Kaua’i County officials have started an investigation into the spilling of 5,000 gallons of raw sewage onto Kaumuali’i Highway in Ele’ele last Thursday. Mel Matsumura, who heads the county wastewater division, said his employees are trying to determine how a
Kaua’i County officials have started an investigation into the spilling of 5,000 gallons of raw sewage onto Kaumuali’i Highway in Ele’ele last Thursday.
Mel Matsumura, who heads the county wastewater division, said his employees are trying to determine how a football-size clump of roots and leaves clogged the pipe measuring eight inches in diameter. The blockage caused the spill.
Matsumura said it was possible somebody dumped the roots into one of three manholes around the spill area. The manholes are connected to the sewer line.
Criminal penalties can be filed if someone deliberately clogged the line, he said.
The sewage seeped from a cracked pipe and out through a manhole at the intersection of Waialo Road and the highway at 6:30 a.m. It was cleaned up about an hour later.
The sewage posed no serious health threat because it emptied into a vacant state-owned lot, officials said.
A highway storm drain in which the sewage flowed was disinfected with chlorine. County workers also vacuumed up sewage around the manhole.
Repairs of the cracked line are planned in the future.
Matsumura said additional spills from the same manhole is not likely because the sewage volume is small.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
