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Lake Waikare
Lake Waikare
	View from the south-eastern side of the lake
	Lake Waikare
	Lake Waikare Lake Waikare
Location	Waikato District, Waikato region, North Island
Coordinates	37°26′24″S 175°12′00″E / 37.44000°S 175.20000°E
Basin countries	New Zealand
Surface area	34 km2 (13 sq mi)

Lake Waikare is the largest of several shallow lakes in the upper floodplain of the Waikato River in New Zealand's North Island. It is a riverine lake, located to the east of Te Kauwhata and 40 kilometres north of Hamilton. It covers 34 km² (13 sq mi).

Due to its shallow nature (its depth is never more than two metres) and the heavy use of fertiliser in the surrounding farming district, the waters of the lake are in poor condition. A 2010 report showed that of all the measured lakes it had the highest trophic level index, a measurement of the amount of pollutants.^[1] Pollution also comes from Te Kauwhata sewage works, which is subject to a Regional Council abatement notice for excessive discharges of Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus and E. coli.^[2] A health warning was issued in 2020 for cyanobacteria.^[3]

References

^ Verburg, P.; Hamill, K.; Unwin, M.; Abell, J. (August 2010). Lake water quality in New Zealand 2010: Status and trends (PDF). Hamilton: National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2010.
^ "Waters Governance Board" (PDF). Waikato District Council. 30 April 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 September 2021.
^ "Health warning issued for Lake Whangape and remains in place for Lakes' Ngaroto, Kainui, and Waikare". WaikatoDHB Newsroom. December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.