Test Sites

  • The Jefferson Elementary School test site is located near the Waikiki-Kapahulu Public Library.

  • The Ala Wai Elementary School test site is located near the Ala Wai Community Garden.

  • The Ritz-Carlton test site is located between Kalaimoku Street and Launiu Street.

  • The Hawaii Convention Center test site is located in back of the Hawaii Convention Center.

Enterococci

Enterococci are bacteria that live in the gut of warm-blooded animals. Their presence is an indicator of fecal contamination, which may contain disease-causing bacteria, protozoa, and viruses.

Enterococci are used to evaluate recreational health. For recreational waters, the acceptable level of enterococci should not exceed a geometric mean of 35 colony forming units (cfu) per 100 mL of water.

Jefferson Elementary

Measured in colony forming units (cfu)

Ritz-Carlton

Measured in colony forming units (cfu)

Ala Wai Elementary

Measured in colony forming units (cfu)

Convention Center

Measured in colony forming units (cfu)

Turbidity

Turbidity measures the cloudiness of water. Mud, sand, silt, organic material, or chemicals can all contribute to high turbidity.

Turbidity is used to evaluate recreational and ecosystem health. High turbidity reduces light penetration and productivity. The acceptable turbidity measure for ditches/flumes is 5.0 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) or less.

Jefferson Elementary

Measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU)

Ritz-Carlton

Measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU)

Ala Wai Elementary

Measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU)

Convention Center

Measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU)

Ammonia

Organisms release ammonia through waste. Decaying organic matter also contributes to ammonia levels.

Excess ammonia can inflict gill membrane damage and prevent normal respiration.

Jefferson Elementary

Measured in microgram per liter (µg/L)

Ritz-Carlton

Measured in microgram per liter (µg/L)

Ala Wai Elementary

Measured in microgram per liter (µg/L)

Convention Center

Measured in microgram per liter (µg/L)

Nitrite and Nitrate

Beneficial bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrate. Excess nitrite and nitrate can stress fish and suppress their immune system, in addition to inflicting gill damage and affecting normal respiration. Excess nitrate can also provide a nitrogen source that leads to algal blooms.

Jefferson Elementary

Measured in microgram per liter (µg/L)

Ritz-Carlton

Measured in microgram per liter (µg/L)

Ala Wai Elementary

Measured in microgram per liter (µg/L)

Convention Center

Measured in microgram per liter (µg/L)

pH

pH readings measure water acidity. A pH reading of 7.0 is considered neutral. Acidic conditions are below 7.0 and alkaline conditions are above 7.0.

Excess waste can cause pH changes.

Jefferson Elementary

Ritz-Carlton

Ala Wai Elementary

Convention Center

Salinity

Salinity is a measurement of the amount of salt in water, measured in parts per thousand (ppt).

Lower salinity levels indicate fresh water intrusion, caused by heavy rain.

Jefferson Elementary

Measured in parts per thousand (ppt)

Ritz-Carlton

Measured in parts per thousand (ppt)

Ala Wai Elementary

Measured in parts per thousand (ppt)

Convention Center

Measured in parts per thousand (ppt)

Scroll over individual data points to see exact values. Zeros inputted for unmeasured values.