Heavy Rains on Maui, Hawaii, Cause Sewage Plant Overflow

Maui, Hawaii, experienced persistent heavy rainfall brought by a tropical depression. Large volumes of rainwater flowed into the sewer system, causing the inflow at the Kahului Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant to far exceed its original design capacity. The sudden increase in pressure within the sewer system resulted in an overflow. Approximately 3.2 million gallons of wastewater—which had undergone only primary sedimentation and had not completed advanced treatment—was discharged directly into the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean through the overflow outlet.