The Maui News

The state Health Department lifted its water quality alert for Kanaha Beach but posted one for Kamaole Beach Park I on Tuesday based on levels of bacteria found in the water during routine testing.

At Kamaole, levels of enterococci bacteria were 384 per 100 milliliters, much higher than the 130 per 100 milliliter advisory threshold. The Clean Water Branch detected the high levels of bacteria during routine beach monitoring.

The higher levels of bacteria detected indicate that potentially harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa or parasites, may be present in the water. Swimming at beaches with pollution in the water may cause illness, the branch said.

Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are the most likely to develop illnesses or infections after coming into contact with polluted water, usually while swimming. Fortunately, while swimming-related illnesses can be unpleasant, they usually require little or no treatment and have no long-term health effects, the Health Department said.

The most common illness associated with swimming in water polluted by fecal pathogens is gastroenteritis, which can cause nausea, vomiting, stomachache, diarrhea, headache or fever.

The advisory will remain in effect until water sample results no longer exceed the threshold level.

At Kanaha, water sample testing results showed that the enterococci levels no longer exceeded advisory levels of 130 per 100 milliliters. The level had been 271 per 100 milliliters, the Clean Water Branch said Friday in posting the advisory.

For more information, go to eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/cwb/#!/viewer?eventId=969 and www.epa.gov/beaches/learn-human-health-beach.