Hawaii County Works on Plans for Major Wastewater Project
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) – Hawaii County officials are trying to move forward with plans for a proposed wastewater project that could be one of the most expensive the county has ever undertaken.
The $100 million upgrade to the Kealakehe sewer plant would allow treated wastewater to irrigate crops in North Kona. But officials say several issues need to be addressed before the project can get up and running, West Hawaii Today reported (http://bit.ly/2gAwT49 ).
The wastewater plant currently treats water to a lower standard than what’s being planned with the upgrade before chlorinating the waste, which gets funneled into a pit near the Kealakehe police station. Richard Bennett with the county’s Environmental Management Commission said a big concern is salt water infiltration of private sewer lines carrying waste to the sewer plant.
“The chloride in the water is alarmingly high, so it will be extremely toxic to vegetation,” Bennett said. “Asking people to irrigate with that water is a prescription for failure.”
The commission wants the state Department of Health to conduct tests of private sewer laterals for any suspected infiltration or to compel property owners to inspect their own sewer lines.
North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff said it is important for more water to get filtered, cleaned and put to good use so that there is less pollution threatening the near-shore waters off the Kona Coast.
Related News
From Archive
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- Trump calls for Keystone XL pipeline revival, but developer has moved on
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds
Comments