Warning: this river could make you ill

The catchments of the Heathcote and Avon rivers are "significantly degraded", says a report undertaken for Environment Canterbury's (ECan) River Guardians project.

"Sedimentation, nutrient enrichment, toxic pollution and faecal contamination are all serious problems," it said.

The pollutants came from industrial activities in the catchment areas, as well as from public wastewater and sewage getting into drainage systems and rivers.

The co-author of the report, surface water-quality scientist Michele Stevenson, said the levels of faecal contamination, measured by the amount of the bacterium Escherichia coli (E.coli) present, were a danger to users.

"The levels of E.coli in both rivers are not considered suitable for recreation," she said.

Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Alistair Humphrey said it would take only a small amount of contaminated water to make people ill.

"If E.coli is in there above critical levels then that indicates there could be all sorts of things in the water which could cause gastroenteritis and other infections," he said.

"If the water is contaminated, any amount could cause health problems."

Humphrey said even if no human sewage found its way into the rivers, there would still be the problem of "bird poo".

It was not necessary to put up signs or restrict the use of the rivers as very few people swam in them and boaties were aware of the risks.

Arawa Canoe Club president Brett Leask said he and other members had suffered from stomach cramps and diarrhoea after paddling on the Avon.

"I have noticed that a lot of our members are getting stomach problems. I get them quite regularly.

"My doctor asked me if I had been to a Third World country, I said I had been paddling on the lower Avon. He said `That would do it'."

The 500-member club had also experienced problems with parts of the river becoming shallow because of silting and an "unpleasant smelling sludge".

Although paddlers tried to avoid contact with the water it was almost impossible.

"You have water that can splash in your mouth, or if you have a drink bottle in the canoe it can drip onto your mouthpiece," said Leask.

"When you become ill it certainly upsets your performance for a while, it's quite debilitating."

Punting on the Avon guide Adrian Ramsay said the company told customers not to put their hands in the water as they travelled down the river.

"Sometimes people ask if they should swim in the river. We tell them that's not a good idea," he said.

However, there had been no incidents of staff or customers becoming ill.

The chairman of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust, Alex Drysdale, said the rivers could go to ruin if city people did not make an effort to clean up their act.

"They will continue to be degraded and the consequences of that are less biodiversity, and the endgame is that it is going to be a very lonely place for us if there's no other sorts of animals around," he said. "There won't be any of the pretty things for us to go and look at."

People needed to take responsibility for how their actions could pollute the river. In particular, they had to make sure sewerage systems in properties did not interfere with stormwater run-off.

ECan's director of external relations, Jackie Curtis, said the regional council would work with the city council to try to educate the public to overcome the problem. It would also concentrate on punishing those who polluted.

"When you wash your car, think about the water and where that water goes. Run-off from your roof where does that go? It's all about thinking about that water and what happens to it," she said.

What have you seen emptied into our rivers? Has river water made you sick? Contact the newsroom with your views on 03-943 2827 or email reporters@press.co.nz

 

- © Fairfax NZ News