Water Quality Samples for Total Metals

Table 1. Results from nearshore water quality samples collected by DOH during April 2024 for total metals, in micrograms per liter (µg/L). 
Parameters (Total) DOH EAL:
Surface Water
Action Level
for Marine Habitats
(Ecological)1
Hanakao’o Park Mala WharfPuunoa (Baby) BeachKamehameha
Iki Park
Shark Pit -
Puamana 
Launiupoko
Beach
Launiupoko Beach
Surf Break 
Olowalu Surf
Break
Kahekili (Airport)
Beach 
baseduplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicatetriplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicate
Aluminum10.711.162.978.515.417.637.252.345.650810194.678.381.877.479.266.66.526.76
Antimony 300.1280.1110.110.1020.1370.1350.1160.1160.1060.1020.1170.1250.1180.120.1150.1180.1030.1270.133
Arsenic 0.141.361.481.261.41.391.471.451.31.51.631.571.31.331.291.31.591.471.451.54
Beryllium0.038NDND0.010.010.0110.0110.009*0.010.010.0190.0110.0110.0110.0110.0120.0120.0130.0120.011
Cadmium 9.3NDND0.0060.0070.010.010.0130.0060.0070.0090.0060.0060.0150.0090.0060.0050.0070.0070.004*
Chromium 500.1650.2170.3280.3620.2280.2050.2160.2910.2931.350.390.3770.3820.370.3450.3810.3780.2180.237
Cobalt23NDND0.020.018NDNDND0.0130.007*0.3180.0350.0460.0340.040.0330.0340.039NDND
Copper 2.90.0580.0610.1720.190.2760.2970.1450.1630.1770.6040.2040.1710.1590.1520.1270.2140.2140.1010.246
Iron5.43.9636.143.54.246.9110.919.115.339340.342.733.441.430.945.740.421.93
Lead5.60.004*0.0120.0240.0270.0120.0180.020.0270.0250.1070.0220.0290.0210.0190.0180.0410.0340.0090.013
Manganese0.6920.6421.621.791.030.8741.011.211.28.472.434.674.133.193.112.422.281.151.31
Mercury0.025NDNDNDNDNDND0.004*0.004*0.002*0.004*NDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDND
Molybdenum3701010.49.389.4610.510.610.110.510.69.471010.410.510.510.21010.310.710.1
Nickel8.30.1570.1220.2480.2510.1830.2150.2110.2210.2241.50.2950.3090.2850.2960.2590.3680.3360.1950.227
Selenium710.006*0.005*0.0290.014*0.0250.0260.0230.0280.0180.0220.0210.0240.0290.0220.014*0.0240.0260.011*0.024
Silicon3853253174452403416386111967111368128368111462565188128
Silver0.10.0930.0940.1160.1260.1190.1170.1110.120.1180.1150.1130.1130.1180.1190.1270.1150.1220.1160.124
Thallium12NDND0.007*0.008*0.009*0.010.0110.009*0.008*0.008*0.009*0.009*0.0110.009*0.010.009*0.009*0.008*0.011
TinNDND0.0190.0160.0180.0250.0270.0270.0160.0220.0240.0160.0170.0150.0170.0190.0210.020.03
Titanium0.6720.9215.296.30.8071.042.44.663.7251.97.538.376.037.786.076.215.570.3290.158
Vanadium811.721.651.641.661.651.671.51.541.562.471.671.691.581.641.631.982.031.691.61
Zinc86NDND0.9190.9881.290.8110.8770.9270.9912.41.021.421.250.6310.90.9251.11.45

Coastal water quality samples were collected by DOH in accordance with DOH protocols.
DOH EAL: Hawaii DOH Environmental Action Level for screening. An entry of “—” means the analyte does not have an EAL.
The table shows valid sampling results from the sites, including duplicate and triplicate samples collected for quality assurance purposes.
Concentrations higher than DOH EALs are shown in bold font.
ND: Non-detect
*Values were J flagged in the laboratory report, indicating that the result should be considered as an estimated rather than quantitative value.
1Surface water EALs are for marine habitats and primarily consider potential harm to aquatic habitats or the potential for substances to accumulate in aquatic species. The EALs are from Table D-2b of DOH’s TGM EAL Surfer (found here: Environmental Hazard Evaluation and Environmental Action Levels – HEER Office (hawaii.gov)) from Spring 2024. Recreational water criteria for human health are based on bacteria levels in the water. See “What Do the Data Tell Us?” for explanations of why the levels shown here do not pose a risk to people using these waters for recreation.

