• Editor’s note: This is the third article in an ongoing series that looks at water quality on Kaua‘i. HANALEI — “Keep out of water.” Chronically high levels of enterococcus bacteria — well above state and federally deemed safe levels
• Editor’s note: This is the third article in an ongoing series that looks at water quality on Kaua‘i.
HANALEI — “Keep out of water.”
Chronically high levels of enterococcus bacteria — well above state and federally deemed safe levels — was what prompted water quality expert Dr. Carl Berg to organize efforts in permanently displaying those words on a sign near the Hanalei River at the county’s Black Pot Park.
The first of its kind on the island, the state Department of Health sign advises people about the possible presence of waste in the water.
“This has been a long, long process trying to get these signs up,” Berg said, adding that there are several more locations which would be well-suited for cautionary signage, including at Kalapaki Stream and the county’s Hanama‘ulu Beach Park.
Matt Rosener, hydrologist for the Hanalei Watershed Hui, regularly monitors North Shore waters in collaboration with the DOH. He said the bacteria is not necessarily from humans. It could be originating from other warm-blooded animals’ fecal matter, such as birds or cows.
“We don’t want to jump to conclusions right away,” he said.
Even though Hanalei is known for having a high density of cesspool waste systems lining its waterways, Rosener said there is not enough conclusive evidence yet to point solely to human contamination.
“We need more information before taking more radical steps like planning for alternative sewage treatment plants,” he said. “Not everyone in Hanalei with cesspools are polluting the water.”
In combination with Hanalei’s low elevation and sand mixed within the soil, septic and cesspool sewage systems “drain more slowly,” but “we really don’t know how much,” Rosener said.
Presently, there is no existing test approved by the Environmental Protection Agency that can determine exactly what the bacteria’s source is, said Watson Okubo, monitoring and analysis section chief for the DOH’s Clean Water Branch.
“The EPA is currently working very hard in the development of new testing methods,” he said.
Since both enterococcus and clostridium bacteria (currently accepted indicators for fecal matter) are at elevated levels in Hanalei River, it is the only fresh water source in the state regularly monitored by the DOH, Okubo said.
“We normally do not monitor streams for bacteria because the background numbers will always be high due to natural causes not related to human fecal contamination,” he said.
As the human population continues to grow, it might seem likely that human sewage could be a leading culprit. But Okubo said he cannot determine whether animal populations, such as birds or rats, have increased to the same extent, contributing to the bacterial count.
“Clostridium is also found in high concentrations in ducks and pigs,” he said.
Whatever the source, Rosener has been instrumental — along with Hanalei taro farmers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and local contractors and engineers — in updating eight cesspools over the past two years along the Hanalei River with new septic systems.
“Definitely cesspools can be a source of enterococcus and clostridium perfringens,” Okubo said, but added again that other sources still can’t be ruled out.
The good news for beachgoers is that bacteria typically persists for longer periods of time in fresh water, but as it enters salt water, levels decline.
“The saving grace” for Hanalei is that it “flushes out very fast,” Berg said Sunday after clean water samples were taken this weekend by Kaua‘i Surfrider Foundation volunteers across the island.
“And the bigger the waves, the faster the dilution and flush,” he said.
Until further testing can confirm the true source, everyone is urged to take precaution, especially after it rains. Individuals should also exercise personal hygiene and if someone has open cuts or wounds, don’t go in the water, Okubo said.
“If you cut yourself while in the water, clean up the wound, medicate, bandage, and first sign of infection, see your doctor,” he added.
With looming DOH staff reductions due to state budget cuts, Okubo said four out of 10 staff members in the Clean Water Branch will be lost. This means the frequency of monitoring Kaua‘i’s waters may decrease even further.
Currently, only five sites — Po‘ipu Beach Park, Kalapaki Beach, Hanalei Beach Park, Salt Pond Beach Park and Lydgate State Park — out of 73 on Kaua‘i are tested at least once a week and the samples are drawn from only one location on the beach.
For monthly updates on the quality of water at surf breaks around the island or to volunteer for Surfrider Foundation visit surfriderkauai.ning.com. To volunteer for Hanalei Watershed Hui call 826-1985 or visit www.hanaleiwatershedhui.org.
• Coco Zickos, business and environmental writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com.
