Big Island Dairy fined over wastewater

State health officials fined Big Island Dairy LLC $25,000, issued the company a notice of violation and ordered it to stop discharging wastewater into state waters.

The state Department of Health said the dairy is also required to apply for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit under state and federal clean-water laws.

The state said the discharge of wastewater was from the dairy’s animal feedlot operations in Ookala on Hawaii island that emptied into Kaohaoha Gulch.

Health officials said an investigation took place after community leaders provided information about the dairy’s field irrigation practices. The inspection revealed “clear evidence of an unlawful discharge of wastewater from the dairy’s field irrigation practices,” the Health Department said. “The discharge was composed of animal wastewater, biosolids and dirt.”

Big Island Dairy, which has 20 days to request a hearing about the allegation, was unavailable for comment.