Protecting Hawaiʻi’s beaches: $550K NSF grant to better predict water quality risks

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Improving our ability to predict and manage water quality risks in Hawaiʻi's coastal zones is the focus of a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa project that was awarded a three-year, $549,960 grant from the National Science Foundation.

Coastal beaches are vital for recreation, tourism and ecosystem health; however, they are increasingly threatened by fecal contaminants. These fecal bacteria can enter beach environments through human wastewater, stormwater runoff and animal waste, accumulating in the sand and shallow groundwater. Natural coastal processes, such as tides and waves, can then mobilize and transport these contaminants across the land-sea boundary, posing risks to both public health and marine ecosystems.

This project will investigate how coastal hydrologic forces, including tidal fluctuations and wave action, influence the accumulation, movement and discharge of fecal contaminants in beach aquifers. The research team will conduct fieldwork and groundwater sampling at two beaches in Hawaiʻi, where fecal contamination is known to occur, and will develop advanced computer models to simulate how bacteria move through beach sediments. The findings will improve our ability to predict and manage water quality risks in coastal zones.

Xiaolong "Leo" Geng, the project's principal investigator and assistant professor at UH's Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) and Department of Earth Sciences in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, will direct the project activities and supervise graduate and undergraduate students hired by this project.

"Beaches are at the heart of Hawaiʻi's culture, economy and ecosystems, yet they are increasingly vulnerable to fecal contamination," Geng said. "Our research will shed light on how bacteria move through sand and groundwater, helping to safeguard public health and marine environments. Just as importantly, we hope to inspire the next generation of scientists and strengthen community stewardship of our coastal waters."

Geng's co-principal investigator is Tao Yan, WRRC director.

Student and community outreach

Broader benefits of the project include training two graduate students and engaging undergraduate students through UH Mānoa's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. The team also plans to involve local communities through educational outreach and citizen science activities to support long-term coastal water stewardship in Hawaiʻi.