HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-14 Kona sewage spill stopped, warning signs remain -- 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
June 14, 2017
NEWS RELEASE
Kona Sewage Spill Stopped; Ban On Water Activities Remains
The sewage spill in Kailua Bay has been stopped, but water activities in the area are
barred until health authorities are sure that the waters are safe for swimming and
fishing, according to the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) on
Wednesday.
The discharge of untreated wastewater took place on Monday at the shoreline near Ali‘i
Drive in Kailua-Kona, and since then crews have been working to remove and replace
sections of corroded sewer pipe. The replaced sections of pipe have stopped further
releases of sewage into the Bay, the Department said.
Meanwhile, DEM has submitted water sampling tests to the State Department of Health,
which has indicated that further sampling is unnecessary.
However, DEM is continuing tests out of an abundance of caution. The Department of
Health is mandating that warning signs remain in place barring water activities until the
Department determines that the waters are safe for swimming and fishing.
“The public will be kept informed on when it is safe to go back into the water,” said DEM
Director William Kucharski. “We really appreciate everyone’s patience as things go
back to normal.”
For further information, please call William Kucharski at 961-8177.
County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.