Playing safely in urban streams
As we approach the school holidays and children head outdoors exploring our beautiful parks and streams we’d like to remind you how to play safely in urban streams.
The water quality of our streams can be variable.
Stormwater run-off and other contaminants can affect the water quality of our urban streams.
While there are actions being taken by council and interest groups to improve the water quality in our streams, the water can contain ‘bugs’ that can make people sick. To keep people safe it’s important to follow the tips below.
Here are some tips on enjoying our streams safely:
- Children should always be supervised when playing in or around water.
- Always avoid contact with streams during heavy rain and for 48 hours after it stops raining.
- Never drink stream water.
- Always wash your hands after coming into contact with stream water and before eating.
- Keep stream water out of your eyes, ears, mouth, or any open sores. If your children are too young to understand these precautions please avoid contact with streams.
- Wading and exploring is ok, but the water in streams is not suitable for swimming. To check out the best places for swimming in our region see www.gw.govt.nz...
How you can help:
- Report cracked or leaking pipes (and if you spot a leak on your own property organise for a plumber to check the pipes as soon as possible).
- Make sure rubbish is not left near streams including picking up dog poo.
- Only rain should go down the drain - empty detergents and paintbrush residue onto the lawn, or tip down the sink, not into drains leading to stormwater.
- Wash cars on the lawn, or at an approved carwash.
- Use non-toxic pesticides and fertilisers on your gardens.
- Reduce run-off by using porous landscaping, such as bark chips or lawn.
Poll: Is it rude to take a full trolley to self-checkout?
Luckily self-checkout is pretty common in supermarkets these days and we generally use it to quickly buy a few things without the long lines. But perhaps it's appropriate to head there with your full trolley to skip the lines?
What are your thoughts? Is that rude?
Share in the comments below if this has ever happened to you.
-
53.5% Yes!
-
44% Nah, it's okay
-
2.6% Other - I'll share below!
Happy Friday neighbours, the last riddle race of the week is on!
I can be long or short,
I can be grown or bought,
I can be painted or left bare,
I can be round or square.
What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
What flowers are blooming in your garden?
Kia ora neighbours,
In our September mag, Amy Roberts from Villaleigh Plants has a list of her favourite blooms for long display. "If you want a long season, look beyond the flowers," is her advice. Here are her picks: Geranium phaeum 'Mourning Widow', Salvia leucantha, Hylotelephium 'Autumn Joy' (pictured), Eryngium pandanifolium and Alchemilla mollis.
Have you got them in your garden? In fact, we'd love to see what you've got in bloom now. Post a photo and share the joy!
Loading…
