Brown-water advisory issued as Kauai cleans up after rains
Kauai residents are being advised to stay out of brown ocean waters, flood waters and storm water runoff following Sunday’s heavy rains.
The state Health Department issued a Brown Water Advisory for the island of Kauai because of contamination from overflowing cesspools, sewer manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris.
Kauai is drying out and cleaning up after stormy weather dropped 6 to 8 inches of rain in many areas.
The rain closed several roads, including the Hanalei Bridge, Keapana Bridge in Kapaa and Hoone Road in Poipu.
In Eleele overflowing rainwater led to a sewage spill of between 1,000 and 10,000 gallons from a manhole at the intersection of Kaumualii Highway and Eleele Road, across the highway from the Eleele Shopping Center.
The rains moved over Oahu Sunday evening, but were not as heavy nor as widespread as on Kauai.
Forecasters say a weather system responsible for the rains is weakening, but could still affect our weather. Scattered showers, mostly windward and mauka, are in the forecast. Some of the showers could move over the mountains into leeward areas.
Meanwhile, a high-surf advisory is in effect for the east shores of Molokai, Maui and Hawaii island through 6 p.m. Tuesday. Waves of up to 8 feet are forecast, driven by easterly winds of up to 23 mph.
A small-craft advisor is also in effect for Hawaii waters out to 46 miles from shore.
