FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2004

 WAIMANALO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SPILL ENDS

            The Waimanalo Wastewater Treatment Plant, which overflowed with treated wastewater intermittently last week because of heavy rains, ended its spill yesterday (Sunday, February 29).

            A total of 18,215 gallons spilled on the plant grounds between 2:45 p.m. Friday and 6:40 p.m. Sunday, including 6,825 gallons that reached outside the property in areas not accessible to the general public.  However, as a precaution, warning signs were posted at Bellows Beach and beach waters were sampled for contamination.

            The Waimanalo facility treats sewage to a high (“secondary”) level, which uses sand filtration and sodium hypochlorite for disinfection.

            The State Department of Health was notified of the situation.

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