Homepage > Honolulu News

Concrete Poured Into Pipes Backs Up Sewage Into Kailua Condos

POSTED: 4:55 pm HST November 2, 2005
UPDATED: 10:01 am HST November 3, 2005

Officials are trying to determine who's at fault after tons of concrete was poured down a Windward Oahu sewer pipe and forced raw sewage into several Kailua homes.

Liz Asteriadis suspects a black substance climbing up the walls in her home is the result of sewage that backed into her Windward Cover condominium on Oct 13.

"You could smell what it was right away. It was nasty and my friend Barbara, I called her screaming at 11 o'clock at night. 'Ahh! We are having a sewer flood,'" Asteriadis said.

The putrid water also filled the Windward Cove condominium's lower parking lot.

"It just smelled really bad and they had signs saying 'Warning this is toxic and dangerous,' but they never really did tell us what was going on," Windward Cove resident Erin Dowsett said.

The sewage backed up after a city contractor filled several manholes with concrete, thinking they were filling abandoned lines. When they realized they'd plugged Windward Cove's sewage outlet, they built an emergency pipe. Then they started the difficult process of digging hardened concrete out of the underground system.

Workers are using jackhammers to chip away at the concrete.

The city said its contractors got bad information from the manager of Windward Cove. Windward Cove's management wouldn't talk to KITV. Residents were told it was the city's fault.

"We talked to the association today and they are not going to handle it. It's up to the city or the contractor who filled up the manhole with cement," Asteriadis said.

Links We Like

Employers generally have options when it comes to hiring. Makes sure you present yourself as professionally as possible, or else. More

You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know about how to deal with yours. More

It was bound to happen. There are now applications for your cell phone that can help you avoid speeding tickets as well as traffic jams. Drive carefully. More

Are you often tired or rushed in the morning? Give your morning habits a makeover, and start the day feeling positive and energetic instead. More

Sponsored Links