FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               January 21, 2005

Contact: Bill Brennan 527-6928

    Or Mark Matsunaga 527-5784

PEARL CITY  SEWAGE SPILL

            The city Department of Environmental Services reports a wastewater spill  occurred this afternoon at the Pearl City Wastewater Pumping Station at 790 Lehua Ave.

            The spill began about noon and repairs are expected to be completed before sunset. More than  3 million gallons of untreated wastewater have reportedly been spilled. Some of it has been contained on the grounds of the pumping station. Most of it emptied into Waiawa Stream, which discharges into Pearl Harbor’s Middle Loch.

            Pollution warning signs are being posted around the affected areas and water quality sampling conducted to assess the impact.  State Department of Health officials

have been contacted.

            The public is advised to avoid the spill area, Waiawa Stream and Middle Loch.

            The cause of the spill is  under investigation.

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