RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, high bacteria levels in water are an indicator of contamination, which can cause illness and infection if the water is swallowed or if it enters a person's body through the mouth, eyes, nose, or a break in the skin; and

WHEREAS, storm-water runoff and sewage spills caused by heavy rains have resulted in the closure of Hawaii's beaches due to high bacteria levels in the ocean water that may be hazardous to human health; and

WHEREAS, after six weeks of rain in February and March of 2006, the Department of Health (DOH) closed beaches around the island of Oahu when bacteria levels soared because of storm-water runoff and sewage spills, including the pumping transfer of 48,000,000 gallons of raw sewage into the Ala Wai Canal beginning on March 24, 2006, due to damaged sewer pipes; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the sewage spill into the Ala Wai Canal, the Clean Water Branch of DOH and the Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu conducted water sampling at 18 beach locations and ten surf sites in the Ala Moana and Waikiki areas, which resulted in the posting of warning signs at several beaches, advising beachgoers and surfers to stay out of the water due to the detection of elevated levels of bacteria in the water; and

WHEREAS, while the bacteria levels in ocean water are tested after heavy rains and sewage spills, the beaches themselves are not tested, potentially exposing Hawaii's residents and visitors, without any warning, to levels of bacteria that may cause illness and infection; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that DOH is requested to consider conducting bacteria level testing of the sand at all beaches where contaminated water warning signs have been posted due to a sewage spill; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOH is requested to work with the University of Hawaii in developing guidelines for safe and accurate testing of the sand; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to cooperate with DOH in its development of bacteria-level testing of beach sand; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOH is requested to submit a report to the Legislature, no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007, on its findings related to the bacteria levels at these affected beaches; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Health, President of the University of Hawaii, and Mayor and Managing Director of the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title:

Sand Testing; Sewage Spill