Table 2. Results from nearshore water quality samples collected by DOH during August 2024 for total metals, in micrograms per liter (µg/L). 
Parameters (Total) DOH EAL:
Surface Water
Action Level
for Marine Habitats
(Ecological)1
Hanakao’o Park Mala WharfPuunoa (Baby) BeachKamehameha
Iki Park
Shark Pit -
Puamana 
Launiupoko
Beach
Launiupoko Beach
Surf Break 
Olowalu Surf
Break
Kahekili (Airport)
Beach 
baseduplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicatetriplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicatebaseduplicate
Aluminum 11695.847.316.618.210.449.542.931.934.152.357.137.323.227.142.820.5NDND
Antimony300.1360.1090.1320.2520.1760.0780.0970.0770.0860.0840.0860.0870.0870.140.0760.1050.0820.1040.094
Arsenic0.141.021.10.7670.990.6760.7310.6660.971.090.8870.7740.7890.7030.9130.8520.8450.7650.6230.664
Beryllium 0.0380.0180.01NDNDNDND0.005*0.005*0.006*ND0.005*NDND0.005*0.006*0.005*NDNDND
Cadmium 9.30.086ND0.0250.0430.0280.0490.0330.0560.0540.0530.0230.0210.030.0430.0580.0320.0370.0240.025
Chromium 500.3860.3720.2870.1720.1610.1530.3010.2790.9230.2510.3810.5350.320.2180.230.5350.2350.1450.143
Cobalt 23NDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDND
Copper 2.90.3010.2430.1930.0830.1540.1310.1880.1820.1670.1590.1580.1810.1460.1290.1320.2280.1380.0410.025
Iron 88.555.237.77.07101.9122.914.418.113.427.936.425.913.412.140.48.951.171.34
Lead5.60.0840.0570.0850.0390.0350.0450.0260.0250.020.020.0260.0350.0280.020.0220.0280.0120.0120.009
Manganese 1.833.870.8830.620.5380.190.8081.381.671.081.671.781.051.461.671.070.5910.1640.178
Mercury0.025NDNDNDNDNDND0.004*0.003*0.003*0.004*ND0.003*ND0.003*0.0050.002*NDNDND
Molybdenum 37010.19.929.549.549.119.59.047.869.998.789.629.318.9213.27.749.116.610.310.4
Nickel8.30.6090.4690.3050.1680.1350.1380.2620.2440.2160.2960.2620.3080.2290.190.2330.4660.2060.1430.132
Selenium710.0320.0430.0470.0290.063NDND0.015NDND0.0280.0220.0230.0310.016*0.018*0.032NDND
Silicon0.3460.386ND0.0470.0070.0730.1460.0570.080.013NDND0.093ND0.0070.1930.1530.0670.04
Silver0.10.270.070.0640.0750.0420.0770.1560.190.1930.1890.1560.1770.1490.1850.1920.170.1410.0470.065
Thallium 12NDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDND
Tin 0.404NDNDNDNDND0.3380.3180.2810.3250.4180.5760.3960.2460.3270.350.271NDND
Titanium6.965.754.571.421.340.5344.623.672.592.686.246.444.092.112.385.362.210.107ND
Vanadium 812.472.461.861.821.751.771.71.651.841.741.861.91.81.691.781.841.711.651.78
Zinc 861.21.410.5171.240.2670.5171.242.412.220.6810.9142.191.12.831.110.8160.4550.5490.637

Coastal water quality samples were collected by DOH in accordance with DOH protocols.
DOH EAL: Hawaii DOH Environmental Action Level for screening. An entry of “—” means the analyte does not have an EAL.
The table shows valid sampling results from the sites, including duplicate and triplicate samples collected for quality assurance purposes.
Concentrations higher than DOH EALs are shown in bold font.
ND: Non-detect
*Values were J flagged in the laboratory report, indicating that the result should be considered as an estimated rather than quantitative value.
1Surface water EALs are for marine habitats and primarily consider potential harm to aquatic habitats or the potential for substances to accumulate in aquatic species. The EALs are from Table D-2b of DOH’s TGM EAL Surfer (found here: Environmental Hazard Evaluation and Environmental Action Levels – HEER Office (hawaii.gov)) from Spring 2024. Recreational water criteria for human health are based on bacteria levels in the water. See “What Do the Data Tell Us?” for explanations of why the levels shown here do not pose a risk to people using these waters for recreation.