Safeswim

If you live in Auckland or Northland and are heading to the beach this summer then check out Safeswim. This website gives up to the minute information on water quality, safety hazards and swimming conditions at your favourite swimming spots so you can make the best decision about when and where to swim. There’s also video’s and articles to help you to be safer in the water, such as what to do if caught in a rip.

Safeswim is a joint initiative between Surf Life Saving NZ, Auckland Council, Auckland Regional Public Health Service and Northland Regional Council.

Is there something similar in your area? Id like to know, email me [email protected]

From the Auckland Council website:

The driving force of the Safeswim programme is its team of full-time water quality samplers. The team travel to 15-20 locations a day to collect water samples at popular swimming destinations and transport them to the laboratory. In total, there are over 200 locations around Auckland sampled, from Te Arai to Karioitahi.

The samplers drive up and down the region collecting samples in all conditions; rain, sun and wind. Typically, water quality sampling targets the periods during and after rain when the water is likely to be at higher risk from pollutants washed into the environment.

That’s why it is risky to swim during and immediately after heavy rainfall so avoid taking the risk and jump online before you jump in.

Always check Safeswim even if it hasn’t been raining, in case other risks are present such as physical hazards; it’s a good habit to get into. Water safety hazards can include rip currents, dangerous weather conditions, jellyfish. Surf Lifesaving Northern Region has partnered with the Safeswim programme to help keep you safe at the beach.

While the programme is monitored on the ground by water samplers and surf lifesavers, what’s displayed on the website is made possible by millions of data points and calculations processed by predictive models. The Safeswim models have been calibrated to accurately predict from years of water sampling results.

To speed up the process, communities such as the Laingholm Wai Ora group have taken responsibility for their environment by getting involved. When there was a water quality issue at Laingholm Beach, community members collected hundreds of water samples to identify improvements in the water. This enabled everyone to get back in the water just in time for summer.

Have you checked if it’s safe before jumping in?  Visit safeswim.org.nz for more information.