FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
The sun finally came out yesterday as people crowded onto Waikiki beaches. However, officials are expected to keep surfers and swimmers out of waters off Ala Moana Bowls and Magic Island again today after another sewage spill Friday.
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More sewage pours into Oahu waters
A spill of 1.8 million gallons sends bacteria into the waters of Ala Moana
Officials are expected to keep surfers and swimmers out of waters off Ala Moana Bowls and Magic Island again today after another sewage spill Friday sent more bacteria into the water.
On Friday, there were nine large sewage spills islandwide and several smaller spills as manholes overflowed.
On Friday night, about 1.8 million gallons of sewage spilled when a power outage shut down the Ala Moana Pump Station, which was working at maximum capacity because of the recent heavy rains. An additional 6,900 gallons of sewage overflowed from manholes at Ala Moana Boulevard and Atkinson Boulevard.
Watson Okubo, director of the state Health Department's Clean Water Branch, said the spills sent more bacteria into waters off Ala Moana.
"The numbers went up," he said.
Signs had already been posted at beaches in the area after more than 40 million gallons of untreated sewage went into the Ala Wai Canal after a main break last week.
Sunshine yesterday morning was expected to clean the waters somewhat, but officials expected the beaches would remain closed today.
Despite the sunshine and a south shore swell yesterday afternoon, there were no surfers catching waves at Ala Moana Bowls and Magic Island was deserted.
A lifeguard said he hadn't seen any surfers all day. Just offshore, sludge and debris from the Ala Wai could be seen floating out to sea.
Spills on Friday that were reported yesterday include:
» About 36,000 gallons of sewage that spilled from the Waimanalo Wastewater Treatment Plant.
» More than 10,000 gallons of sewage that went into Kapalama Canal at 1015 N. School St.
» About 10,000 gallons of wastewater that spilled from a manhole and entered Kaua Stream, which empties into Kaneohe Bay.
» Some 9,500 gallons of sewage that spilled when Popoia Road near Kailua Beach Park was flooded.
» About 8,600 gallons of untreated wastewater that spilled at Aliamanu Pump Station No. 1. Later in the day, more than 8,000 gallons of sewage was spilled from Aliamanu Pump Station No. 2.
» More than 4,000 gallons of sewage that went into Wailupe and went into offshore waters when three manholes malfunctioned.
» More than 1,000 gallons of sewage that went into Kalihi Stream after a manhole on Umi Street overflowed.
» About 600 gallons of sewage that went into Pearl Harbor at Blaisdell Park.
Signs were already posted along Kaelepulu Stream and Kailua Beach because of several other spills upstream.
On Friday afternoon, runoff temporarily shut down the Enchanted Lake and Kailua Heights pump stations.
Across the island, small sewage spills were reported when manholes overflowed into roadways.
They were spotted at Kakaako Park, Judd Street and in Waikiki. At Ala Wai Elementary School, Okubo said, a manhole overflowed and mixed with runoff, spilling into the Ala Wai Canal.
POLLUTED-WATER WARNINGS
The state Health Department is advising the public to stay out of several waterways and beaches after a slew of sewage spills on Friday. Officials have posted warning signs at:
» Kahanamoku Beach
» Fort DeRussy
» Magic Island Lagoon
» Waimanalo Beach
» Bellows Beach
» Kailua Beach
» Blaisdell Park
» Kawaikui Park to Wailupe Beach
» Kuliouou Beach Park to Maunalua Bay Beach Park
» Kokokai Park
» Kahala Beach Park
» Kakaako Park
» Keehi Lagoon
» Kaneohe Bay at Kaneohe Beach Park
» Honolulu Harbor
» Reef Runway Lagoon
Source: State Department of Health
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