Safeswim, a tool developed by the Government of Auckland, uses disruptive technologies to offer predictions about water quality and up-to-date information about safety risks at 80 beaches and coastal areas in Auckland. More specifically, it provides beach users with relevant, real-time information about:

• The status of the sea (water quality, currents, etc)
• The presence of dangerous marine life (jellyfish, sharks, etc)
• Temperatures and weather forecasts
• Wind speed and direction
• UV levels

The app uses a smart infrastructure system called Moata, which combines real-time information with predictive models. The system is sustained with data compiled by an engineering company. The participation of various entities in the region has been fundamental to this initiative. Being able to make use of mechanisms that can monitor water quality in real time, such as a modelling system and over 100 remote sensors, allows local authorities to protect the environment and tackle aspects like cleaning the beaches or water contamination in the mid- to long-term as efficiently as possible.

The initiative was developed in 2018, and has received a range of awards in the meantime:

• 2018 TVNZ NZ Marketing Awards – Public Sector Marketing Campaign
• 2018 IDC Smart Cities Asia Pacific Awards – Smart Water
• 2018 Surf Life Saving Northern Region Awards – Innovation of the Year