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EPA's sewage ruling may cost city $1.2 billion

By Laurie Au

POSTED: 11:23 a.m. HST, Jan 06, 2009

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today rejected the city’s request to continue operating its two major wastewater treatment plants without upgrading them to secondary treatment, which would force the city to spend up to $1.2 billion.

According to a EPA news release, the agency said the discharge coming from the Sand Island and Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment plants does not meet federal water quality standards.

“This action will ensure that residents and visitors using Hawaii’s ocean waters are protected from inadequately treated sewage,” said Wayne Nastri, the EPA’s administrator for the Pacific Southwest region. “We will work with the city on a realistic schedule to upgrade its two largest wastewater plants, taking into account the other priorities for improvements to Honolulu’s wastewater treatment.”

A city spokesman said the Hannemann administration would appeal the decision.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann had fought tirelessly for the EPA to renew permits that the city had for decades. Hannemann had argued that upgrading to secondary treatment was unnecessary since surrounding waters did not negatively affect residents. Hannemann has said it would cost the city up to $1.2 billion to upgrade the plants.

The EPA received nearly 600 comments during its public comment period. 

These wastewater plants operate with only primary treatment, which screens out large floating objects. Most other municipal wastewater plants already operate with secondary treatment.

Secondary treatment would filter out the wastewater to remove organic matter using the bacteria in the sewage.

 

 


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today rejected the city’s request to continue operating its two major wastewater treatment plants without upgrading them to secondary treatment, which would force the city to spend up to $1.2 billion.

According to a EPA news release, the agency said the discharge coming from the Sand Island and Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment plants does not meet federal water quality standards.

“This action will ensure that residents and visitors using Hawaii’s ocean waters are protected from inadequately treated sewage,” said Wayne Nastri, the EPA’s administrator for the Pacific Southwest region. “We will work with the city on a realistic schedule to upgrade its two largest wastewater plants, taking into account the other priorities for improvements to Honolulu’s wastewater treatment.”

A city spokesman said the Hannemann administration would appeal the decision.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann had fought tirelessly for the EPA to renew permits that the city had for decades. Hannemann had argued that upgrading to secondary treatment was unnecessary since surrounding waters did not negatively affect residents. Hannemann has said it would cost the city up to $1.2 billion to upgrade the plants.

The EPA received nearly 600 comments during its public comment period. 

These wastewater plants operate with only primary treatment, which screens out large floating objects. Most other municipal wastewater plants already operate with secondary treatment.

Secondary treatment would filter out the wastewater to remove organic matter using the bacteria in the sewage.

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