10-21-2007, 02:07 PM
The residents of Vacationland may have legitimate concerns about road maintenance. There are also disrectful visitors who will leave rubbish behind. These are problems faced by other neighborhoods as well.
The real threat to the Waiopea Ponds however, are the many older homes in the area with substandard septic systems. When we have those occaisional heavy rains the systems overflow into the ponds (they're only a couple of feet above sea level, if at all).
The state has signs warning of high bacteria levels and pollution. I don't believe these are caused by visitors to the area, but by non-point source pollution such as pesticide and herbicide run off, and the number of sewage systems at sea level.
I personally wouldn't swim there, or at the warm ponds. I go in a few times a week at Pohoiki, but always shower and rinse my ears afterwards with alcohol/5% glycerin. Thanks for bringing this thread forward as I missed it's original incarnation.
Aloha, Greg
The real threat to the Waiopea Ponds however, are the many older homes in the area with substandard septic systems. When we have those occaisional heavy rains the systems overflow into the ponds (they're only a couple of feet above sea level, if at all).
The state has signs warning of high bacteria levels and pollution. I don't believe these are caused by visitors to the area, but by non-point source pollution such as pesticide and herbicide run off, and the number of sewage systems at sea level.
I personally wouldn't swim there, or at the warm ponds. I go in a few times a week at Pohoiki, but always shower and rinse my ears afterwards with alcohol/5% glycerin. Thanks for bringing this thread forward as I missed it's original incarnation.
Aloha, Greg