Wailua-Kapa‘a Wastewater Treatment Plant - Pollution Effects

  • WASTEWATER CONTAINS NUTRIENT POLLUTION THAT CHANGES MARINE LIMU

    This image shows 2 samples of the same species of limu. The sample on the left is rich in δ15 N nitrogen from processed wastewater, while the one on the right is “natural” limu low in δ15 N nitrogen. Learn more

  • WASTEWATER CONTAINS PATHOGENS THAT CAUSE DISEASE IN MARINE LIFE

    Land-based pollution is a contributor to reef degradation, show here in Ma'alaea, Maui

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  • KIHEI, MAUI, HAS BEEN CALLED A "GROUND ZERO" FOR FIBROPAPILLOMATOSIS

    Fibropapillomatosis is a disease that is caused by a herpes virus and manifests as tumors in turtles. The virus is injected into the environment, and green sea turtles ingest invasive ocean algae, fed by excess nitrogen found in injected wastewater in Kihei, causing the growth of the tumors, a leading cause of death of the endangered species.

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  • INFECTIOUS FISH ULCERS ARE A GLOBAL PHENOMENOM THAT CAN BE TRACED TO POLLUTION SOURCES LIKE INFECTED WASTEWATER

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  • POLLUTION LOADING LEADS TO INFECTIOUS FISH ULCERS BY WAY OF SEVERAL VECTORS

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  • THE CORAL ITSELF IS AFFECTED BY LAND-BASED POLLUTION

    Human sewage identified as likely source of white pox disease of the threatened Caribbean elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata

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Do you know what species live downstream from your flushes in nearshore reef ecosystems?

A large number of unique marine life species live in nearshore ocean waters that are downstream from all disposal methods. Explore these colorful reef species images, learn the scientific name and Hawaiian name for those that have one, and explore a link to more information for each species

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