The Otago Regional Council says its E. coli standards for the region’s waters are more stringent than those proposed by the Government.
Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead said the council had E. coli level standards ranging from 260cfu (colony forming units) per 100ml to 10cfu/100ml.
The standards to be reached by 2025 as part of the council’s Water Plan were set after public consultation in 2007, he said.
"The Otago community very clearly said they wished to swim in their waterways, so we set those standards."
On Thursday, Environment Minister Nick Smith said lakes and rivers with an E. coli sample exceeding 260cfu/100ml would have weekly sampling increased to daily until the reading dropped below 260.
Waters yielding more than 540cfu/100ml would be tested daily until they dropped below 260cfu/100ml and regional councils were advised to inform the health officer and the public.
Mr Woodhead believed the national target was "realistic and achievable".
"There will be some areas where those standards will be a real stretch to reach but it is important to try."
Lakes Hawea, Wakatipu and Wanaka had the strictest E. coli standards (10cfu/100ml) in the region. Waters including the Matukituki, Kawarau and Clutha (above Luggate) had a 50cfu/100ml target, while the Catlins, Leith and Clutha and Dunstan should not have more than 260cfu/100ml.
It was important the public understood the work required to achieve the targets and the ORC was working with landholders to ensure they were aware of discharge limits, he said.
