Alcohol Contaminated Stream in Hawaii Now Has 1.2% ABV

A stream on the Hawaiin island of Oahu, when recently tested, showed signs of contamination by some sort of drinking alcohol, according to Hawaii News Now. 

The belief from the state's Health Department's investigation is looking towards a storm pipe next to the H-2 Freeway that connects the stream and Paradise Beverages on the other side of the freeway.

“The other day we came here you would think it was a beer pub that hadn’t opened its doors for three or four days,” environmental activist Carroll Cox told Hawaii News Now.

The news network took a sample of the water in the stream to the independent FQ Labs, who, after testing, found that as much as 1.2% of the water was alchohol.

Test results also found that the water contained as much as .04% sugar.

Paradise Beverages is Hawaii's largest distributor of liquor and alcohol beverages, and they aren't sure what's causing the spill.

“Right now, we’ve had the Department of Transportation come in with their representatives and we’re dealing with them and we’ve also been contacted by the Department of Health,” said Anthony Rowe, the company’s director of operations. “It may be coming from us so that’s why we’re working with the proper authorities.”

Earlier this week, the storm drain had the contaminated water running out of it, even though it's been days since it rained. The water flows into a creek that runs over a cliff into a gulch about 100 feet down below.

A hiker who was in the area last week told the news outlet that the whole area reeked of beer.

According to the Department of Health, the storm drain isn't going to leak polluted water anymore.

“It’s disturbing. It makes you want to pull your hair out, and I don’t have much left,” said Cox.

Read more at Hawaii News Now

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