Hawaii Beach Warnings Issued for Brown 'Fecal' Water

People have been asked to avoid certain waters in Hawaii because of an overflow of wastewater.

The Hawaii State Department of Health issued a brown water warning for any water near the City and County of Honolulu Kailua Wastewater Treatment Plant's ocean outfall.

This is in Kailua Bay, Oahu, the department said in an advisory published on Friday.

The warning was made after "a discharge of wastewater that exceeded the daily maximum permitted fecal indicator bacteria level" was detected in the daily sample collected on Tuesday.

The department issued similar alerts on Monday, covering beaches in Oahu, Hawaii island, and Kauai.

It said the alert was prompted by heavy rain resulting in stormwater runoff entering coastal waters.

The advice said: "The public is advised to stay out of flood waters and stormwater runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris.

"Not all coastal areas may be impacted by runoff, however, if the water is brown stay out. Continue to practice good personal hygiene and follow up with your primary care physician if you have any health concerns."

Myron Honda, a health specialist at the Department of Health, told local news channel KHON2 that people should avoid getting in the ocean if it looks "off" after heavy rain.

"Even if we don't issue a brown water advisory, that's because we cannot be everywhere and there's little pockets where we would miss," Honda said.

It comes after several of Hawaii's islands were placed under a warning by the National Weather Service for a "multi-day heavy rain event" brought on by a "Kona Low."

The seasonal cyclone developed over the state on Tuesday night, with flood advisories posted for Kauai, Oahu, and Maui in particular.

NWS forecasters said the wet weather brought on by the tropical storm would be like a "fire hose shooting water".

In the 36-hour period leading up to Wednesday, some parts of Hawaii saw "about 17 inches of rain", NWS meteorologist Tom Birchard told KHON2.

The NWS' most recent forecast said: "Southerly 'Kona' winds will continue pulling up unstable tropical moisture from the deep tropics over the next few days.

"A 'Kona Low' remains in place roughly 600 miles north to northwest of the Hawaiian Islands as a weakening low-level trough begins to move into Kauai.

"Bands of showers producing moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms will develop in this tropical air mass and affect most islands through Friday.

"The 'Kona Low' will begin to drift away from the state this weekend with improving trends over the western islands into the upcoming weekend. By Monday all islands will see a dramatic improvement in weather conditions as easterly trade winds return."