Aidan Griffin

Ms. Terry

Senior Seminar

21 November 2018

Do You Know What Kind of Water You’re Swimming in?

For locals and visitors alike, the beach is one of the most unique and beautiful aspects of

Maui. The perfect place for surfing, swimming, and just about any water-related activity you can

dream of, the beaches of Maui are known worldwide as being pristine and clean. That may be

true on the surface. The water is clear and blue, and trash doesn’t tend to blow down the sand.

However, the problems start to arise as you go underwater. Often times, the bacteria and

nutrient counts of Maui waters are abnormal. These aren’t just numbers; they directly affect the

health of aquatic creatures and ourselves. Knowing where water is unsafe to swim not only

helps to prevent one from getting sick, but it also can help show which spots are the most at risk

of coral death and lead us to techniques for prevention.

There are governmental and private organizations that exist to test the ocean daily to

make sure water is safe to swim in. This is, simply put, to keep people safe. Water is naturally

home to some level of pathogens. If too many of a certain variety of bacteria show themselves

and can be counted, that means the beach should be closed for swimming (Derewicz). These

bacteria cause a range of enteric (intestinal) and non-enteric diseases. The most common

enteric disease is acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI). Symptoms include: nausea, vomiting,

diarrhea, stomach ache, and fever. This is called by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and

protozoa that live in the water. Other problems arising from excessive pathogen levels are

salmonellosis and cholera, respiratory infections, hepatitis, dysentery, giardiasis, and a full

lineup of infections. Even deadly infectious agents such as MRSA, V. Vulnificus, and Leptospira

can be found in recreational waters. These can lead to diseases ranging from pneumonia to

liver and kidney damage (Landon). All of this shouldn’t keep you from going into the ocean, but
it is important to keep it in mind. Last year, there were approximately 90 million recreational

water illnesses reported nationwide (Deflorio-Barker). 86% of all of these cases took place at

beaches or lakes, where water isn’t closely watched and treated (Landon). It’s plausible to say

that if ocean/lake water was tested often and reported, beachgoers would be less likely to swim

at affected areas.

One of the most common sources of pollution we see in water is sewage. This can come

through sewage overflows, stormwater runoff, malfunctions in treatment plants, boating waste,

and septic system malfunctions. The runoff is particularly dangerous, as rainwaters can pick up

animal waste, fertilizer, and pesticides before they disperse in the ocean (Waterwise). That is

why experts recommend you wait 72 hours to swim after a storm. On the Island of Maui, we see

all types of contamination methods. The most controversial one is the runoff that has been

shown to come from Monsanto’s testing plants (Woodhouse). We’ve seen what they this can do

to people, but it is important to note that these chemicals can be extremely dangerous for coral,

fish, and other sea life. Additionally, Maui has seen many cases of water dumping into the

ocean from treatment plants containing the bacteria it was supposed to prevent against. In

2013, the University of Hawai’i placed dye in injection plants near Kahekili beach in Lahaina,

and found that the wastewater spread all over. The risk to human health that was evidenced

resulted in a lawsuit against the County of Maui. As a result, the county paid a 100,000 fine and

agreed to spend millions to redesign the systems (Mauinow).

Knowing the source of water pollutants and the effect they have might be the right

encouragement to want to pay attention to where you swim, but in many cases, it is hard to

discover where it is safest. Sure, when Hawaii discovers extremely high levels of endobacteria

in one location, they close it within the next day. However, the levels of bacteria in ocean water

can contain far above the acceptable level of enterococcus (MPN/100 ml) without the beach

being closed (Surfrider). In this case, how else are we supposed to know? That is why I believe
it is extremely important to have an easily accessible, accurate, and clear source where people

on Maui can easily find and compare the bacteria levels of beaches across the island.

Maui is known worldwide for its pristine beaches more than anything else. Palm trees,

golden sand, and blue water are the definition of paradise. Whether you want to paddle board,

body surf, or cliff dive, nearly anyone can have fun in the ocean. What isn’t so fun, however, is

an invasive staph infection eating away at your brain. For the safety of ourselves and our marine

aumakua, it is important to know the bacteria and nutrient levels at different beaches. If you

know, then you can do something about it. Whether that be choosing not to swim or leading a

case against a wastewater treatment plan, knowledge is power.