A Survey of Water Quality Characteristics of Effluent from Hawaiian Aquaculture Facilities

Ten water quality parameters were measured in influent and effluent water at 11 aquaculture facilities in Hawaii. The data were grouped into four categories based on the types of organisms cultured: freshwater fish, freshwater prawn, marine fish, and marine shrimp. Within each category, concentrations of most parameters were lognormally distributed and spanned one to two orders of magnitude. Geometric mean concentrations of suspended materials, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and pigments were highest in effluent from freshwater prawn ponds and lowest in marine fish pond effluent. Nitrate/Nitrite and total ammonia concentrations were higher in fish pond effluent than in crustacean pond effluent. Parameter concentrations were generally higher in effluent than in influent water, with freshwater fish and prawn ponds exhibiting the greatest increases in suspended materials and pigments. In contrast, nitrate/nitrite concentrations were lower in effluent than in influent waters. These data provide a basis for analyzing the environmental impacts of warm-water aquaculture effluent discharges.