FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              November 2, 2006

WASTEWATER SPILL REPORTED AT SAND ISLAND

            Heavy rain today is believed to have contributed to the overflow of partially treated wastewater at the City’s Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.

            Preliminary estimates indicate some 330,000 gallons of primary treated wastewater spilled from odor control ducts at a pair of the plant’s clarifiers between 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Most of the spilled wastewater ran into a drainage system that empties into Honolulu Harbor.

            The department is investigating the spill.

            The state Department of Health has been notified. Warning signs will be posted and water samples collected at first light. The public is advised to avoid the affected area.

            The Sand Island plant treats municipal wastewater for much of urban Honolulu, between Red Hill and Kuliouou.

-30-

CONTACT:

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