Latest news with #WaterQualityReport
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why Are Hawai‘i's Waters So Laden with Bacteria?
Alongside Surfrider's 2024 Clean Water Report, which produces water sample analyses of hundreds of beaches with the help of volunteers at Surfrider chapters across the greater U.S., the nonprofit organization also put together a Water Quality Report for Hawai'i. According to the data, seven test sites across O'ahu and Kaua'i showed harmful bacteria levels that exceeded state health standards more than half of the times they were tested by Surfrider's volunteer-based water-testing program, Blue Water Task Force (BWTF). Several of those failed to reach safe levels for human contact more than 80% of the time: 'On Kauaʻi, three BWTF sites located at stream or river mouths (Hanalei River at Weke Rd., Hanamāʻulu Stream Mouth, and Nāwiliwili Stream) failed every single water test performed in 2024,' a Surfrider Hawai'i press release announcing the report reads. 'Similarly, on Oʻahu, the highest bacteria sites are located adjacent to stream mouths. The Chings (Punaluʻu Beach Park) sampling site, near Punaluʻu Stream on East Oʻahu, failed every water quality sample, and Kahaluʻu Beach failed 92% of samples. In our second year of sampling in Waiʻanae with Kingdom Pathways, one of the sites, Kaupuni Stream, is yet again exceeding state health standards consistently, with 80% of samples having failed.' So where's all that dirty water coming from? 'It is definitely a common misconception—tropical turquoise beaches in a remote island chain = safe water,' Hanna Lilley, Surfrider's Hawai'i Regional Manager who oversaw the report told me, pointing out that it is one of the larger hurdles of public awareness around water-quality issues. It might be hard to fathom that a string of volcanic rocks out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean can't seem to flush and dissipate all its pollution into the surrounding blue expanse, but currents around the island only help so much—and in some cases exacerbate issues—while a continuous flow of sewage and runoff from a population of nearly 1.5 million can perpetually foul the its 2024 report, Surfrider cites that sewage pollution from Hawai'i's 83,000 cesspools is among the biggest culprit, as they collectively discharge a daily 52 million gallons into coastal waters. The meta message? While stream mouths can make for shallow, relatively safe nearshore waters free of shorebreak and currents, the water quality near them is almost never safe and can even prove deadly. Granted, this is hardly news—see: Hawaii News Now's 'Hawaii Leads Nation in Deadly Staph Infections.' Apart from proactively working to inform the public on better environmental practices—like its Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) initiative—helping the public become more aware of unsafe conditions at the beach is also a prerogative. One recent feat saw Surfrider's Maui Chapter help convince the Maui County Ocean Safety Bureau to provide Brown Water Advisory (BWA) signs to lifeguards so that they could place physical warnings of dangerous water quality on beaches where, previously, such warnings were only posted online or on television and radio public service announcements. to warn beachgoers of polluted conditions on the beach after it rains. The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) also 'recently agreed to revise their beach monitoring program to continue to test popular Tier 1 beaches when Brown Water Advisories are in effect, thereby providing better water quality information to the public during both dry and wet weather,' Surfrider wrote, considering this a feat, particularly in the face of federal funding cuts slated for Fiscal Year 2026 that could completely cut funding for the EPA's Beach Act Grants program, which supports water quality monitoring and public notifications across 35 states in total and might leave us all 'completely blind to pollution issues at our local beaches'—yikes, indeed. Surfrider is calling on Congress to reject the Trump administration's proposal to slash funding for the EPA and support robust funding for the BEACH Act and other clean water programs. Everyone deserves to enjoy a fun day at the beach without worrying about getting sick from exposure to pollution. Why Are Hawai'i's Waters So Laden with Bacteria? first appeared on Surfer on Jun 1, 2025
Business Wire
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Water Quality Reports Available Online for Pennsylvania American Water Customers
MECHANICSBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pennsylvania American Water 's most recent Water Quality Reports are now available for all service areas on its website at The company is proud to share that once again, the drinking water provided to its 690,000 customer connections across Pennsylvania meets or surpasses both state and federal water quality standards for all primary regulated substances, including lead. 'At Pennsylvania American Water, our mission is to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water to our customers,' said Brandy Braun, the company's director of water quality and environmental compliance. 'Our annual reports inform customers about their water quality and include details about their water, such as the specific water source and information on the importance of protecting our drinking water sources.' The 2024 annual water quality reports, also known as 'consumer confidence reports,' detail the quality of water the company provides to its customers using data collected from water quality testing in its local systems between January and December 2024. The reports highlight the compounds detected in treated drinking water in comparison to the compliance standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Some of our systems sampled for unregulated contaminants as part of EPA's process of determining whether additional regulations are needed. The reports include the results from any of this type of testing that our systems performed. Braun added, 'We take pride in the work our team does every day to deliver high-quality water. Our water quality reports are one more way we demonstrate our commitment to our customers.' Customers can access the Water Quality Report specific to their area by visiting the Water Quality tab on Pennsylvania American Water's website and searching for their report by zip code. Printed copies of the reports are also available to customers who do not wish to access them online. Customers can call the company's customer service center at 800-565-7292 to request a hard copy of their local report. To learn more about Pennsylvania American Water's commitment to water education, environmental stewardship and quality service, visit About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram. About Pennsylvania American Water Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.4 million people.
