FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2004

WET WEATHER CONTINUES TO CAUSE SEWAGE PROBLEMS

            Heavy rains continued to disrupt sewer systems on Oahu today (Friday, February 27), causing backups at manholes in Kailua and Waimalu, a sewage spill at a pump station in Aliamanu and even an overflow at the City’s biggest treatment plant at Sand Island.

            As of this report, Kaelepulu Stream and Kailua Bay were continuing to receive spilled sewage from the following sources:

• Two manholes at 394 Wanaao Road, which stopped spewing sewage yesterday, began backing up again at 12:10 p.m. today, spilling 200 gallons of raw sewage per minute;

• A manhole at 1060 Hele Street in Keolu Hills, which begin overflowing 25 gallons of sewage per minute beginning at 1:00 p.m.;

• A manhole at the intersection of Keolu Drive and Hele Street, which began spilling wastewater at 4:30 p.m.

           In Waimalu, a manhole at 98-156 Olepe Loop began overflowing at 12:15 p.m.,
sending 25 gallons of sewage per minute down a storm drain and into Pearl Harbor.

           Meanwhile, the Aliamanu Wastewater Pump Station No. 1 resumed spilling sewage for the second day onto the Navy Marine Golf Course Driving Range.  Today’s spill, estimated at 25 gallons per minute, began at 4 p.m. and is ongoing.

           Sewage also began overflowing at the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant at 3 p.m. today, flooding the plant grounds but not entering public waters or Honolulu Harbor.  The spillage occurred at the plant’s “influent channel,” where raw sewage is transported for further treatment after large solids have been removed from the wastewater entering the plant.

           The State Department of Health has been notified of all incidents and warning signs have been posted in affected areas that are accessible to the general public.  Affected public waters have been—or will be—tested for contamination.

            People in areas by overflowing sewer manholes are advised to be cautious and avoid contact with puddles or ponding water.

-30-

.