WAILUA — The sewage spill advisory for the Wailua River was canceled by the state Department of Health on Friday and all the temporary warning signs have been removed from the area after a Nov. 2 sewage spill contaminated the river and surrounding waters.
DOH estimates the total amount of discharge was about 8,000 gallons after a blockage caused a wastewater overflow near the intersection of North Leho Drive and Kuhio Highway in Wailua.
After the spill was reported, work began to contain the sewage and rehabilitate the area, with significant traffic delays piling up. There was also a single-vehicle accident with minor injuries after the blockage caused a manhole cover to pop out of its hole.
Since the spill happened under the jurisdiction of County of Kauai, it was responsible for testing the waters and reporting to DOH. Once reported, the DOH put up temporary warning signs around contaminated areas and waited for test results from the county.
Meanwhile, Surfrider Kauai’s Blue Water Task Force started testing the areas almost immediately. Three days after the spill occurred, BWTF was still testing the water, and noted some areas were clearing up.
Testing targeted Lydgate Park and Morgan’s Pond because they are popular with both residents and tourists, particularly with families, and included areas around the Wailua River as well.
Though the signs are down, the DOH always recommends people use their own judgment, and urges people to swim with caution if water appears brown in any area.
The County of Kauai has not yet released results for water quality tests taken during the spill, but confirmed those results were sent to DOH and that county staff are working to compile those numbers.
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Jessica Else, environment writer, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
Runoff has kept the river totally brown and I wouldn’t go into that water.