More sewage woes in Hawaii

HONOLULU — For the second time in a week, a popular Hawaii beach was closed Thursday after sewage from a treatment plant spilled near the ocean.

A million gallons of treated but not yet disinfected wastewater spilled from the East Honolulu Wastewater Treatment Plant, closing Sandy Beach and its surroundings.

The closure came a day after beaches near Waikiki were reopened after a similar issue.

The state Department of Health advised the public to stay out of the water from Halona Blowhole to Erma’s Beach on Oahu’s southeast shore until further notice.

Another spill from Monday near Hickam Beach on Joint Base Pearl HarborHickam was announced Thursday, prompting officials to tell the public to avoid the water there as well.

Officials said about 24,000 gallons spilled there, 12,000 of which went into a storm drain that leads into a canal near Hickam Beach. Water samples are being taken, and the beach has been posted with signs warning visitors of the potential dangers.

On Monday, about 400,000 gallons of wastewater spilled in Ala Moana Beach Park after heavy rain associated with Tropical Storm Kilo inundated the system. Officials opened the beach Wednesday after testing showed that the water was safe.

Officials said the Honolulu Zoo, which is in Waikiki, also f looded Monday, raising concern that untreated material from the zoo had entered the ocean.

A week of heavy rain made the ground saturated, and more rain was expected Thursday with flash-flood watches in effect.