HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-03 Sewage Spill closes Hilo Bay area to water activities -- press release
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
County of Hawai‘i
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
(808) 323-4444 Fax (808) 323-4440
April 3, 2017
NEWS RELEASE
Blocked Sewer Line Sends Sewage into Wailuku River, Hilo Bay
A blocked sewer line sent raw sewage into the Wailuku River and Hilo Bay on Monday
morning, and the public has been asked to follow the posted signs to stay out of the
water, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) said.
The sewage spill took place when one of the Department’s main sewer feeder lines was
blocked by debris, sending sewage through a manhole and into a stream adjacent to
Waianuenue Avenue near Laimana Street.
DEM was first notified of the sewage release at around 9:00 a.m., and wastewater crew
was dispatched to deal with the blockage.
Department Director Bill Kucharski said that an estimated 41,000 gallons of sewage
flowed down to the river, and then to the bay. The blockage was cleared at around 1:00
p.m., and clean-up operations were ongoing as of press time.
“As a precaution, the entire Hilo Bay area has been closed to fishing, swimming and
other water activities,” Kucharski said. “DEM has taken water samples in the Wailuku
River and west-east of the river outfall into the Bay.”
DEM has taken water samples as far east as Reed’s Bay, and will be doing the
analysis.
“We will continue to post warnings about the safety of the bay until it is established that
the water quality is safe,” Kucharski said.
For further information, please contact Bill Kucharski of the Department of
Environmental Management at (808) 217-2750.
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