FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               November 2, 2006

RAIN CAUSES MORE WASTEWATER SPILLS

            Runoff from heavy rain in the Koolaus today caused three more wastewater spills, including another one at the City’s Kaneohe Pretreatment Facility, where untreated wastewater also overflowed yesterday.

            Heavy downpours at mid-day resulted in an estimated 18,225 gallons of untreated wastewater ­– much of it runoff that infiltrated the sewer system – to overflow from two manholes in the Kaneohe facility between noon and 3:15 p.m. 

            In addition, an estimated 6,750 gallons of untreated wastewater overflowed from a manhole on Lilipuna Road and into Kaneohe Bay between 11:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. today. An estimated 1,200 gallons overflowed from that same manhole yesterday.

            “Several days of heavy rains not only saturate the earth, but leave our wastewater system vulnerable to being overwhelmed by additional runoff,” said Ken Shimizu, deputy director of Environmental Services.

            National Weather Service preliminary data indicates 3.41 inches of rain fell at Ahuimanu and 3.98 inches at Luluku between 2 p.m. yesterday and 2 p.m. today.

            In addition to the Kaneohe spills, Environmental Services crews responded to:

·       Wastewater overflowing from a manhole in the Dowsett area of Nuuanu, near 3058 Pali Highway. An estimated 920 gallons spilled between 12:48 and 2:20 p.m. and were washed into nearby drainage systems that lead to Nuuanu Stream. Response crews found a 12-inch sewer main blocked by roots and rags.

·       Two homeowner complaints about wastewater spills in Kailua that turned out to be simply runoff from the rainstorm. Department of Facility Maintenance pump trucks removed the standing water.

            The state Department of Health has been notified about each of the spills. Warning signs have been posted and water samples are being collected from the affected bodies of water. The public is advised to heed the warning signs and stay away from affected areas.

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CONTACT:

      Ross Tanimoto, Chief, Environmental Services Monitoring & Compliance Branch, 692-5371