The West Coast may have the cleanest rivers in the country but a six-monthly review has shown the regional council is struggling to meet some of the goals it has set in relation to freshwater.
During the 2019-20 season Hokitika beach (pictured), Seven Mile Creek, Grey River at Taylorville and Marrs Beach exceeded the moderate to high risk category more than 10 percent of the time. Photo: 123RF
The council monitors macroinvertebrate levels at 29 sites around the region, to monitor the health of stream ecosystems.
Its stated aim is to "maintain or enhance the life-supporting capacity and amenity value of West Coast rivers".
Five out of 26 sites failed to meet the criteria.
The council also monitors popular swimming beaches and on that count as well, it fell short of its targets.
Staff carry out fortnightly sampling at 18 swimming beaches during the summer season to monitor for potential bacteria such as E coli.
The council's goal is that the swimming sites do not exceed the moderate-high risk threshold on more than 10 percent of sampling occasions.
That was not achieved, though, with four of 18 sites failing to meet the target.
During the 2019-20 season Hokitika beach, Seven Mile Creek, Grey River at Taylorville and Marrs Beach exceeded the moderate to high risk category more than 10 percent of the time.
There were better results from the tests on wells around the region.
The council monitors 28 wells for nitrate levels at least twice annually - 24 of them are used for drinking water.
The guideline of 11.3mg/L of nitrate is used to protect human health, particularly for babies.
The testing showed that in the wells used for human consumption, nitrate levels remained below that level.
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