PO‘IPU — A cluster of portable restrooms in Po‘ipu Beach Park have left some visitors questioning its sanitary condition. People who visit Po‘ipu Beach Park are left to use a bank of Porta Potties after the Western Comfort Station was
PO‘IPU — A cluster of portable restrooms in Po‘ipu Beach Park have left some visitors questioning its sanitary condition.
People who visit Po‘ipu Beach Park are left to use a bank of Porta Potties after the Western Comfort Station was closed for repairs earlier this year.
A reader of The Garden Island said in a phone conversation that conditions in the Porta Potties are at an unhealthy level because there is no maintenance of the facilities, noting that soiled material from the recent New Year’s celebration at the park were still on the floors of the Porta Potties during the weekend.
The reader, spending part of the year on Kaua‘i, said he frequents Po‘ipu Beach Park because of its proximity to where he resides and his companion requires the use of the disabled booth.
“If the blue water does not cover the feces, it is an unhealthy condition,” he said. “And people walk all over the material, which is on the floors and spread it over the beach park.”
Lifeguards who were wrapping up their day Tuesday afternoon said the condition of the Porta Potties immediately following New Year’s was bad, but had improved by Monday.
“When they set up the Porta Potties, we were under the impression, servicing would be done every other day,” the lifeguards said. “Initially, they were doing that.”
Damage was discovered when electrical work was being done on the restroom facility during a sewer hookup project by Brennecke’s Beach Broiler in the spring of 2012.
“The installation of the electrical equipment associated with the sewer system revealed extensive termite damage,” said Mary Daubert, a County of Kaua‘i spokesperson. “The restrooms were closed shortly afterward in August or September. Although, the Parks Department responded to this matter as quickly as possible, technical issues with the design element of the repair project caused a delay in the bid posting.”
Bids for the repairs at the Po‘ipu Beach Park Western Comfort Station Repairs and Americans with Disabilities Act Improvements were posted Monday, the county announced.
Filed with an ID of IFB 3291, the deadline for bid submittals is 2 p.m. Feb. 8, and once the contract is awarded, the contractor will have 60 days to complete the project, a county spokesperson said.
Po‘ipu Beach Park, remains a popular destination with tourists, and the beach was named America’s Best Beach by The Travel Channel, ranking top among the 10 “best” beaches selected nationwide.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
