A pump malfunction led to the discharge Tuesday afternoon of about 7,600 gallons of wastewater into the ocean from the Papaikou Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to the county’s Wastewater Division. A pump malfunction led to the discharge Tuesday afternoon of
A pump malfunction led to the discharge Tuesday afternoon of about 7,600 gallons of wastewater into the ocean from the Papaikou Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to the county’s Wastewater Division.
According to a written statement, the wastewater was treated and disinfected with chlorine, but because of the pump malfunction, the final step of de-chlorinating the effluent couldn’t be done before the wastewater was discharged. The pump malfunction occurred at about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The pump was repaired and operating at about 4:20 p.m.
Wastewater Division Chief Dora Beck said the wastewater posed no hazard to public health or safety, but the shoreline was closed and signs posted as a precautionary measure in accordance with federal regulations.
The shoreline was reopened and the signs removed on Wednesday morning with the approval of the state Department of Health, Beck said.
