An estimated at 2.2 million gallons of partially treated wastewater was discharged from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment plant. The cause of the incident was broken air feed lines that service the solids contact tanks.

Upon discovery of the bypass on November 24, operators isolated the broken section of the air feed lines and restored airflow to the solids contact tanks.

Bacteriological samples and total chlorine residual measurements at the facility were also collected. The DOH was notified of the event and warning signs were posted at designated locations near the shoreline of Puhi Bay in Hilo.