Client: Auckland Council
Morphum Environmental has undertaken sampling at numerous beaches across Auckland to validate Auckland Council’s new Safeswim coastal hydrodynamic forecasting model.
Improving the prediction of recreational swimming safety
Since 2017, Morphum Environmental has undertaken water quality sampling at numerous beaches across Auckland. This is to validate Auckland Council’s Safeswim recreational swimming forecasting model, which is designed to communicate and predict when contamination will pose a risk for contact recreation activities like swimming.
The previous Safeswim monitoring programme retrieved samples by helicopter once per week, and only gave a snapshot of contamination in the water at the collection time. The new forecasting model will be used to carry out simulations every 12 hours by incorporating the latest rain and wind forecasts provided by MetService. The coastal water samples collected by Morphum Environmental will be used to verify that the forecasting model provides a good prediction of contamination on Auckland beaches.
Sampling covers a total of 55 beaches, including some of Auckland’s most popular summer locations.
The next round of Safeswim beach sites are currently being sampled by Morphum Environmental and will be online by November 2018.
Key Deliverables:
Water Quality Sampling