Update: Brown water advisory canceled for East Hawai‘i

Update at 11:40 a.m. Sept. 26: The brown water advisory that was previously in effect for the east side of Hawai‘i Island from Kohala to South Point has been canceled.

Original post at 4 p.m. Sept. 16: A brown water advisory was issued for East Hawai‘i from Kohala to South Point.

This afternoon, the Hawai‘i Department of Health advises beach users to stay out of waters when it appears brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain. After storms or heavy rain, the state department says water may contain higher than normal pollutant levels and 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 pond to prevent leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria. For more information, click here.