Sewage pollution from onsite sewage disposal systems and an offshore wastewater treatment plant outfall in coastal waters of Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi Island
Study region: Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi. Study focus: Onsite sewage disposal systems (OSDS) and the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant (HWTP) outfall are potentially impacting Keaukaha’s coastal waters. We used dye tracer tests, water quality, δ15N macroalgal, δ15N- and δ18O-NO3- measurements along with stable...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824004713 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832591780015505408 |
|---|---|
| author | Shayla M.P. Waiki Steven L. Colbert Tracy N. Wiegner Noelani Puniwai Joseph W.P. Nakoa, III Nicolas M. Storie Craig E. Nelson Ashlynn N. Overly Karla J. McDermid Devon K. Aguiar |
| author_facet | Shayla M.P. Waiki Steven L. Colbert Tracy N. Wiegner Noelani Puniwai Joseph W.P. Nakoa, III Nicolas M. Storie Craig E. Nelson Ashlynn N. Overly Karla J. McDermid Devon K. Aguiar |
| author_sort | Shayla M.P. Waiki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study region: Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi. Study focus: Onsite sewage disposal systems (OSDS) and the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant (HWTP) outfall are potentially impacting Keaukaha’s coastal waters. We used dye tracer tests, water quality, δ15N macroalgal, δ15N- and δ18O-NO3- measurements along with stable isotope mixing models to assess connectivity of OSDS to coastal waters and characterize water quality at coastal OSDS-impacted springs, coral reefs, and from the HWTP. A citizen science survey tool evaluated the association of both the presence and intensity of sewage odor with weather, ocean, and river conditions. New hydrological insights for the region: All measurements confirmed sewage presence in Keaukaha’s coastal waters and coral reefs. OSDS-sewage reached shoreline springs within 20 h to 3 d. Measured flow rates ranged from 130 to 213 m/d, which were 15 times faster than state models for cesspool removal prioritization. Coastal OSDS-impacted springs had higher fecal indicator bacteria and nutrient concentrations than in the HWTP outfall plume. Benthic macroalgal δ15N was indicative of sewage at the outfall and nearby reef, as well as along the shoreline. Reported sewage odors coincided with high bacterial count advisories and HWTP discharge events, demonstrating the effectiveness of human olfaction as a sewage pollution indicator. Our findings suggest that Hilo’s prioritization category for OSDS removal should be elevated to Priority 1, and that the HWTP outfall should be relocated to a less culturally and ecologically sensitive area. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8b0ee09a7fff46a0bf2f127fdaef17f3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-8b0ee09a7fff46a0bf2f127fdaef17f32025-01-22T05:42:07ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182025-02-0157102122Sewage pollution from onsite sewage disposal systems and an offshore wastewater treatment plant outfall in coastal waters of Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi IslandShayla M.P. Waiki0Steven L. Colbert1Tracy N. Wiegner2Noelani Puniwai3Joseph W.P. Nakoa, III4Nicolas M. Storie5Craig E. Nelson6Ashlynn N. Overly7Karla J. McDermid8Devon K. Aguiar9Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Graduate Program, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USAMarine Science Department, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USAMarine Science Department, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA; Corresponding author.Hawai`inuiākea, School of Hawaiian Knowledge, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 2540 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822, USATropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Graduate Program, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA; Environmental Life Science Program, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874601, Tempe, AZ 85287-4601, USADaniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography Research and Education, Department of Oceanography and Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 1950 East West Road, Honolulu 96822, USADaniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography Research and Education, Department of Oceanography and Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 1950 East West Road, Honolulu 96822, USAMarine Science Department, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA; Hawaiʻi Coral Reef Initiative, Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources, West Hawaiʻi Office, Kona, HI 96740, USAMarine Science Department, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USAMarine Science Department, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, USA; Hawaiʻi Coral Reef Initiative, Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources, East Hawaiʻi Office, Hilo, HI 96720, USAStudy region: Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi. Study