Surface waters of waimea inlet and nelson ha yen: A preliminary assessment of quality

Abstract

Because of mounting inflows of sewage and organic industrial effluents in Nelson Haven, Waimea Inlet, and Tasman Bay, a water quality survey to obtain background information, on 17 parameters from 28 sites was made during 1975.Some water samples collected near effluent discharges showed high levels of nitrate, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, volatile solids, ATP, heterotrophic potential, total bacteria, viable bacteria, and coliform bacteria. Measurements were also made of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, suspended solids, and chlorophyll a; counts were made for confirmed faecal coliforms and confirmed Escherichia coli (Type I).Water from sites remote from effluent discharges showed characteristics of normal seawater: water turbulence and tidal flushing appeared to be rapidly degrading, diluting, and dispersing the organic contaminants. © 1977 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.