Advisory lifted after discharge of partially treated wastewater at Puhi Bay in Hilo
The discharge occurred Sept. 21 through the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant's ocean outfall, located about three-quarters of a mile offshore in Puhi Bay.
This story was updated at 9:15 a.m. on Sept. 28.
An advisory for Puhi Bay has been canceled one week after partially treated wastewater was discharged into the ocean following an electrical failure at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant.
All temporary warning signs have been removed.
On Sept. 21, approximately 71,000 gallons of partially treated, fully disinfected wastewater were discharged into the bay, according to Hawaiʻi County.
The county’s Department of Environmental Management reported that the incident happened between 9:06 and 9:55 p.m. The dischrage was through the facility’s ocean outfall, located about three-quarters of a mile offshore in Puhi Bay.
In response, crews took immediate remedial actions, including conducting emergency repairs to restore power. Other emergency response procedures also were initiated, including notifying the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, the county said.
The county posted warning signs along the shoreline from the Hilo Breakwater to Puhi Bay to Onekahakaha as a precaution. The warning signs remained in place until testing confirmed that bacteria levels were within acceptable limits and the Department of Health authorized their removal.
