Kaua’i County has asked the state Department of Health to test recreational waters around the island to determine if they are safe to use. The request came in response to a request from two North Shore-area conservation groups in January
Kaua’i County has asked the state Department of Health to test recreational waters around the island to determine if they are safe to use.
The request came in response to a request from two North Shore-area conservation groups in January to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up the water in front of the county’s Black Pot Park at Hanalei Bay.
The Limu Coalition and the Hanalei Heritage River Hui contend the bacteria count in the water exceeded safe levels after a septic tank at the park broke down last year.
The cleanup would protect one of the most popular recreational sites on Kaua’i, the groups contend.
In a letter to the health department’s environmental management chief, Thomas Arizumi, Mayor Maryanne Kusaka asked for an intensive study of the waters off Black Pot Park and elsewhere.
In the meantime, Kusaka ordered the closure of the rest room at the park for any repairs of the septic tank and studies to determine whether the facility has contributed to the pollution of the bay water. In the interim, portable toilets will be placed at the opposite end of the park.
Ray Chuan, president of Limu Coalition, said the mayor’s action is a “blatant, cynical, political act that doesn’t address the problem.”
Chuan claimed that her actions will aid County Councilman Bryan Baptiste’s bid for mayor this year.
“Bryan went to the mayor and came back to the council meeting (Thursday) on sewage spill and made an announcement that they were going to close the bathroom and put in the portable potties. I feel this is the wrong thing to do,” Chuan said.
Baptiste couldn’t be reached for comment.
But Beth Tokioka, public information officer for Kusaka, said the mayor’s action was intended to respond to request from Chuan and others for help.
“We do not believe that the bacteria levels are being significantly contributed to by the comfort station because the design of the septic tank is efficient,” she said. “But we are willing to do this (request for a study) to assess it and see.”
While the county is waiting for the study, ADA improvements will be made at the restroom facility, Tokioka said.
But Chuan said Kusaka, “if she means business” about protecting the public’s safety, should have closed the beach and posted signs prohibiting swimming until the state study is done.
“Knowing the bacteria count is so high, she should have closed the beach, never mind the bathroom, the portable potties,” Chuan said.
The pollution of beach waters by the septic tank will be a long-standing problem, Chuan predicted.
“The real problem is that the county’s infrastructure is overloaded,” he said. “No matter how often you close the septic tank, although the design is good, it wasn’t designed for that many people.”
Chuan’s group and the Hanalei Heritage River Hui asked the EPA to include Black Pot on a proposed agency list of 111 sites in Hawai’i that have been polluted by bacteria, trash and sediment and could be eligible for federal funding for any cleanup.
Including the county park would help boost efforts to preserve the bay, a top visitor destination and a playground for residents, Chuan said.
The list of polluted sites in the state was developed by environmental group on O’ahu that challenged the DOH’s list of 19 polluted sites in 1998.
A federal court review last year concluded the number was in error and that the 111 sites was a more accurate count.
Sixteen of the sites are on Kaua’i. They include Hanapepe Bay, Nawiliwili Harbor, Huleia Stream and Hanalei Bay. The others are Waimea Bay, Kapa’a Stream, Hanalei Bay, Huleia Stream, Hanapepe River, Nawiliwili Bay, Waimea Bay, Hanapepe Bay, Hanama’ulu Bay, Hanalei Bay Landing, Kalihiwai Bay, Wailua River and Koloa Landing.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
