Water quality advisory lifted

The state Department of Health has canceled the water quality advisory for the Hilo Bay area that was issued in response to an incident Friday at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“Our team has conducted a thorough investigation of the incident that occurred last Friday and determined that it was an isolated incident that should not repeat itself,” said Mayor Mitch Roth in a statement.

“We understand the community’s concerns and assure them that we are working diligently to monitor water quality and implement additional safeguards to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents and environment,” he said. “Fortunately, the discharge went through the secondary treatment level, and no significant impacts on the shoreline ecosystem are anticipated. We appreciate the community’s patience as we take the necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future and maintain the integrity of our shorelines.”