KALAPAKI — Recent rains increased the pollution in many water sources, according to this month’s monitoring data collected by the Surfrider Kaua‘i Bluewater Task Force.
The Kaua‘i Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is reporting the results of its monthly water quality sampling by its Blue Water Task Force.
Surfrider samples out in the ocean at surf sites and in the mouths of streams where keiki play, both places that the state Department of Health never samples. All results can be found on the Surfrider website: https://tgilinks.com/3JXIqZc
“The recent rains have washed bacteria down streams and into the ocean, which is why we’re seeing high counts at normally clean sites (like The Bowl),” said Kaitlyn Jacobs of Surfrider Kaua‘i.
“We see the freshwater influence by collecting and comparing salinity of the water samples, and low salinity levels correspond with high amounts of bacteria,” she said.
“Be sure to wash off after getting in the water, and check the Department of Health website for results of their limited sampling, as well as Surfrider’s website for more information about our Blue Water Task Force program.”
The goal of the Blue Water Task Force monitoring program is to provide water-quality information to augment state-run beach monitoring to identify polluted waters and make sure residents and visitors are aware of potential health threats at the beach. The DOH also administers a water-quality-monitoring program.
The DOH samples 12 beaches each month. Results are found at https://tgilinks.com/3dpLXmG.
Source: The Garden Island
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