6,300 gallons of sewage spills onto Waianuenue Avenue
A sewage discharge was reported today from a manhole on Waianuenue Avenue near Hilo High and Intermediate Schools.
According to a county news release, water was found to be exiting a manhole on Waianuenue at about 12:15 p.m. Crews from the Hawaii County Wastewater Division removed a blockage and restored normal flow around 2 p.m., but by then about 6,300 gallons of wastewater had overflowed.
That wastewater traveled down the street and entered a storm drain by Laimana Street. Waianuenue Avenue was disinfected with a water and chlorine solution around 3 p.m.
Warning signs about the spill were posted along Hilo Bayfront, and Wastewater Division staff will conduct bacteriological analyses of samples along Bayfront.
The blockage was determined to be caused by a partial collapse of the sewer main along Waianuenue. A contractor will begin excavation around the collapse and replace the line starting tomorrow at 8 a.m.
