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<br /> A review of water quality characteristics at the Wai Opm a MLCD, IGtpoho, Aawail
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<br /> Michael I,. Parsons, Marine Science Department, University of Hawaii at Imo
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<br /> Abstract
<br /> On September 2, 2005, the Kapoho Kai Water Association provided Dr. Parsons with two sets of
<br /> water quality data from the Wai Opae tidepools MLCO. One set was from the Aecos I.abwatory
<br /> (four sites sampled between 2/28/05 and August 8, 2005), the other from the Hawaii Department
<br /> of Health Clean Water Branch (one site sampled between January 19.1999 and June 13, 2005).
<br /> The data were examined for trends and relationships among sampling site, salinity, Enterococc7a
<br /> abundance, water turbidity, nitrate-nitrite concentrations, and day of week sampled Results
<br /> indicate that Enterococeus abundance does not correlate with either salinity or turbidity,
<br /> suggesting that groundwater and/or surface water inputs are not the source of these pathogens,
<br /> Rather, Enterococ cea abnmatisce appears to be highest on Mondays, suggesting that wtdtend
<br /> processes/activities tray be a factor. Further examination of the Aecos data indicates that
<br /> Enter ococcus abundance appeas to be site-specific, relatively independent of salinity. This
<br /> result suggests that Enterecoom abundance may be related to very localized and proximal
<br /> sources, the most likely of which would be ecsspools of the surrounding houses in Vacationland.
<br /> Introduction
<br /> Water quality is an important topic for many coastal regions, including Hawaii. Poor water
<br /> quality, caused by nutrient enrichment, pollution, turbidity, and other factors, can not only at'fect
<br /> coastal ecosystem health, but the health of people who utilize the coastal resources as well. For
<br /> example, people can got sick from eating shellfish containing the bacterium, Yibrio wdWItcws, a
<br /> pathogen associated with human cMucnt inputs to coastal waters. For Hawaii, especially the Big
<br /> Island, one of the primary sources of pollution leading to poor water quality is thought to be
<br /> cesspool leachates from residential and gang cesspools. Simply stated, cesspool fluids can (and
<br /> dot interact with the groundwater, often leading to transport of cesspool leaehates to the coastal
<br /> waters of Hawaii along with accompanying pathogens. nutrients, and pollutants.
<br /> Enterocomm is an aerobic bacteria that naturally lives in the human intestines and is used as an
<br /> indicator of scwagc%x:sspuol inputs to U.S. coastal/Great Lakes waters and also displays the
<br /> strongest correlation to swimming associated gesttroetutxitis in marine waters according to EPA
<br /> epidemiological snidies. In Hawaii, however, Enterocoeeua naturally occurs in soil, so high
<br /> bacterial levels may not indicate sewage inputs, but rather sediment inputs Local studies show
<br /> that Enrerer"e dies off significantly in marine waters (exposed to sualight) after 3 hounx and
<br /> in 6 hours is negligible, indicating that high levels ofF,nterococem will be associated with recent
<br /> phenomena (within 6 hours of contact with marine waters). Given the confounding situation that
<br /> sediment inputs can cause in monitoring for waste water inputs, the EPA has permitted Hawaii to
<br /> use Clasrrsdtumjwfrtngens as a secondary indicator. Closirldfum pen%ngettr is an anaembic
<br /> bacteria that lives in the intestines of humans, cats, pigs, sheep, dogs, and ducks. Ooze outside
<br /> of the intestines, Oostridlum does not romoduce and unlike Bhretwcoacrer, the spores of
<br /> Clostridium survive a very longtime (weeks). Therefore, Ctoserldfum has the potential forusc
<br /> as a longer-team indicator of waste water inputs.
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