Enterococci
Recently, the Garden Island quoted Shawn Hamamoto, a spokesperson for the State department of Health saying that the bacteria in human and mammal intestines, enterococci, are not a pollutant because they occur naturally in the environment. Mr Hamamoto needs to become a bit more educated. The bacteria, enterococcus is a known human pathogen (ask someone who has had a bladder infection) that is found in all the streams and rivers on Kauai. The major inputs are human sewage (cesspools or nearby septic tanks), cow poop, pig poop and deer excrement. The best advice is to never swim or surf in front of a flowing stream.
Gordon LaBedz, Surfrider Foundation, Kaua‘i
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Gordon, I’m sure that Mr Hamamoto is very educated on this subject. Unfortunately, just like the powers that be that refuse to post warning signs when Surfrider finds high bacteria counts at certain locations, it’s all about not letting the tourists know what they are swimming in! Heaven forbid that we should alarm them! Many of us look forward to your water testing to see where we can and cannot swim, please keep up the good work!