City dealing with wastewater, sewage spills
| • | 2 deaths on O'ahu linked to rainstorm |
| • | 'The water kept coming, over and over again' |
| • | Boulders rumble past homes following rain |
| • | It's been a fierce winter of weather discontent |
Advertiser Staff
Although problems in O'ahu's sewer system eased yesterday as rain lightened, at least one wastewater treatment plant was still spilling treated sewage, city officials said.
The Waimanalo Wastewater Treatment Plant continued to overflow treated wastewater intermittently yesterday, prompting city officials to post warning signs along Bellows Beach. The city will also test affected areas of the beach.
The Waimanalo plant had been spilling wastewater off and on since Thursday, when heavy rains overwhelmed it. The wastewater was partially treated and spilled in areas not accessible to the public, but officials still warned people against entering waters at Bellows Beach.
Warning signs were also posted along Lake Wilson after a nine-minute power disruption at the Wahiawa Wastewater Treatment Plant caused 40,000 gallons of partially treated effluent to be discharged into the lake. The waters at the lake will also be tested.
City officials said the effluent did not undergo final ultraviolet disinfection but received tertiary treatment, so state health officials do not consider the discharge to be a sewage spill.
The city dealt with other sewage spills reported Friday:
• The Sand Island Treatment Plant spilled 47,250 gallons onto the facility grounds between 3 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. State health officials were notified and contaminated areas were disinfected.
• About 45,000 gallons of raw sewage backed out of a manhole and overflowed the Kane'ohe Preliminary Treatment Facility grounds. About 25,000 gallons also entered Kawa Stream, which empties into Kane'ohe Bay. The spill ended at 10:30 p.m Friday. Warning signs have been posted and waters are being tested.
• About 2,800 gallons of raw sewage overflowed onto the Navy-Marine Golf Course Driving Range. The sewage was contained and the spill lasted about five hours, ending at 7:15 p.m. Friday.
