The Department of Environmental Services responded to eight wastewater spills in Windward Oahu this morning, all of them caused by runoff from the heavy rains and flooding that overwhelmed City facilities.
The volume of water from the overnight rains overwhelmed our wastewater system in several spots in Windward Oahu. That was despite a maximum effort by our crews who worked through the night, using 10 pumper trucks, to try to remove runoff that had flooded the system. That effort is still continuing as runoff continues to enter the system.
*Kaneohe Pre-Treatment Facility on Kualauli Street. An estimated 102,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled between 4:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. today and reached Kaneohe Bay.
*Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant on Kaneohe Bay Drive. An estimated 1,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled and overflowed a basin on the plant grounds, into Nuupia Pond between 3:30 and 3:40 a.m.
*Waimanalo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Kalanianaole Highway. An estimated 15,230 gallons of treated wastewater spilled from injection wells and entered a gully that leads to the ocean near Bellows and Waimanalo beach about 5:15 a.m.
*Intersection of Keolu Drive and Hele Street in Enchanted Lake. An estimated 31,320 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled from a manhole between 4:30 and 8:50 a.m. The spilled wastewater entered a storm drain that empties into Kaelepulu Marsh, which empties into Kailua Bay.
*The 46-100 block of Nahiku Street in Kaneohe. An estimated 9,600 gallons of untreated wastewater overflowed from a manhole between 8:07 and 10:15 a.m. The spill is believed to have reached the waters of Kaneohe Bay.
*Punawai Sewage Pumping Station on Halaulani Street in Kaneohe. An estimated 9,875 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled between 2:15 and 8:50 a.m. and nearby waters.
*Waikalua near the Kaneohe Civic Center. An estimated 400 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled from a manhole between 7:20 and 7:30 a.m. Most of it entered a storm drain that leads to Kaneohe Bay.
*A manhole at 46-046 Lilipuna Road in Kaneohe. An estimated 8,925 gallons of untreated wastewater entered a storm drain that leads to Kaneohe Bay between 9:05 and 10:30 a.m.
The state Department of Health was notified about each spill. Warning signs have posted along Waimanalo and Bellows beach, Kailua Beach and Kaneohe Bay as well as some of the bodies of water leading to them. Water samples are being taken.
The public is advised to avoid the affected areas, heed the warning signs and stay out of the water.
City crews are still at some of the scenes and will stay on or return tomorrow for cleanup as needed.
”’Eric Takamura is the director of the Department of Environmental Services for the City & County of Honolulu.”’
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