Update: Sumner beach now open

People visiting Sumner beach can now safely go in the water, after an area of polluted water was cleaned up over the weekend.

Polluted water signs have been erected on part of Sumner beach.

Warning signs were erected on a section of the beach on Friday as a precautionary measure after it was discovered there had been a small wastewater overflow.

The cause of the overflow is being investigated.

Samples were taken from Sumner beach to check the bacteria levels in the water.

The warning signs were removed from the beach on Sunday morning once the tests confirmed the water posed no health risk.

Dr Cheryl Brunton, a public health physician with Community and Public Health, said she was satisfied with the Christchurch City Council’s timely response to the incident and believed that while the risk to people was minimal, those visiting the beach over the weekend should have avoided swimming or collecting shellfish in the area where the signs were.