An environmental group’s detection of high bacteria levels in a Kauai stream is prompting the Department of Health to investigate the source of the polluted waters.
The Surfrider Foundation-Kauai Chapter’s Blue Water Task Force has reported "extreme" levels of enterococcus bacteria, which indicate fecal contamination, in Waiopili Stream in Mahaulepu. In response, the state department’s Clean Water Branch is scheduled to collect samples from Waiopili Stream in Mahaulepu on Nov. 5 and 6.
The Clean Water Branch recently secured permission from the area’s landowner, Grove Farm Co. Inc., to access private property to conduct a sanitation survey of the Mahaulepu watershed.
The landowner learned about the concern within the past week upon meeting with Surfrider member Carl Berg, who collected water samples from the site.
In an emailed statement, Marissa Sandblom, vice president of Grove Farm, said, "We are working with the Department of Health to find out what may be causing the high bacteria counts."
Watson Okubo, monitoring and analysis supervisor of the Clean Water Branch, said the investigation will include at least 18 samples that will be collected from various areas, including coastal sites, to determine the source of the high bacteria counts. "We’re going to look at anything and everything," Okubo said.
"We know there’s a good population of feral pigs there. That could be the source. We don’t see any human habitation there," he said.
Okubo described the stream as more of a drainage way that’s typically dry. "This year it flows because of the rains," he said.
The stream exits near the Makauwahi Cave Reserve.
Berg said he began collecting water samples in April in an effort to establish base-line data of the stream in the area of a proposed dairy farm. He said the Surfrider Foundation is concerned the Hawaii Dairy Farm’s proposed animal-feeding operation in Mahaulepu might become a possible new source of pollution.
The state limit for clean inland waters is 33 bacteria per 100 milliliters, Berg said, noting that a bacteria count is based on an average tallied using five samples. If the average exceeds the 33-bacteria mark, the water is considered polluted. Waiopili Stream is one of a number of streams in Hawaii that’s chronically polluted, he said.
A geometric mean based on 14 sampling sessions conducted by Surfrider found 8,806 bacteria per 100 milliliters, about 266 times more than the state standard.
"That is egregious. That’s way too high," Berg said.
According to the dairy farm’s waste management plan, the project area was used for sugar cane production until Koloa Mill closed in the late 1990s. Since then the area has been leased to tenants for ranching and diversified agricultural operations. Thus far no cattle are on the proposed Hawaii Dairy property.
In July, Hawaii Dairy Farms announced a two-step approach for its proposed 578-acre farm in Mahaulepu Valley. During the first phase the operation would include 650 to 699 cows to demonstrate viability and allow time to establish the pastures. In the second phase the farm would expand to a full operation with 2,000 cows.
