Swimming is off limits at around 50 Auckland beaches after the weekend's heavy rain caused significant overflow of sewage, and stormwater containing heavy metals, diesel, and animal excrement.
Twelve beaches have active alerts advising against swimming due to overflowing sewage: Mission Bay, Browns Bay, Castor Bay, Herne Bay, Home Bay, Mairangi Bay, Milford South, Narrow Neck, Okahu Bay, Point England, St Heliers, and St Mary's Bay.
Around 40 other Auckland beaches have 'high health risk' no-swim warnings in effect, meaning there is a moderate to high risk of infection from contact with the water.
A Watercare spokesperson told Newshub the 40 'high risk' beaches aren't contaminated by sewage, but instead by stormwater which contains heavy metal run-off from aluminium roofs, animal excrement, pathogens, and diesel.
Swimmers are advised to check Safeswim before heading to the beach.
MetService issued a severe weather warning for much of the North Island on Sunday as moist northerly flow brought heavy rain in from the Tasman Sea.
The weekend's weather flooded streams and roads around Auckland, with fog disrupting flights in and out of Wellington.
Newshub.
