Surfrider Kaua‘i’s Blue Water Task Force discovered 11 sites around the Garden Isle with levels of enterococcus bacteria — a type of hardy bacteria that naturally lives in intestinal tracts of humans and other animals — exceeding Hawai‘i recreational water quality standards.
The worst sites were:
- Molaʻa Stream: 1,565 per 100 milliliters of water.
- Anahola River: 1,201 per 100 milliliters of water.
- Wailuā River Park: 1,137 per 100 milliliters of water.
- Waikomo Stream, Kōloa: 1,017 per 100 milliliters of water.
There also were 7 sites that measured between 197 and 911 per 100 milliliters of water considered to be extremely high.
Elevated levels of the fecal bacteria indicate other harmful pathogens could also be present in the water, which could cause people to become ill after going into the ocean.
State standards consider any measurement of less than 35 per 100 milliliters of water acceptable.
“We urge ocean users to avoid brown water and sites that exceed recreational standards for bacteria,” said the nonprofit organization in an email reporting its July water testing results. “Please exercise caution after major rain events and wait at least 24-48 hours before recreating in the ocean. Always remember to rinse.”
Blue Water Task Force provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. The water quality monitoring program tests coastal waters each month at several sites around the island for enterococcus levels.
Those levels are then compared with public health standards for recreational waters.
Surfrider chapters use the program to raise awareness about local pollution problems and bring together communities to implement solutions.
Kaua‘i’s Blue Water Task Force supplements beach water testing performed by Hawai‘i Department of Health to provide year-round water quality information.
View water quality advisories issued by the state online.
Email Hanna at hlilley@surfrider.org if you are interested in volunteering with the task force.
You can also view historical Blue Water Task Force data online.
