Crux has published extensive content that questions the veracity of the QLDC’s claims of “near zero” e coli in their emergency sewage discharge of March 31^st 2025.

Now new data from the Otago Regional Council has thrown further doubt on those council claims.

Crux tests on that day, taken from mid stream in the new channel that connects the UV building to the Shotover River, were 570 cfu’s per 100 ml. The ORC’s tests (just released) from the same location on the same day (a little later in the morning) were 730 cfu’s.

The QLDC’s consent and “safe contact recreation” standard is 260 cfu’s.

The US Environmental Protection Agency sets a limit of 126 cfu’s for safe swimming.

The QLDC has failed to explain a missing 24 hours between their sample being collected and submitted to the Queenstown branch of testing lab Eurofins. Their result was “less than 10 cfu’s.”

The council’s explanation for the difference between their sample and the Crux/ORC results is that the effluent becomes contaminated by dead animals and animal faeces between the UV building and the Shotover River.

This explanation has been used for months to explain high Crux readings of e coli on the Shotover Delta. The explanation has been used by both the QLDC and the ORC.

However, we don’t see how this argument can apply for March 31^st, for the following reason.

The “emergency” discharge channel was newly excavated in dry weather only hours before the discharge started. The earth was literally brand new, and we have extensive photos of the channel immediately prior to the discharge – no animals, dead or alive. No time for rotting - anything.

• The newly excavated discharge channel early on March 31st, shortly before the discharge started - no dead animals or rotting vegetation. Main image and above.

There is now a widespread view that the testing regime used by QLDC has misrepresented the true state of effluent being discharged into the Shotover River under emergency powers.

Pressure from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment appears to have prompted the release of this ORC data.

Crux will have full analysis next week.