Media Release

08 January 2008

TARANAKI LAKES UPDATE

Health warnings issued after high levels of bacteria were detected in the water at Lake Rotomanu in New Plymouth have been lifted today.

The NP District Council will be removing signage from the area.

The health warning still exists for Lake Rotokare in South Taranaki, because of high levels of Cyanobacteria (algae).

Taranaki's Medical Officer of Health, Dr Richard Hoskins, said people should continue to not use the Lake for any purpose, e.g. swimming, boating, skiing, or sourcing water for consumption or irrigation.
Cyanobacteria is an algae capable of producing toxins, most commonly causing skin and eye irritation but, depending on the toxin, also possibly causing:

• Sore throat
• Asthma symptoms
• Liver damage
• Paralysis
• Irregular breathing or twitching
• Weakness, vomiting, cold extremities, and diarrhoea\

If anyone does suffer from these symptoms after using the Lake please contact your doctor or medical practitioner.
The water samples are undergoing further analysis, and the Lake will be reopened once weekly samples have shown levels are considered safe.