More than 1,000 gallons of sewage dumped in Pepeekeo

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

More than 1,000 gallons of wastewater were discharged from the Kula‘imano Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pepeekeo Monday.

According to a report from the county Department of Environmental Management, an estimated 1,055 gallons of partially treated wastewater were released Monday after a brief electrical failure at the treatment plant disabled the plant’s wastewater disinfection’s system.

An investigation determined that an electrical relay that controlled the plant’s sodium hypochlorite disinfection system became dislodged, disabling that system for about 18 minutes. The county Wastewater Division received an alarm regarding the failure at 2:07 p.m. Monday and were able to restore power and normal operation by 2:25 p.m., according to the report.

Warning signs have been posted at entry points to the nearby shoreline, where they will remain until the state Department of Health authorizes their removal.