Cesspool Contamination Revealed by Invasive Algae – Hawaii Sea Grant

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Cesspool Contamination Revealed by Invasive Algae

We’re learning how invasive algae are being used to detect cesspool contamination across Hawaiʻi. Cesspools are leaching excess nutrients into the environment, contaminating our water systems, and negatively affecting the growth of algae and coral reefs. Hawaiʻi has less than 30 years to replace over 80 thousand cesspools. Scientists are analyzing the Nitrogen levels in algae to see where along our coastlines the cesspools are leaking most. We’ll learn how scientists are gathering this data and what can be done with technology and policy solutions to help improve the way we treat our wastewater in the future.

Watch the trailer for Season 7, Episode 5 on Vimeo or on YouTube.

Telly Awards Winner!

Cesspool Contamination Revealed by Invasive Algae is a Bronze Telly Awards Winner in Social Impact!

Full Episode

This episode is also available with English subtitles on Vimeo and Youtube.

Maitau lenei mea i le Samoa ile Vimeo poʻo le YouTube.

Watch the episode on YouTube with recorded researcher comments from our live-chat on Wednesday June 10th, 2020.

Curriculum Connections:

Grade 5: Ecosystem cycling
- Activity: Compost
Grades 6-12: What Are Aquatic Plants and Algae?
- Activity: Algae Identification with Dichotomous Key
- Activity: Making Algae Presses

Additional Resources:

Hawaiʻi Department of Health
- Cesspool Website
- Cesspool Conversion Working Group
- Identifying Potential Knowledge Gaps for Hawaii’s Cesspool Conversion Plan
  - Published March 2020, written by Michael Mezzacapo
- Financing Cesspool Conversions in Hawaiʻi
  - Published April 2019
- A Multi-state Regulation and Policy Survey of Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Upgrade Programs
  - Published September 2019, written by Michael Mezzacapo
US Environmental Protection Agency
- Septic System Information and Graphics
UH News Cesspool Research Articles
- UH researchers link quality of coastal groundwater with reef degradation on Maui
- How submarine groundwater affects coral reef growth
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Life Sciences
- Dr. Celia Smith
Water Resources Research Center
- Educational Resources
School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology
- Biogeochemical Stable Isotope Facility
Hawaiʻi Business Magazine
- Finally Tackling a Crappy Situation
  - Published September 2019, written by Stuart Coleman
Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations
- WAI—WaiCleanWater.org
Ka Pili Kai
- Cesspools in Paradise
  - Published Summer 2019, written by Helen Raine

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Contact information:
Kanesa Seraphin, Ph.D.
kanesa@hawaii.edu

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