(BIVN) – Hawaiʻi County administration officials explained to the County Council on Tuesday their roles in informing the public during brown water advisories and/or a sewer discharges.

Hilo councilman Arron Chung requested a presentation during the council’s Environmental Management Committee meeting in Hilo regarding the respective protocols of various departments during brown water advisories. In attendance were the heads of the Department of Environmental Management, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Civil Defense Agency.

The departments agreed that brown water advisories fall under the responsibility of the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health, which did not send a representative to attend Tuesday’s discussion.

The agenda item was brought forward following confusion in the wake of Hurricane Lane, which drenched East Hawaii in record rains and triggered both sewer station discharges and brown water advisories. Some residents were upset that authorities did not post signage at popular bay-side swimming areas, warning of the potential poor water quality.