Question: There is a sewage leak on the sidewalk fronting a home on Keolu Drive in Kailua. I called the city June 21, and they sent an inspector who said, in fact, it was sewage. However, it was coming from private property, so they couldn’t do anything. I thought about that, then called the state Department of Health on June 24. I got a voice mail from the director’s office saying that somebody would get back to me, but no one ever did. I called the mayor’s office back on June 25 and left my name and number. Even though it is on private property, I said, please, somebody look into this because we have schools in the area, students are walking through this, people walk their dogs. They should at least put up some kind of sign saying there’s sewage on the sidewalk. Here it is June 26 and nothing has been done. Can you help get someone to do something?
Answer: Between the time of your call and a week later, when the leak was repaired, a city crew did disinfect and deodorize the area twice, so the problem was not ignored, according to the city Department of Environmental Services.
Personnel from both the state Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch and Environmental Services’ Storm Water Quality Branch responded to reports of the sewage entering a storm drain, said Markus Owens, spokesman for Environmental Services.
The city contacted Department of Health officials about the leak June 26, and “we were told at that time that the owner promised to fix the problem,” said DOH spokeswoman Janice Okubo.
On June 28 the city confirmed that the plumbing leak was repaired by the owner. If the problem had not been fixed, the Health Department would have posted warning signs, she said.
This kind of sewage leak is addressed by city plumbing inspectors, Okubo explained.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environmental Services confirmed that it received your complaint on its Sewer Trouble/Sanitary Sewer Overflows line — 768-7272 — on June 21.
A Collection System Maintenance crew responded and determined the spill was from a broken pipe under the house at the address you provided, Owens said.
“Since the break was on a private line within private property, the crew could not make the repair,” he explained. “The tenant was informed that a plumber would need to be hired.”
Owens said the maintenance crew “disinfected and deodorized the area twice and followed up to remind the tenant a plumber should be called.”
No citation was issued in this case. Normally, the city Department of Planning and Permitting’s Plumbing Section will give a property owner about seven days to correct a situation like this, Owens said.
For “private” sewage spills, on lines not owned or maintained by the city, he advised people to call Planning and Permitting’s Building Division voicemail at 768-8259. The call will be assigned and tracked, he said.
Question: Do you have the mailing address of the White House Greetings Department?
Answer: You can request greetings from the President for certain birthdays and special occasions by going through the office of your U.S. senator or representative, or mailing at least six weeks in advance of the event to White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20500. Requests can also be faxed to 202-456-2461.
As we reported previously — is.gd/KqeFo9 — a greeting from the president will be sent to any U.S. citizen celebrating at least an 80th birthday or couples celebrating at least a 50th wedding anniversary.
A limited number of other special occasions may also qualify for a greeting, including weddings (send request after the ceremony), births, Eagle Scout/Girl Scout Gold Award, Bar/Bat Mitzvah or “equivalent occasion.”
But the greetings might arrive belatedly. See is.gd/fyU9g3.
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