Sludge spill - The Garden Island

Dennis Fujimoto/The Garden Island

Cleanup efforts are underway by the county’s Wastewater Management Division personnel, Tuesday afternoon following the discovery of a 90,000-gallon overflow of partially-treated sewage at the Lihue Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Dennis Fujimoto/The Garden Island

Wastewater Management Division personnel work on clearing the drainage canal fronting the Lihue Wastewater Treatment Plant, Tuesday afternoon following the discovery of a 90,000-gallon overflow of partially-treated sewage.

LIHUE — County officials on Tuesday morning discovered partially-treated sewage sludge that overflowed overnight from the Lihue Wastewater Treatment Plant to the drainage channel next to the facility.

The sludge did not discharge into the ocean nor other bodies of water.

The spill is a result of a pump not shutting off and overfilling a tank which overflowed, according to the county. Officials estimate that about 90,000 gallons of sludge overflowed from the treatment plant over a 10-hour period. The spill was contained about 7 a.m. Tuesday.

The spill was contained within the drainage channel which runs through the neighboring golf course. Golf course management officials have been notified and signs have been posted to notify golfers to stay out of the drainage channel.

Wastewater Management Division personnel are cleaning up the spill. Cleanup efforts include using pumping equipment to remove sludge followed by disinfection of the affected area with chlorine.

State Department of Health officials have been notified about the spill.

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