High bacteria levels discovered in waters islandwide during monthly Surfrider testing

Surfrider’s volunteer-operated Blue Water Task Force program tests coastal waters at locations around Kauaʻi for enterococcus, a fecal indicator bacteria.

Volunteers this month — testing waters after heavy rains — found 20 sites with enterococcus levels exceeding the state recreational water quality standard of 35 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters.

Elevated bacteria levels indicate other harmful pathogens that can make people sick could also be present in the water.

Enterococcus bacterial concentrations varied during March testing; however, only 7 of the total 27 sites tested with medium (36 to 130 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters) or low (0 to 35 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters) levels.

The other 20 all have high bacteria levels, testing with more than 130 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters that typically means there is an increased risk of illness and triggers a high bacteria count advisory.

The highest enterococcus bacteria concentration found was 10,112 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters in waters at Pākāla Surf, locally known as Infinities or PK’s, outside Pākāla Village on the island’s southwest shore.

The least amount discovered during March testing was less than 10 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters in waters at Maniniholo, also known as Puka’s Surf because of its location close to Puka’s Surf/Morgans Pond, adjacent to Maniniholo Dry Cave near Hāʻena State Park on the North Shore.

Hawaiʻi Department of Health Clean Water Branch on March 11 also issued a brown water advisory for the Garden Isle.

These advisories are issued during or after heavy rainfall or storms, when stormwater runoff carries pollutants — including sewage and other contaminants — into coastal waters. The public is advised to avoid coastal waters during a brown water advisory.

Click here to view current and historical Blue Water Task Force data.

Blue Water Task Force is Surfrider’s volunteer water quality monitoring program. It provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach.

“We measure fecal indicator bacteria levels and compare them to public health standards for recreational waters,” said the nonprofit in an email announcing the March water testing results for Kauaʻi. “Surfrider chapters use this program to raise awareness of local pollution problems and to bring together communities to implement solutions.”

Kauaʻi’s Blue Water Task Force supplements beach water testing performed by Hawaiʻi Department of Health to provide year-round water quality information.

View all water advisories issued by the state here.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.