Ducks and seagulls habitual offenders in freshwater quality tests
The Waiwhakaiho River, near New Plymouth, has safe swimming areas in the middle sections of the river. A Taranaki Regional Council committee member has called for more warning signs near bathing areas to discourage feeding wild birds after freshwater samples showed high bacteria levels from avian droppings. Wild ducks, pukeko and seagulls continue to befoul river mouths near popular bathing spots in New Plymouth, causing high levels of E.coli bacteria, a Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) annual report on bathing water quality showed. While 85 per cent of samples taken from 16 recreational riv...
Source: stuff.co.nz