Fish Census Data from Annual Surveys at Selected Shallow-water Sites Near the Barber's Point Sewage Outfall, Ewa, Oahu, Hawaii, 1991 - 2010 (NODC Accession 0073346)

The Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) located in Ewa, Oahu, Hawaii, near Barbers Point (Kalaeloa) has been in operation since 1982. It releases approximately 22 mgd (0.96 m3/s) of primary treated sewage through a 2,670-m pipe at a depth of 61 m offshore of Ewa Beach, Oahu. A controversy had arisen in the early 1990s regarding the impact that sewage effluent from the Honouliuli WWTP may have on inshore coral reef ecosystem. Accordingly, in 1991 this monitoring program commenced in an attempt to quantitatively ascertain the impacts that may be occurring, with annual surveys continuing to the present (2010). It is anticipated the program will continue for many years. The overall survey program includes in situ observations of fish and coral assemblages as well as benthic sampling of sediment chemistry and biota within the sediments. Select water column measurements have also been made such as temperature, salinity, and turbidity.