Brown water advisory issued for Kaua‘i following storm

A brown water advisory has been issued for Kaua‘i after a kona storm hit the island on Tuesday.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health advises beach users to stay out of the water if it appears brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain. After storms or heavy rain, the water may contain higher-than-normal pollutant levels.

The department recommends staying out of the water for 48-72 hours after the rain has stopped and after the beach has received full sunshine.

The Department of Health advises the public to avoid swimming, wading in, or drinking water from any freshwater streams or pond to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria. For more information, see: https://eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/cwb/#!/event/1986/details/view.