A public meeting yesterday to discuss high levels of the bacteria E. coli in the Taieri River at Waipiata was not about ''finger-pointing'' but rather about taking a collective approach to solve the problem, those at the meeting were told.
It was called by the Otago Regional Council and deputy chairwoman Gretchen Robertson said the issue was important to everyone and was not unique to the Waipiata area.
''Every district has waterways that need to improve. That's why the council introduced plan change 6A. This area is a good-news story because it has an issue and we're all openly discussing it,'' she said. About 30 people attended the meeting in Waipiata and speakers included regional council staff and Maniototo Irrigation Co chairman Geoff Crutchley.
''This is not an individual issue and we can all look at our ourselves ... We're not singling anyone out,'' Cr Robertson said.
Council resource science manager Matt Hickey said over the past few years, E. coli levels recorded at the Green Bridge at Waipiata had ''jumped dramatically''.
In response, the council had inspected dairy farms, sampled water at all bridges in the area and sampled irrigation race discharges and streams that contained irrigation run-off. Waipiata farmer Sally Andrews said people camping by the bridge over the Christmas break were unaware of the problem and warning signs did not go up until February.
Mr Hickey said it took several days to get results back from sampling and the signs went up as soon as a health risk was confirmed. The council had had only ''the odd report'' about people getting sick, but because people might get sick a few days after swimming in the river, they did not always attribute it to the river water, he said.
Council community liaison and education manager Nicola McGrouther said E. coli contamination came from dung getting into a waterway.
Sheep dung had a higher concentration of E. coli - 10 times more than cow dung. Sun killed the bacteria, but they could live for many days if not exposed to the sun. For example, a 30-day-old cow pat could still release E. coli into a waterway if rain or irrigation water ran over it, she said.
Septic tanks in rural communities could also be a possible source of pollution, but that was considered unlikely at Waipiata. Fencing to keep stock out of waterways was one of the main solutions, along with reducing irrigation bywash.
Central Otago district councillor and Wedderburn farmer Stu Duncan said the issue affected tourism and the impression that the river at Waipiata was unfit for swimming because farmers polluted it was ''absolute bullshit''.
Regional councillor Gerry Eckhoff, of Alexandra, said one of the ''best insurances'' for farmers was for them to test the water going through their property at entry and exit points and document the results. Test costs ranged from about $30 to $80.
