NEWS RELEASE

                               Public Information Division
                               Department of Customer Services
                               City & County of Honolulu
                               523-4385 (www.co.honolulu.hi.us/)

KEEHI SPILL STOPPED 

          City crews have stopped a sewage spill from a ruptured line at Keehi Lagoon Park. 

          The spill, which began at about 3:30 p.m. yesterday (March 7), was stopped at 5:30 a.m. this morning (March 8) by City crews, who worked through the night.  The spill was estimated at more than 3 million gallons.         

          Raw sewage had entered Keehi Lagoon through a storm drain, but this contaminated flow was stopped at 2 a.m. today (March 8). 

          The break occurred in a 36-inch concrete pressurized sewer line leading from the Kamehameha Highway pump station to the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Repairs are expected to be completed by Sunday and there will be no lane closures on Nimitz Highway. 

          The State Department of Health has been notified of the incident.  The city is testing waters at Keehi Lagoon and has posted signs along affected areas of the shoreline to warn the public.

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