High bacteria count notification for Wai‘ohai Beach canceled

Update: The Hawai‘i Department of Health has canceled the high bacteria count notification for Wai‘ohai Beachi. Water sample retesting results show that enterococci levels no longer exceed the threshold level.

Original story: The Hawai‘i Department of Health is retesting Wai‘ohai Beach on Kaua‘i for high levels of bacteria.

Bacteria levels of 150 per 100 mL were previously detected during routine beach monitoring, but the Health Department is uncertain about the representativeness of the first sample.

The beach has historically met the acceptable threshold level, and there is no known source of fecal contamination. Therefore, another sample was collected and the Health Department is retesting the site.

The department will update the notification based on the results of the new test.

For more information about the high bacteria county notification, visit the Health Department Clean Water Branch website. Click here to learn more about how high levels of bacteria at beaches can affect human health.