Raw Sewage Still Flowing Into Local Waterways Despite Legal Agreement
By Sophie Cocke 04/03/2012
More than a year after a major settlement between the Environmental Protection Agency and the city of Honolulu to address the thousands of gallons of raw sewage that flow into Oahus waterways annually, the volume of spills has not abated.
The amount spilled in 2010 the year that the consent decree was signed and in 2011 is about equal. But its markedly higher than it was in 2007 through 2009. In fact, the amount spilled in 2011 is 80 times higher than in 2009.
Civil Beat analyzed six years of data provided by the citys Department of Environmental Services.
Asked why the sharp increase, when the amount being spilled is supposed to be decreasing, Markus Owens, a spokesman for the environmental services department, said that the problem is because larger pipes, called force mains, are breaking.
More:
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/04/03/15367-raw-sewage-still-flowing-into-local-waterways-despite-legal-agreement/
All kinds charts showing locations of spills. Bottom-line: don't swim in the Ala Wai.