Where does the Waikato River Power Scheme start?
The power scheme begins at Lake Taupo, which has control gates to regulate the flow of water into the river. Once released through the gates it takes over 18 hours for the water to flow to the last power station at Karapiro.
Where does the Waikato River start and end?
The Waikato River flows out of Lake Taupo at the town of Taupo in Tapuaeharuru Bay at the northeast end of the lake. It flows northeast past the town, alongside State Highway 1, to the Huka Falls. State Highway 5 runs more or less parallel to the river as it flows further northeast.
What are the nitrate levels in the Waikato River?
The report goes on to state that in the Waikato River, near Rangiriri, the level of pollution by too high levels of nitrate, total nitrogen, dissolve phosphorous and total phosphorous was 70, when the grading was 1 for best quality water and 77 for worst quality. Hamilton and Pukekohe are regions with high nitrate levels in groundwater.
Is it safe to swim in the Waikato River?
Many tributaries (65% of test results) running into the lower Waikato did not meet the Regional Council’s levels of maximum e-coli for safe swimming.
Is the Waikato River clean enough to drink?
As the 2020 drought has deepened, Auckland has become increasingly dependent on the Waikato River for its drinking water. But the Waikato River itself is very polluted – largely from intensive agriculture – and hence, making the water clean enough to drink, is an expensive business.
The Waikato River drains from Lake Taupo at Taupo Boat Harbour. From here it winds it’s way through the North Island of New Zealand to the sea at Port Waikato. There are various walking and biking access points to the river and trails.
The report goes on to state that in the Waikato River, near Rangiriri, the level of pollution by too high levels of nitrate, total nitrogen, dissolve phosphorous and total phosphorous was 70, when the grading was 1 for best quality water and 77 for worst quality. Hamilton and Pukekohe are regions with high nitrate levels in groundwater.
What is the E coli level in the Waikato River?
Somehow the main river flow from about Meremere to Port Waikato has an ‘acceptable’ level of e-coli (being under 126), and the questions left unanswered is what has been ‘added’ into the river just before Meremere to reduce e-coli, when upstream the e-coil level is far too high?
