Wastewater Spills Reported Across Hawaii

Incidents on Kauai, Maui, and Oahu lead to concerns over public health and environmental impact.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 9:04am

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Wastewater spills have been reported in three Hawaii counties - Kauai, Maui, and Honolulu. The incidents, caused by heavy rainfall and infrastructure issues, have led to the discharge of partially treated or untreated wastewater into the environment. Officials are working to address the problems and monitor the affected areas.

Why it matters

Wastewater spills can pose significant risks to public health and the environment, potentially contaminating waterways, beaches, and other areas. These incidents highlight the need for robust wastewater management systems that can withstand extreme weather events and maintain proper treatment capacity.

The details

On Kauai, an ongoing spill of 70,000 gallons per day has been occurring at the Lihue Wastewater Treatment Plant since Tuesday, due to decreasing injection well capacity. In Maui, approximately 200,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater overflowed from the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility on Saturday during heavy rainfall. On Oahu, a spill at the Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant was caused by heavy rain and inflow infiltration, leading to wastewater flowing onto an adjacent grassy area and into the Nuupia Pond.

  • The Kauai spill has been ongoing since Tuesday, March 21, 2026 at around 10 a.m.
  • The Maui spill occurred on Saturday, March 22, 2026 at around 2 p.m. and stopped by 11 p.m.
  • The Oahu spill began on Saturday, March 22, 2026 and continued until 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 23, 2026.

The players

County of Kauai Wastewater Management Division (WMD)

The division responsible for managing wastewater treatment and infrastructure on Kauai.

County of Maui Department of Environmental Management

The department responsible for wastewater management and environmental protection on Maui.

City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services (ENV)

The department responsible for wastewater management and environmental services in Honolulu.

Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH)

The state agency responsible for overseeing and regulating wastewater management and public health in Hawaii.

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What they’re saying

“The discharge remains confined within the facility and has not reached any public areas or state waters, and does not pose a risk to public health.”

— Kauai Wastewater Management Division

“The overflow occurred amid heavy rainfall when a manhole became surcharged due to excessive stormwater entering the sewer system.”

— Maui Department of Environmental Management

“Crews activated portable pumps to manage the surge, and the discharge continued until 9 a.m. Sunday morning.”

— Honolulu Department of Environmental Services

What’s next

The counties and the Hawaii Department of Health are working on short-term and long-term projects to address the capacity issues and prevent future wastewater spills.

The takeaway

These wastewater spills across Hawaii highlight the need for robust and resilient wastewater infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events. Proper maintenance, capacity planning, and coordination between local and state agencies are crucial to protecting public health and the environment.