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Water Quality Reports Available Online for Pennsylvania American Water Customers
MECHANICSBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2025-- Pennsylvania American Water 's most recent Water Quality Reports are now available for all service areas on its website at The company is proud to share that once again, the drinking water provided to its 690,000 customer connections across Pennsylvania meets or surpasses both state and federal water quality standards for all primary regulated substances, including lead. 'At Pennsylvania American Water, our mission is to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water to our customers,' said Brandy Braun, the company's director of water quality and environmental compliance. 'Our annual reports inform customers about their water quality and include details about their water, such as the specific water source and information on the importance of protecting our drinking water sources.' The 2024 annual water quality reports, also known as 'consumer confidence reports,' detail the quality of water the company provides to its customers using data collected from water quality testing in its local systems between January and December 2024. The reports highlight the compounds detected in treated drinking water in comparison to the compliance standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Some of our systems sampled for unregulated contaminants as part of EPA's process of determining whether additional regulations are needed. The reports include the results from any of this type of testing that our systems performed. Braun added, 'We take pride in the work our team does every day to deliver high-quality water. Our water quality reports are one more way we demonstrate our commitment to our customers.' Customers can access the Water Quality Report specific to their area by visiting the Water Quality tab on Pennsylvania American Water's website and searching for their report by zip code. Printed copies of the reports are also available to customers who do not wish to access them online. Customers can call the company's customer service center at 800-565-7292 to request a hard copy of their local report. To learn more about Pennsylvania American Water's commitment to water education, environmental stewardship and quality service, visit For more information, visit and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram. View source version on CONTACT: Media Contact: David Misner Senior Manager, External Communications 717-262-7525 [email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA PENNSYLVANIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT UTILITIES NATURAL RESOURCES ENVIRONMENT STATE/LOCAL ENERGY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES SOURCE: Pennsylvania American Water Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/15/2025 10:24 AM/DISC: 05/15/2025 10:24 AM
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania American Water Proudly Participates in Drinking Water Week 2025
MECHANICSBURG, Pa., May 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pennsylvania American Water proudly joins communities across North America in an annual celebration of Drinking Water Week (May 4-10, 2025), a more than 40-year tradition led by the American Water Works Association, highlighting continuous investment into our water systems and offering educational resources to help provide resilient water and wastewater infrastructure for our customers. "Pennsylvania American Water highlights Drinking Water Week by celebrating our continued commitment to investments that help us provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water to our customers," said Brandy Braun, director of water quality and environmental compliance for Pennsylvania American Water. "Throughout the week, we encourage customers to help protect critical water and wastewater infrastructure through simple measures like rethinking what you put down your drains, making wise water choices and more. Using water efficiently can also help reduce water bills." Braun added that "Pennsylvania American Water remains committed to effectively addressing local water and wastewater infrastructure challenges, but we can't do it alone. We are proud to work with communities, regulators and all key stakeholders to create a better tomorrow for our customers." Pennsylvania American Water provides educational resources to customers about topics such as watershed/source water protection, conservation and safe disposal of fats, oils and grease through community events and partnerships, bill inserts and its website under Water & Wastewater Information. Pennsylvania American Water customers can also learn more about the quality of their local water by reviewing their annual Water Quality Report at About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram. About Pennsylvania American Water Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.4 million people. View source version on Contacts David MisnerSenior Manager, External
Business Wire
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Pennsylvania American Water Proudly Participates in Drinking Water Week 2025
MECHANICSBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pennsylvania American Water proudly joins communities across North America in an annual celebration of Drinking Water Week (May 4-10, 2025), a more than 40-year tradition led by the American Water Works Association, highlighting continuous investment into our water systems and offering educational resources to help provide resilient water and wastewater infrastructure for our customers. 'Pennsylvania American Water highlights Drinking Water Week by celebrating our continued commitment to investments that help us provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water to our customers,' said Brandy Braun, director of water quality and environmental compliance for Pennsylvania American Water. 'Throughout the week, we encourage customers to help protect critical water and wastewater infrastructure through simple measures like rethinking what you put down your drains, making wise water choices and more. Using water efficiently can also help reduce water bills.' Braun added that 'Pennsylvania American Water remains committed to effectively addressing local water and wastewater infrastructure challenges, but we can't do it alone. We are proud to work with communities, regulators and all key stakeholders to create a better tomorrow for our customers.' Pennsylvania American Water provides educational resources to customers about topics such as watershed/source water protection, conservation and safe disposal of fats, oils and grease through community events and partnerships, bill inserts and its website under Water & Wastewater Information. Pennsylvania American Water customers can also learn more about the quality of their local water by reviewing their annual Water Quality Report at About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram. About Pennsylvania American Water Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.4 million people.
