FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          March 9, 2010

                                   ROOTS CAUSE OVERFLOW IN AIEA

(Tuesday, March 9, 2010) – Crews from the city's Department of Environmental Services responded to 4,875 gallon sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) this evening on Aiea Heights Drive.

         The call came in at 6:45 p.m.  ENV arrived at 7:00 p.m. and secured the site at 8:05 p.m.

         Tree roots clogged an 8-inch vitrified clay pipe causing a manhole fronting 99-703 Aiea Heights Drive to overflow and send 4,000 gallons of raw wastewater down the hill to a storm drain fronting 99-730 Holoai Street, which leads to Aiea Stream.  Approximately, 875 gallons dissipated into the ground.

         ENV notified the state Department of Health.  The affected area was cleaned, disinfected and deodorized.  Warning signs will be posted and samples collected.                                                                          

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Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV Public Communications Officer, 768-3454