Assessment of effects of deep-water, sewage effluent discharge on a near shore, tropical benthic community, Honolulu, Hawaii

The benthic infaunal community near the ocean outfall diffuser discharging wastewater from the city of Honolulu, Hawaii was sampled from 1986 through 1994. Abundance, number of species, and the overall species composition of the benthic infaunal community showed no changes attributable to an effect of effluent from the diffuser. Both biological and physical (sediment grain size, total organic carbon, total kjeldahl nitrogen) parameters showed no indication of an accumulation of organic matter on the bottom at the stations near the diffuser resulting from sewage effluent. In contrast to many other ocean wastewater outfalls, the authors´ studies indicate that there has been little alteration of the benthic community even at stations immediately adjacent to the Sand Island ocean outfall diffuser