LIHU‘E — Heavy weekend rains led to a brown water advisory for all of Kaua‘i Monday, and also forced workers to open the Kikiaola irrigation ditch to empty treated wastewater into Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor to prevent flooding.
The presence of the treated wastewater in the ditch that was opened Sunday and is draining into the ocean constitutes a sewage spill, the Kaua‘i County Public Works Department reported Monday.
The department also reported Monday that a sewage spill that occurred Sunday morning in ‘Ele‘ele “has likely reached the Hanapepe River.”
Warning signs were posted along the river Monday and also at the Kikiaola harbor, where the public was advised to avoid contact with surface and storm water at the harbor and in adjacent coastal areas.
“The mixture of storm water, treated wastewater and brown water may contain harmful microorganisms that can cause illness,” the Public Works Department advisory stated.
An estimated 1.73 million gallons of effluent, or treated wastewater, had been stored in the Kikiaola irrigation ditch.
The department has switched the flow of the effluent from the Waimea Wastewater Treatment Plant to the back-up injection well where it will continue to flow until the ditch is closed, the department reported.
The ‘‘Ele‘ele spill was first spotted at 6:25 a.m. Sunday flowing from a manhole at the intersection of Kaumuali‘i Highway and ‘Ele‘ele Road when the sewer main exceeded its capacity following the heavy rains, the Public Works advisory stated.
The sewage spilled from the manhole, mixed with storm water runoff, flowed along the roadway and drained into Hanapepe Valley, the department reported. The spill could only be estimated at more than 1,000 gallons and less than 10,000 gallons.
The Hawai‘i Department of Health issued a brown water advisory for the entire island of Kaua‘i Monday.
“The public is advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals and associated flood debris,” the state Health Department website stated.
The Health Department also warned the public to stay out of waters near the Hanapepe River mouth and the canoe launch area about 50 yards upstream because of the sewage spill. State and county officials were monitoring the area.
In addition, muddy conditions prompted Kaua‘i County officials to announce Monday that green waste would not be accepted at Hanalei, Kapa‘a and Hanapepe transfer stations until conditions improve.
Residents can drop off their green waste at the Lihu‘e transfer station or Kekaha landfill.
The transfer stations and landfill are open from 7:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. daily, except on holidays.
For more information, call 212-4683.v
vy weekend rains led to a brown water advisory for all of Kaua‘i Monday, and also forced workers to open the Kikiaola irrigation ditch to empty treated wastewater into Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor to prevent flooding.
The presence of the treated wastewater in the ditch that was opened Sunday and is draining into the ocean constitutes a sewage spill, the Kaua‘i County Public Works Department reported Monday.
The department also reported Monday that a sewage spill that occurred Sunday morning in ‘Ele‘ele “has likely reached the Hanapepe River.”
Warning signs were posted along the river Monday and also at the Kikiaola harbor, where the public was advised to avoid contact with surface and storm water at the harbor and in adjacent coastal areas.
“The mixture of storm water, treated wastewater and brown water may contain harmful microorganisms that can cause illness,” the Public Works Department advisory stated.
An estimated 1.73 million gallons of effluent, or treated wastewater, had been stored in the Kikiaola irrigation ditch.
The department has switched the flow of the effluent from the Waimea Wastewater Treatment Plant to the back-up injection well where it will continue to flow until the ditch is closed, the department reported.
The ‘‘Ele‘ele spill was first spotted at 6:25 a.m. Sunday flowing from a manhole at the intersection of Kaumuali‘i Highway and ‘Ele‘ele Road when the sewer main exceeded its capacity following the heavy rains, the Public Works advisory stated.
The sewage spilled from the manhole, mixed with storm water runoff, flowed along the roadway and drained into Hanapepe Valley, the department reported. The spill could only be estimated at more than 1,000 gallons and less than 10,000 gallons.
The Hawai‘i Department of Health issued a brown water advisory for the entire island of Kaua‘i Monday.
“The public is advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals and associated flood debris,” the state Health Department website stated.
The Health Department also warned the public to stay out of waters near the Hanapepe River mouth and the canoe launch area about 50 yards upstream because of the sewage spill. State and county officials were monitoring the area.
In addition, muddy conditions prompted Kaua‘i County officials to announce Monday that green waste would not be accepted at Hanalei, Kapa‘a and Hanapepe transfer stations until conditions improve.
Residents can drop off their green waste at the Lihu‘e transfer station or Kekaha landfill.
The transfer stations and landfill are open from 7:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. daily, except on holidays.
For more information, call 212-4683.
