FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                             Aug. 4, 2010

                            ENV RESPONDS TO TWO MORE SSOs TODAY

(Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010) – Crews from the city’s Department of Environmental Services responded to two more sanitary sewer overflows today – one in Waipahu and the other in downtown Honolulu.

         ENV took the Waipahu call at 11:45 a.m., arrived at 12:30 p.m. and secured the site at 12:45 p.m.

         While cleaning a sewer pipe near 94-230 Kahulio Place in Waipahu, a third party contractor experienced equipment trouble causing a 6,000-gallon wastewater spill.  A Vactor truck was able to recover 2,000 gallons, while 4,000 gallons entered a waterway that leads to Middle Loch.

         The downtown Honolulu call came in at 12:25 p.m., ENV arrived at 12:35 p.m. and secured the site at 12:50 p.m.

         Grease clogged a 10-inch terra cotta pipe releasing 2,500 gallons of untreated wastewater out a manhole on Alapai Street between South King and South Beretania streets.  A Vactor truck was able to recover 60 gallons with 2,440 making its way into a storm drain leading to Honolulu Harbor.

         ENV notified the state Department of Health of both SSOs.  The affected areas were cleaned, disinfected and deodorized.  The posting of warning signs and water sampling are underway.                                     

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