The black water quality pin on Safeswim indicates that the beach has been affected by a wastewater overflow.

A black pin may be generated automatically where an overflow has been detected by real-time sensors on the wastewater network. Since 2017/18 Auckland Council has worked with Watercare Services Ltd to integrate overflow sensors at pump stations and engineered overflow points on the wastewater network into the Safeswim system. Overflow points are selected for integration where they are close enough to a Safeswim swimming beach that an overflow would likely impact the water quality at the beach. When a sensor detects an overflow in progress, the Safeswim system automatically overrides the model results at the associated beach with a temporary black pin for 48 hours. A total of 52 overflow sensors, linked to 41 beaches, are active on the Safeswim system.

A black pin may also be generated manually if wastewater overflows or contamination events are spotted by operational teams or by members of the public.

You can learn more about wastewater overflows and when and how to report a fault on Watercare’s website.