Bluff Harbour at Morrison Beach

Bluff, New Zealand
Managed by Swim Guide NZ

Physical signs discouraged swimmers from entering the waters at Morrison Beach as there is a storm water drain that discharges contaminants here. Council has take extra effort to monitor this area and improve water quality. Swimming is not advised for 48 hours after heavy rain but there are many other things to do. There have been humpback whale sighting from shore, enjoy a scenic walk starting at Sterling Point or visit the Bluff War Memorial at the end of Burrows street close to the public toilets.

WATER QUALITY
  • Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time
  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on February 11th, 2019. Swim Guide NZ updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at
For water quality icon legend, click:   
  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Bluff Harbour at Morrison Beach is sampled weekly from December 1st to March 31st

SOURCE INFORMATION

Southland Regional Council measures water quality at 13 marine bathing and seven freshwater bathing sites during summer (December to March).

Marine water is tested weekly for enterococci levels.

The council issues an amber alert if a single sample level of enterococci are greater than 140 units /100 ml of water. Daily testing would occur to determine if the problem is ongoing. When two consecutive results show Enterococci levels higher than 280 units /100ml of water warnings are posted. Signs will also be posted at beaches and until water levels return to a safe level.

Pulse Energy updates Swim Guide for the latest water quality information daily, Monday - Friday during the swimming season.

A beach has a GREEN current status in Swim Guide when it has met the water quality standard of < 140 enterococci/100 mL and has a rank of GREEN.

A beach has a RED current status in Swim Guide when samples exceed the water quality criteria of > 140 enterococci/100 mL and there is an AMBER or RED alert.

A beach is marked Grey in Swim Guide when there is no current or reliable monitoring information available.

Swimming is not recommended within 48 hours after a heavy rainfall or around storm water outfalls and at stream mouths.

Data in Swim Guide is sourced from LAWA’s “Can I Swim Here” program.
Visit LAWA’s factsheet on recreational monitoring in NZ here. https://www.lawa.org.nz/learn/factsheets/what-do-the-swim-icons-mean/
LAWA assigns each site a grade, which is based on the last three years of monitoring data from the site.

WATER QUALITY GRAPH

Bluff Harbour at Morrison Beach

Bluff, New Zealand
Managed by Swim Guide NZ
WATER QUALITY
  • Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time
  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on February 11th, 2019. Swim Guide NZ updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at
For water quality icon legend, click:   

Physical signs discouraged swimmers from entering the waters at Morrison Beach as there is a storm water drain that discharges contaminants here. Council has take extra effort to monitor this area and improve water quality. Swimming is not advised for 48 hours after heavy rain but there are many other things to do. There have been humpback whale sighting from shore, enjoy a scenic walk starting at Sterling Point or visit the Bluff War Memorial at the end of Burrows street close to the public toilets.

  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Bluff Harbour at Morrison Beach is sampled weekly from December 1st to March 31st

SOURCE INFORMATION

Southland Regional Council measures water quality at 13 marine bathing and seven freshwater bathing sites during summer (December to March).

Marine water is tested weekly for enterococci levels.

The council issues an amber alert if a single sample level of enterococci are greater than 140 units /100 ml of water. Daily testing would occur to determine if the problem is ongoing. When two consecutive results show Enterococci levels higher than 280 units /100ml of water warnings are posted. Signs will also be posted at beaches and until water levels return to a safe level.

Pulse Energy updates Swim Guide for the latest water quality information daily, Monday - Friday during the swimming season.

A beach has a GREEN current status in Swim Guide when it has met the water quality standard of < 140 enterococci/100 mL and has a rank of GREEN.

A beach has a RED current status in Swim Guide when samples exceed the water quality criteria of > 140 enterococci/100 mL and there is an AMBER or RED alert.

A beach is marked Grey in Swim Guide when there is no current or reliable monitoring information available.

Swimming is not recommended within 48 hours after a heavy rainfall or around storm water outfalls and at stream mouths.

Data in Swim Guide is sourced from LAWA’s “Can I Swim Here” program.
Visit LAWA’s factsheet on recreational monitoring in NZ here. https://www.lawa.org.nz/learn/factsheets/what-do-the-swim-icons-mean/
LAWA assigns each site a grade, which is based on the last three years of monitoring data from the site.

WATER QUALITY GRAPH



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