KAILUA-KONA — A break on a 12-inch diameter sewer pipeline Thursday at around 11:45 a.m. caused wastewater to leak onto the ground alongside Waikoloa Beach Drive in the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the island of Hawaii, according to a news release from Hawaii Water Service.
Hawaii Water responded and repaired the pipe, reporting that there were no sensitive environment impacts due to the failure.
The cause of the failure was tree root impingement on the pipe, the release said. Due to the extent of tree root intrusion in the vicinity, the team is currently evaluating how much sewer pipeline may need to be replaced in the future.
Hawaii Water calculated that 4,125 gallons leaked above-ground. However, according to the company, wastewater did not enter any waterways. The utility has reported the leak and is working with the appropriate government agencies, including the Hawaii State Department of Health Wastewater Branch.
“Our crews worked diligently to complete repairs to the pipeline, and being able to respond quickly enabled us to ensure the leak did not adversely impact the environment,” said Tony Carrasco, Hawaii Water general manager.
Hawaii Water serves about 4,200 service connections in the communities of Kaanapali and Pukalani on Maui, and Waikoloa, North Kona Coast, and the Kohala Coast on the Big Island.
Hawaii Water has a history in the state tracing back to 2003. The company is a subsidiary of California Water Service Group.