focus: Onsite sewage disposal systems (OSDS) and the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant (HWTP) outfall are potentially impacting Keaukaha’s coastal waters. We used dye tracer tests, water quality, δ15N macroalgal, δ15N- and δ18O-NO3- measurements along with stable isotope mixing models to assess connectivity of OSDS to coastal waters and characterize water quality at coastal OSDS-impacted springs, coral reefs, and from the HWTP. A citizen science survey tool evaluated the association of both the presence and intensity of sewage odor with weather, ocean, and river conditions. New hydrological insights for the region: All measurements confirmed sewage presence in Keaukaha’s coastal waters and coral reefs. OSDS-sewage reached shoreline springs within 20 h to 3 d. Measured flow rates ranged from 130 to 213 m/d, which were 15 times faster than state models for cesspool removal prioritization. Coastal OSDS-impacted springs had higher fecal indicator bacteria and nutrient concentrations than in the HWTP outfall plume. Benthic macroalgal δ15N was indicative of sewage at the outfall and nearby reef, as well as along the shoreline. Reported sewage odors coincided with high bacterial count advisories and HWTP discharge events, demonstrating the effectiveness of human olfaction as a sewage pollution indicator. Our findings suggest that Hilo’s prioritization category for OSDS removal should be elevated to Priority 1, and that the HWTP outfall should be relocated to a less culturally and ecologically sensitive area.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824004713WastewaterFecal indicator bacteriaStable nitrogen isotopesMacroalgaeDye tracercesspools |
| spellingShingle | Shayla M.P. Waiki Steven L. Colbert Tracy N. Wiegner Noelani Puniwai Joseph W.P. Nakoa, III Nicolas M. Storie Craig E. Nelson Ashlynn N. Overly Karla J. McDermid Devon K. Aguiar Sewage pollution from onsite sewage disposal systems and an offshore wastewater treatment plant outfall in coastal waters of Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi Island Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Wastewater Fecal indicator bacteria Stable nitrogen isotopes Macroalgae Dye tracer cesspools |
| title | Sewage pollution from onsite sewage disposal systems and an offshore wastewater treatment plant outfall in coastal waters of Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi Island |
| title_full | Sewage pollution from onsite sewage disposal systems and an offshore wastewater treatment plant outfall in coastal waters of Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi Island |
| title_fullStr | Sewage pollution from onsite sewage disposal systems and an offshore wastewater treatment plant outfall in coastal waters of Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi Island |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sewage pollution from onsite sewage disposal systems and an offshore wastewater treatment plant outfall in coastal waters of Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi Island |
| title_short | Sewage pollution from onsite sewage disposal systems and an offshore wastewater treatment plant outfall in coastal waters of Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi Island |
| title_sort | sewage pollution from onsite sewage disposal systems and an offshore wastewater treatment plant outfall in coastal waters of keaukaha hawai i island |
| topic | Wastewater Fecal indicator bacteria Stable nitrogen isotopes Macroalgae Dye tracer cesspools |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824004713 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shaylampwaiki sewagepollutionfromonsitesewagedisposalsystemsandanoffshorewastewatertreatmentplantoutfallincoastalwatersofkeaukahahawaiʻiisland AT stevenlcolbert sewagepollutionfromonsitesewagedisposalsystemsandanoffshorewastewatertreatmentplantoutfallincoastalwatersofkeaukahahawaiʻiisland AT tracynwiegner sewagepollutionfromonsitesewagedisposalsystemsandanoffshorewastewatertreatmentplantoutfallincoastalwatersofkeaukahahawaiʻiisland AT noelanipuniwai sewagepollutionfromonsitesewagedisposalsystemsandanoffshorewastewatertreatmentplantoutfallincoastalwatersofkeaukahahawaiʻiisland AT josephwpnakoaiii sewagepollutionfromonsitesewagedisposalsystemsandanoffshorewastewatertreatmentplantoutfallincoastalwatersofkeaukahahawaiʻiisland AT nicolasmstorie sewagepollutionfromonsitesewagedisposalsystemsandanoffshorewastewatertreatmentplantoutfallincoastalwatersofkeaukahahawaiʻiisland AT craigenelson sewagepollutionfromonsitesewagedisposalsystemsandanoffshorewastewatertreatmentplantoutfallincoastalwatersofkeaukahahawaiʻiisland AT ashlynnnoverly sewagepollutionfromonsitesewagedisposalsystemsandanoffshorewastewatertreatmentplantoutfallincoastalwatersofkeaukahahawaiʻiisland AT karlajmcdermid sewagepollutionfromonsitesewagedisposalsystemsandanoffshorewastewatertreatmentplantoutfallincoastalwatersofkeaukahahawaiʻiisland AT devonkaguiar sewagepollutionfromonsitesewagedisposalsystemsandanoffshorewastewatertreatmentplantoutfallincoastalwatersofkeaukahahawaiʻiisland |