The Navy said 14,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater were discharged Wednesday into Mamala Bay from the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Waste Water Treatment Plant. 

The wastewater had gone through three of four disinfecting steps when the power went out, according to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam spokesperson Lt. Col. Charles Anthony. The power was out for about three minutes before a backup generator was turned on. 

While the power was out, the wastewater continued to move through the treatment system, skipped the fourth step and was released into Mamala Bay, which is between Barbers Point and Diamond Head. 

The Navy’s fourth and final step of wastewater treatment is an ultraviolet disinfection.

Anthony compared the partially treated wastewater to the City and County of Honolulu’s wastewater, which goes through three steps before being discharged. 

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.