Hasn’t water from West Maui injection wells negatively impacted the reef and fish in West Maui, particularly at Kahekili Beach where a tracer dye study found the presence of water from injection wells

Question:

 Hasn’t water from West Maui injection wells negatively impacted the reef and fish in West Maui, particularly at Kahekili Beach where a tracer dye study found the presence of water from injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility?

 

Answer:

 Ocean water quality is affected by many different things. West Maui ocean water quality, including reef conditions and herbivore fish health at Kahekili Beach, have improved since fish conservation management practices were implemented in 2009. Kahekili Beach is where tracer dye studies show a portion of the groundwater-recycled water enters the ocean through freshwater seeps. If highly diluted recycled water from underground seeps were the cause of offshore conditions, then there would be signs of further deterioration. In fact, conditions have improved. An online search of “underwater pictures at Kahekili Beach” will show images of reefs and fish that appear relatively healthy.

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1. Why does the Victorino administration maintain Maui County’s appeal of the Lahaina injection well case before the U.S. Supreme Court?
2. How has Maui County operating its wastewater facilities so far?
3. Couldn’t Maui County’s appeal “gut” the Clean Water Act, allowing for pollution nationwide?
4. Hasn’t water from West Maui injection wells negatively impacted the reef and fish in West Maui, particularly at Kahekili Beach where a tracer dye study found the presence of water from injection wells