Diver locates cracks in ruptured sewer line

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

Soooo, you think your job stinks. Professional diver Greg West, of Sea Engineering, goes down into the 66-inch-diameter sewer pipe at Sand Island that has been leaking into the ocean.

After suiting up, West spent three hours going about 450 feet through the sewer yesterday and found a number of cracks, some as wide as 2 inches.

West, foreground, descends into a large pipe at Sand Island to search for cracks. Photos by Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

A diver hired by the city went into the ruptured pipe Tuesday night and located several cracks — some as big as 2 inches wide, others less than 1/4 inch wide.

City spokesman Doug Woo said the diver from Sea Engineering Co. entered the sewer main through a manhole at Sand Island State Park and traveled about 450 feet up the line toward the harbor.

During his three-hour tour, Sea Engineering diver Greg West found eight cracks in the 66-inch line that goes under the harbor or in the concrete pipe that joins the line.

Woo said the cracks appear to have been caused by settling of the pipe sometime during the 23 years since it was put into operation.

State Health Department spokeswoman Laura Lott said warning signs still advise people to stay out of the water near Sand Island State Park.

She said bacteria counts have dropped to low levels in Honolulu Harbor and around Sand Island, but the park is closed because of construction and repair.

Lott said there are no longer any signs posted in other areas of O'ahu to warn people to stay out of the water because of sewage spills related to heavy rains.

Lott said the makai portion of the Sand Island park has a10-inch bypass line running from the break site to the wastewater treatment plant, blocking access to that part of the park.

Once city crews start digging up the broken section of line, she said, contaminated soil will be stockpiled there and "will most likely have a strong odor."

Trucks and other repair equipment will make the park unsafe for others while the work continues, she said.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.