Maui County Council Member Tamara Paltin pours ocean water into a vial held by Hui O Ka Wai Ola volunteer Kit Harris on Tuesday at Hanaka‘o‘o Beach Park. They were preparing a sample to be tested for turbidity. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

The Maui News

WAILUKU–The Hawaii Department of Health advises beach users to stay out of waters in the Maui areas of Waihe’e to Kahului Harbor, Ma’alaea to McGregor Point, Kahana Village, Hanakao’o Beach Park, DT Fleming Beach Park, and Puamana to Papalaua while the water appears brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain. The Hawaii Department of Health issued the brown water advisories on Monday and will lift the advisories when brown water conditions improve.

After storms or heavy rain, the water may contain higher-than-normal pollutant levels. The Department recommends staying out of the water for 48-72 hours after the rain has stopped and after the beach has received full sunshine.

The Department of Health advises the public to avoid swimming, wading in, or drinking water from any freshwater streams or ponds to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria. For more information on leptospirosis, please see: https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/leptospirosis/

If the water is brown, turn around.

For more information, please see: https://eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/cwb#!/event/1841/details/view