Answers · Safety and health

What should I do during a brown water advisory?

Stay out of beaches or streams contaminated by storm (brown) water, the Department of Health's Clean Water Branch advises. Storm water can contain harmful micro-organisms and other pollutants from overflowing sewage systems, such as cesspools or septic tanks, and animal feces flowing into storm drains.

After any storm, the branch reminds the public that runoff may contain sewage, harmful micro-organisms and chemicals from commercial and industrial sources.

After a sewage or chemical spill, coastal waters are usually safe to enter after 48 hours because of tidal flushing, the branch says, but the public should wait for further instructions from the Department of Health on when the water is safe.

Questions about standing water or brown water go to the Clean Water Branch on Oʻahu at (808) 586-4309 during normal business hours. On Oʻahu, sewage spills are reported to the City and County of Honolulu at (808) 768-7272.

From

Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Clean Water Branch: Department of Health, Clean Water Branch, General Health Advisory

As of

Sept. 27, 2026, when the Ledger read the agency's page

Applies to

the whole state

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Basis. Every sentence above comes from the page or document named, read on Sept. 27, 2026, in the agency's words as closely as a sentence allows; the agency's page governs if it has changed since. The Ledger adds no advice of its own. Corrections: the corrections log.