Kauai waters enjoying
safe bacteria levels again

A wastewater sewage spill on Sunday
had closed Kalapaki Beach

---

By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

The state Department of Health reopened Kalapaki Beach on Kauai yesterday after test results of water samples showed bacteria levels had reached acceptable limits.

The beach and the area where Nawiliwili Stream enters the ocean were closed following a sewage spill Sunday at the Lihue Wastewater Treatment Plant.

An estimated 250,000 gallons of treated effluent spilled at the plant. Officials said about 50,000 gallons entered Nawiliwili Stream and Kalapaki Beach. The rest is believed to have seeped into the grounds of the Kauai Lagoons Kiele Golf Course nearby, which uses the effluent for irrigation.

County officials said the spill was caused by a pump failure and a computer malfunction.

"The pumps failed, but for some reason the alarm did not trip," said Beth Tokioka, spokeswoman for Kauai Mayor Maryanne Kusaka.

Tokioka said the pumps are believed to have failed at about 12:30 a.m., when the treatment plant is unmanned. She said the alarm would have alerted someone at home to check the pumps. The spill was discovered at 6:30 a.m. when someone showed up for work.

County officials are still trying to figure out why the pumps and the alarm systems failed at the same time.

Bacteria levels at the beach remained high through Tuesday, county officials said, because the water flow from Nawiliwili Stream had been low and ocean conditions were calm.