FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      June 23, 2005

Release No. ENV-26

POWER FLICKERS CAUSE WAHIAWA SEWAGE SPILL

Two power flickers last night resulted in some wastewater being discharged into Lake Wilson from the Wahiawa Wastewater Treatment Plant with less than full treatment.

The City Department of Environmental Services normally treats sewage with several processes before discharging it into the lake. Brief lapses in power from Hawaiian Electric Co. last night resulted in an estimated 9,070 gallons of wastewater being discharged without going through the final treatment phase, disinfection. The ultraviolet disinfection unit was bypassed from 7:57 to 8:07 p.m. and from 9:05 to 9:10 p.m.

 Warning signs were posted in the area, and the state Department of Health was notified.

Water quality sampling is being conducted to assess the impact of the spill. The public is advised to avoid affected areas.

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Contact:

Ross Tanimoto, Monitoring and Compliance Branch,  692-5371