DOH Cancels Spencer Beach Park High Bacteria Advisory After Retests

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health Clean Water Branch canceled a High Bacteria Count Advisory for Spencer Beach Park in West Hawaiʻi after follow-up sampling showed enterococci levels no longer exceeded the recreational threshold of 130 enterococci per 100 milliliters. The advisory was in place for six days and was lifted on Feb. 19 after laboratory confirmation, state and local postings said.

DOH first posted the advisory after routine monitoring in mid-February detected elevated enterococci. Sources circulating on social media split on the initial measurement: an Instagram advisory-style post said “Routine beach monitoring detected Enterococci levels of 624 per 100 mL, nearly five times the standard recreational threshold,” while DOH-attributed reporting identified an initial DOH reading of 178 per 100 milliliters. The Clean Water Branch threshold cited by health officials is 130 enterococci per 100 milliliters.

Officials collected a second sample for analysis as soon as the exceedance was reported. The Instagram post noted, “Retesting Initiated: Due to the unusually high reading, the DOH has already collected a second sample for analysis,” and flagged agency uncertainty: “The DOH is currently uncertain if the initial 624/100 mL sample accurately represents the overall water quality or if the result was skewed by an isolated factor.” Retest results typically require 24 to 48 hours for laboratory confirmation; follow-up testing in this episode returned values at or below the threshold, prompting cancellation of the advisory.

While posted, the advisory carried the standard public-health guidance that swimmers avoid contact with the water. Social-media posts preserved the advisory precaution: “the public is strongly advised to avoid water activities at Spencer Beach Park until retesting results are confirmed. Exposure to these levels of bacteria can significantly increase the risk of skin, ear, and gastrointestinal infections.” Health notes for the public identified children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems as the most likely to develop illnesses after contact with polluted water and listed symptoms including stomachache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Community reaction tied the event to recent weather. Commenters on Instagram and Facebook pointed to a statewide Brown Water Advisory that began Feb. 9, saying runoff and discolored water had been visible along coastlines from Mau‘umae to Kawaihae Harbor during heavy rain. Social posts also raised suspicions about septic or sewage sources; verbatim comments included “Is the bathroom still closed???” and “Dumping human waste right where people swim!! Heathens only do that.” A Reddit commenter noted a prior exceedance at Spencer in June 2023, reporting 238 enterococci per 100 mL at that time.

DOH’s Clean Water Branch is the issuing authority for beach postings and maintains sampling results and advisory status on its website. For current conditions and official lab results for Spencer Beach Park, visit the Clean Water Branch website.