FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2004

ELECTRICAL DISRUPTION CAUSES DISCHARGE OF TREATED BUT UNDISINFECTED WASTEWATER INTO LAKE WILSON

            Electrical power interruptions affected the Wahiawa Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning (January 19), causing a discharge into Lake Wilson of 6,388 gallons of effluent that had undergone tertiary treatment, but not the final ultraviolet (UV) disinfection.  (Tertiary treatment is a high level of wastewater treatment.)

            The power flicker occurred at 9 a.m., knocking the UV equipment off-line for six minutes and causing the discharge.  The system re-set itself and resumed normal functions once power was stabilized at 9:06 a.m. 

            Warning signs have been posted, samples are being taken, and the State Department of Health has been notified.  Since the discharged effluent was processed up to the level of disinfection, State Health officials consider the discharge a “disinfection bypass” and not a sewage spill. 

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