March 23, Wastewater Spill Notice: Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant

Published on March 23, 2026

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LĪHUʻE – The Wastewater Management Division (WMD), in compliance with the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Clean Water Branch, advises the public that the ongoing wastewater spill from the Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) ceased around 8 a.m. on March 22, 2026. Approximately 280,000 gallons were released during peak flows from 10 a.m. on March 17, 2026, through March 22. The discharge was contained within the facility and did not reach any public areas or state waters, and does not pose a risk to public health.

The spill was due to decreasing UIC injection well capacity. High flows may continue depending on rain events, and additional intermittent discharges may occur during storm conditions.
Out of an abundance of caution, additional disinfection was conducted in affected areas within the site. County crews are still actively monitoring and managing flows to ensure that any future discharge remains contained within the treatment plant.
 
The Wastewater Management Division continues to work on short-term and long-term projects to address the injection well capacity issue. WMD is also coordinating with the Hawaiʻi Department of Health to evaluate options to expand UIC injection well capacity and increase R-1 reuse distribution to better handle higher flows.

 

For more information, please contact Donald Fujimoto with the Wastewater Management Division at 808-241-4083 or via email at dfujimoto@kauai.gov.

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