Kauaʻi Wastewater Treatment Plant Reports Spill, No Public Health Risk
Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi – An ongoing wastewater spill at the Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) began on March 17, 2026, and ceased around 8 p.m. On March 22, 2026, releasing approximately 280,000 gallons of wastewater during peak flow periods. County officials have confirmed the discharge remained contained within the facility and posed no risk to public health or state waters.
Spill Details and Cause
The intermittent discharges occurred during peak flow times – early morning, late morning, and evening – due to decreasing capacity of an underground injection control (UIC) well according to the Kauaʻi County Department of Public Works. The Wastewater Management Division (WMD) is actively monitoring and managing flows to prevent any future discharge from leaving the treatment plant grounds.
Mitigation and Ongoing Efforts
As a precautionary measure, additional disinfection procedures were implemented in the affected areas within the WWTP site. The WMD is pursuing both short-term and long-term solutions to address the reduced injection well capacity. This includes coordinating with the Hawaiʻi Department of Health to explore options for expanding UIC injection well capacity and increasing R-1 reuse distribution to handle higher flow volumes as detailed in a recent county bulletin.
Potential for Future Discharges
County officials advise that high flows may continue, particularly during rain events, and intermittent discharges could occur during storm conditions. Crews will remain vigilant in monitoring and managing flows to ensure containment.
Contact Information
For further information, residents can contact Donald Fujimoto of the Wastewater Management Division at 808-241-4083 or via email at dfujimoto@kauai.gov.
Key Takeaways
- A wastewater spill occurred at the Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant between March 17 and March 22, 2026.
- Approximately 280,000 gallons of wastewater were released, but remained contained within the facility.
- The spill was caused by reduced capacity of an underground injection control well.
- No public health risk was identified.
- The WMD is working on solutions to prevent future occurrences.
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