State health officials alert the public that a bacteria exceedance advisory is now in effect for Lydgate Park because of higher-than-normal levels of enterococci, or fecal bacteria, discovered during routine water monitoring provided by Hawai‘i Department of Health Clean Water Branch through its beach program.
Levels of 288 per 100 mL of enterococci, indicating potentially harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa or parasites could be present in the water.
The beach has been posted and this advisory will remain in effect until water sample results no longer exceed the threshold level of 130 enterococci per 100 mL.
Swimming at beaches with pollution in the water can make people ill.
Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of developing illnesses or infections after coming into contact with polluted water, usually while swimming.
Swimming-related illnesses can be unpleasant, but they usually aren’t very serious, requiring little to no treatment or getting better quickly upon treatment. They also have no long-term health effects.
The most common illness associated with swimming in water polluted by fecal pathogens is gastroenteritis, which can occur in a variety of forms that can cause symptoms including nausea, vomiting, stomachache, diarrhea, headache or fever.
Other minor illnesses associated with swimming include ear, eye, nose and throat infections. In highly polluted water, swimmers can occasionally be exposed to more serious diseases.
Not all illnesses from a day at the beach are from swimming. Food poisoning from improperly refrigerated picnic lunches also can have some of the same symptoms as swimming-related illnesses.
At any given time and place, people are constantly exposed to a variety of microorganisms with the potential of causing illness.
Click here for additional information about the bacteria advisory.
Visit the U.S. Environmental Agency website for additional beach health information.
