Kailua Bay regulars are being told to sit this one out after a recent water test near the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base outfall clocked bacteria levels above the daily permitted limit. Local officials have put up warning signs along the shoreline and are urging swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users to steer clear of the affected stretch until new tests show the water is back within safe standards. Authorities say daily monitoring is underway while they wait for follow-up results.
According to KITV, the sample was taken on Monday near the ocean outfall and exceeded the daily maximum permitted level for fecal indicator bacteria. Reporter Jeremiah Estrada noted that warning signs went up near the outfall and that residents will be notified once bacteria counts fall back to acceptable levels.
Officials And Testing
"The public is advised to remain out of the affected waters until warning signs have been removed," the Hawaii Department of Health says in its guidance on incidents like this. Under that guidance, local agencies are directed to post warning signs, keep up effluent and shoreline monitoring and carry out any corrective measures required by the facility’s discharge permit.
Why The Outfall Matters
Both the City’s Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Marine Corps’ Water Reclamation Facility send treated flows to a shared deep ocean outfall, so an exceedance near the outlet can affect a broad area of Kailua Bay, according to Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency uses enterococci as an indicator of fecal contamination because high readings signal the possible presence of disease-causing microbes, as local reporting has explained. Under state permits, the Kailua plant is allowed to discharge up to 15.25 million gallons per day through that outfall, and officials track both the effluent and several shoreline stations to protect public health.
Regulatory History
The Kailua discharge and treatment system has been under scrutiny in recent years. The Hawaii Department of Health issued a Notice of Violation and Order to the City in 2023, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has required upgrades and added disinfection measures to head off repeat exceedances. EPA administrative actions call for new disinfection technology along with major repairs to biological treatment units so the plant meets federal and state standards.
What Locals Should Do
For now, people are being told to stay out of the posted waters, follow the warning signs, and hold off on harvesting shellfish from the bay until the advisory is lifted. The City Department of Environmental Services shares updates and asks residents to report any suspected sewer issues to its 24/7 wastewater trouble line at (808) 768-7272.
Officials say daily sampling will continue and the public will be alerted when bacteria levels drop back below permit limits. This story will be updated as agencies release new test results and statements.
