewer and stormwater infrastructure prior to sampling and/or elevated river flows. Of the within the catchments of most sites currently graded total 24 freshwater sites monitored, six sites (25%) ‘poor’. have ‘all weather’ Suitability for Recreation Grades (SFRGs) of ‘good’ or better while 17 sites (71%) now Of the seven coastal sites monitored to assess water have ‘dry weather’ SFRGs of ‘good’ or better. Faecal quality for recreational shellfish gathering in 2013/14, source tracking analyses undertaken on samples only two (Peka Peka Beach on the Kapiti Coast and from Wainuiomata River at Richard Prouse Park and Shark Bay in Wellington City) fully complied with the upstream tributaries suggested that discharges from MfE/MoH (2003) guidelines. The remaining five sites on-site wastewater treatment systems, stock access to breached one or both guideline criteria. Wainuiomata Stream and illegal sewage discharges to Skerret’s Creek are likely sources of contamination at this site. There was only one occasion at one site, Ruamahanga River at Waihenga Bridge, when the MfE (2000) nuisance filamentous periphyton guideline was not met during the 2013/14 bathing season. The guidelines for nuisance mat periphyton and benthic cyanobacteria were met at all sites on all sampling occasions. The MfE (1994) guideline for water clarity was met most of the time (80% of sampling occasions). Poor Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. Recreational water quality monitoring in the Wellington region 2 2.1 Monitoring objectives 2 2.2 Microbiological water quality indicators and guidelines 2 2.2.1 Trigger values 2 2.2.2 Suitability for recreation grades 3 3. Recreational water quality in freshwaters 4 3.1 Introduction 4 3.2 Monitoring protocol 4 3.3 Guidelines 5 3.3.1 Microbiological water quality guidelines 5 3.3.2 Nuisance periphyton guidelines 6 3.3.3 Interim cyanobacteria guidelines 6 3.3.4 Water clarity guidelines 7 3.4 Faecal source tracking 7 3.5 Data analysis 7 3.6 Results 8 3.6.1 Compliance with trigger values 8 3.6.2 Suitability for recreation grades 8 3.6.3 Faecal source tracking 10 3.6.4 Compliance with nuisance periphyton and cyanobacteria guidelines 11 3.6.5 Compliance with water clarity guideline 13 3.7 Summary 14 4. Recreational water quality in coastal waters 15 4.1 Introduction 15 4.2 Monitoring protocol 15 4.3 Guidelines 16 4.3.1 Microbiological water quality trigger values 16 4.3.2 Suitability for recreation grades 16 4.4 Data analysis, limitations and cautionary notes 17 4.5 Faecal source tracking 17 4.6 Results 17 4.6.1 Compliance with trigger values 17 4.6.2 Suitability for recreation grades 21 4.6.3 Faecal source tracking 22 4.7 Summary 25 5. Recreational shellfish gathering water quality 26 5.1 Introduction 26 5.2 Monitoring protocol 26 5.3 Guidelines 26 5.3.1 Cautionary note 27 5.4 Data analysis and limitations 27 5.5 Results 28 References 29 Acknowledgements 31 Appendix 1: Monitoring sites 32 Appendix 2: Rainfall stations 35 Appendix 3: Laboratory and field methods 36 Appendix 4: Summary statistics and SFRGs 37 1. Introduction Regional and territorial authorities monitor This report summarises the results of weekly recreational water quality to identify risks to public monitoring undertaken over the 2013/14 summer health from disease-causing organisms and advise the bathing season and presents updated Suitability for public of these risks. People can then make informed Recreation Grades (SFRGs) for the region based on decisions about where, when, and how they use rivers these results. A more comprehensive assessment of and the marine environment for recreation. recreational water quality is prepared on a five-yearly basis as part of GWRC’s State of the Environment Recreational water quality monitoring in the reporting (eg, see Greenfield et al. 2012a). Wellington region during 2013/14 was once again a joint effort involving the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and its constituent local councils, in particular the Kapiti Coast District Council, Porirua City Council, Hutt City Council and Wellington City Council. Regional Public Health and Wairarapa Population Health were consulted when the results of the monitoring indicated an increased likelihood of illness associated with recreational use. During the summer bathing season (mid-November 2013 to 31 March 2014), weekly water test results were collated by GWRC and displayed at www.gw.govt. nz/on-the-beaches. Information on the presence of potentially toxic cyanobacteria at freshwater sites is also displayed. Waikanae River upstream of the monitoring site at State Highway One. This site has a ‘dry weather’ grade of ‘good’ and an ‘all weather’ grade of ‘fair’ 1 2. Recreational water quality monitoring in the Wellington region Recreational water quality monitoring in the which are based on an assessment of the risk from Wellington region is a joint effort involving GWRC exposure to contaminated water. These guidelines and its constituent local councils.