The public is advised to remain out of waters fronting the Pāpa‘ikou Wastewater Treatment Plant due to a wastewater discharge.
Location: Pāpa‘ikou
Estimated volume: 400,000 gallons
Cause: Heavy rain
Status: Stopped
Warning signs have been posted. The public is advised to remain out of these waters until warning signs have been removed.
UPDATE:
The hydraulic loading caused by Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) because of the Flash Flood Advisory situation created an overflow of the diversion box between the aeration process and the secondary clarifiers. The influent flow that was recorded at 8:30 a.m. recorded 1.3 mgd while the effluent flow was 0.9 mgd. The higher influent flow (as compared to the effluent) caused the diversion box to overflow and spill partially treated wastewater onto the ground where it flowed off the property into a drainage swale. The drainage swale then flows into the near-shore coastline at an area identified as Waipahi Point.
| Cause of the Spill: | |
| High rainfall caused excessive I/I into the collection system and created high flows that were received by the Papaikou WWTP. |
| Remedial Actions Taken: | |
| When the operator arrived at the WWTP at 8:00 AM, he noticed the overflowing diversion box. He opened the valve to the unused secondary clarifier and diverted wastewater into this clarifier. This diversion stopped the spill. Warning signs were posted to alert the public to stay out of the coastal waters along Kekiwi Point to Waipahi Point and further north along the shoreline. |