The permanent swimming ban for Lake Tūtira has been lifted.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council water quality scientist Andy Hicks said improvements in land management amongst other factors have contributed to improved water quality to the point where people can swim in the lake.
"While the permanent ban on swimming has lifted, we do advise that people check the health of the lake before they go for a swim.
"There is still the risk of algal blooms or faecal contamination in the future, particularly after rainfall. What has changed is our ability to put out real-time warnings."