Office of the Mayor

ENV responds to wastewater spills following heavy rains

HONOLULU The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services (ENV) responded to one spill in the Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (KRWWTP) and two sanitary sewer overflows on O‘ahu following heavy rains on Thursday and Friday. 

A spill within the KRWWTP, on the mauka side of the plant at the biotower pump station, began at approximately 10:30 p.m. The spill was halted by approximately 1:05 a.m. Friday morning, but an estimated 38,815 gallons of partially-treated wastewater overflowed to the makai perimeter of the KRWWTP and into a stormwater swale, which conveys water to Nuʻupia Pond and Kāneʻohe Bay. 

Multiple sequential HECO power outages and complications with KRWWTP’s standby power system disrupted the plant’s ability to pump wastewater through the treatment system.  Additionally, the KRWWTP was experiencing very high wastewater flows as a result of heavy rains associated with the storm system. 

Those heavy rains also caused a series of overflows from a manhole near 5311 Kalanianaʻole Highway. The spill began at 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening, and an ENV crew was able to fully contain it by 2:00 a.m. Friday morning. Approximately 6,400 gallons of stormwater mixed with untreated wastewater spilled, but ENV crews successfully recovered the entire amount using a Vactor truck.

Additionally, the rain caused a series of overflows from a manhole near 1521 8th Avenue. The spill began at approximately 11:00 a.m. Thursday morning, and an ENV crew was able to fully contain it by 6:45 p.m. Thursday evening. Approximately 3,600 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into a nearby storm drain that flows into the Pālolo Stream.

ENV immediately notified the Hawai‘i Department of Health following each spill. ENV crews cleaned, disinfected, and deodorized the areas surrounding the sewer overflows, and warning signs will be posted in the affected areas.

ENV reminds the public to avoid affected waterways and to heed any posted warning signs. ENV urges residents to report any sewer concerns to its 24/7 wastewater trouble call line at (808) 768-7272.

─ PAU ─

Scroll to Top
Skip to content