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<DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><P><SPAN>We monitor the water of 13 beaches and eight rivers to operate a traffic light system to show risk of sickness at popular swimming spots around Southland from December to March. </SPAN></P><P><SPAN>We test water for indicator bacteria. Although they may not make you sick themselves, these bacteria tend to indicate the presence of other disease-causing pathogens (such as viruses and protozoa).</SPAN></P><P><SPAN>The bacteria we are looking out for in freshwater are E.coli and faecal coliforms. At marine sites we are looking out for enterococci.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN>For more information on our testing click </SPAN><A href="https://www.es.govt.nz:443/environment/water/swimming" target="_blank" STYLE="text-decoration:underline;"><SPAN>here</SPAN></A><SPAN>.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV> |