Brown water warning issued from Waihe’e to Kahului Harbor | News, Sports, Jobs
Maui County Council member Tamara Paltin pours seawater into a vial held by Hui O Ka Wai Ola volunteer Kit Harris at Hanaka’o’o Beach Park on Tuesday as they prepared a sample to be tested for turbidity. Photo: The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER
The Maui News
WAILUKU – The Hawaii Department of Health advises beachgoers to avoid the waters in the Maui areas from Waihe’e to Kahului Harbor, Ma’alaea to McGregor Point, Kahana Village, Hanakao’o Beach Park, DT Fleming Beach Park and Puamana to Papalaua when the water appears brown or murky, especially after storms or heavy rain. The Hawaii Department of Health issued brown water warnings Monday and will lift those warnings when brown water conditions improve.
After storms or heavy rain, the water may contain higher levels of pollutants than normal. The agency recommends avoiding entering the water for 48 to 72 hours after the rain stops and after the beach has received full sun.
The Department of Health advises the public to avoid swimming, wading or drinking from freshwater streams or ponds to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Leptospira. For more information on leptospirosis, visit: https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/leptospirosis/
When the water is brown, flip it over.
For more information, visit: https://eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/cwb#!/event/1841/details/view
