KIHEI SITE OF 3RD WASTEWATER OVERFLOW IN LESS THAN WEEK

A third wastewater spill since Friday was reported in Kihei.  The latest incident occurred at around 11:45 Tuesday morning (May 19, 2009).   Approximately 933 gallons of wastewater overflowed when a suction connection broke while operators were disconnecting a pump at the Kihei Wastewater Reclamation Facility.  A small amount of the wastewater entered a storm drain on the Piilani Highway.  The area was disinfected and the drain had no outlet to the ocean.

Just two days earlier, nearly 4,000 gallons of semi-treated wastewater overflowed as a result of a pump failure at the same facility.  The overflow was reported at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2009.  The wastewater flowed down the driveway of the facility and into a storm drain on Welakahao Road, which also did not have an outlet to the ocean.

In a separate incident, 52 gallons of wastewater overflowed from a sewer manhole at Alena Place in Kihei at around 7 p.m. Friday, May 15, 2009.  The overflow was caused by grease in the mainline.  Authorities say the spill entered a storm drain, but he drain was blocked by debris, and no wastewater reached the ocean.

In all cases, the spill sites were disinfected and the Department of Health was notified.

(Posted by Wendy OSHER © 2009)