The Kauai Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation reports the results of the Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) from Nov. 8. Fourteen volunteers collected and tested 32 locations islandwide, sampling coastal ocean waters, rivers and streams on Kauai.
We test for Enterococcus fecal indicating bacteria. Surfrider samples streams where they enter the ocean to see if they are carrying pollution to our favorite beaches. Surfrider also samples the surfbreaks, of course.
Single samples should be less than 130 bacteria per 100 ml of sample water. This value tells how polluted with fecal indicating bacteria that water was at the time of collection. But rainfall, waves and currents change those values constantly, so single sample values just tell you what the water is currently like.
The geometric mean (scientific average) for all the samples collected at a site this year should be less than 35 bacteria per 100ml. This value takes into account really high concentrations of bacteria caused by rainfall washing bacteria off the surface of the ground and leaching underground from cesspools and faulty septic systems. High geometric mean values indicate that the site is chronically polluted and should be avoided, especially if the water is brown.
This month 18 of the 32 sites tested had bacteria concentrations higher than the Hawaii state standard (130 mpn) and 15 of the 32 had geometric means high enough to put them on the chronically polluted list. Heavy mountain rain early in the week produced much runoff carrying pollutants downstream into the ocean.
I estimate that 95 percent of our coastal ocean is pristine clean; only the bays and areas close to river/stream outlets can be polluted.
Check out Kauai Surfrider’s website for all of past results of Blue Water Task Force report lab or https://bwtf.surfrider.org/report/23 and choose the cleanest water to go play in.
Surfrider advises, at a minimum, to carefully rinse off with clean fresh water after getting out of the stream, river or ocean. Other precautions may include covering open sores with a cream or gel and avoiding water in eyes, ears and not swallowing. Potential health issues can include skin lesions, digestive and respiratory symptoms.
Surfrider has been testing Kauai’s waters for 19 years, increasing the number of testing sites when indicated.
We are very grateful for the use of the space for our lab at the Kauai Sailing Association.
If you would like to be a helping volunteer, please contact Robert at (808) 634-6597.
Source: The Garden Island