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Tutaritari Stream Water Quality on Beach

Tutaritari Estuary Water Quality

The Hahei Residents & Ratepayers Association take samples from Tutaritari Estuary on a  regular basis. The results of these tests are shown below.

Estuary Upper Tutaritari
Date E. Coli Enterococci E. Coli Enterococci
01/03/2018 >80 600
29/03/2018 >80 220
27/04/2018 >80 120
29/05/2018 >80 110
28/06/2018 27 160
27/07/2018 3,000 73
07/09/2018 10 18
29/09/2018 90 55
29/09/2018 90 55
1/11/2018 3,300 170
29/11/2018 8,000 610
19/12/2018 3,000 1,800 300 73
27/12/2018 5,000 270 4,000 260
03/01/2019 400 420 310 330
10/01/2019 5,000 2,300 1,000 600
17/01/2019 150 470 130 270
24/01/2019 120 550 190 270
31/01/2019 4,000 190 3,000 460
07/02/2019 1,600 2,900 1,200 1,900

All levels are reported as cfu/100 ml

Over the busy summer holidays, we have taken samples from near Grange Rd to understand how Tutaritari Stream quality changes as it flows to the ocean.

Please note – the results March to May 2018 may be much higher than reported. During this period Eurofins, our analytical laboratory did not understand samples were from a stream.

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 /100ml and Entrococci is  280/100ml. As you can see, the water quality in the Tutaritari Stream 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 Tutaritari 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

Estuary Sample Point

Upper Tutaritari Sample Point

Hahei Beach Coromandel Tutaritari Sample Point
Hahei Beach Coromandel Tutaritari Stream
Hahei Beach Coromandel Tutaritari Stream

Tutaritari Lab Test Documentation

Waikato Regional Council –  Coastal Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Program

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.

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