2019-06-26 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

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The commissioners discussed and asked questions on: - the R-1 upgrade - the location of the SAT ponds - how there was an irrigated buffer planned at one time - the hydrology from the harbor and at the treatment plant Director Kucharski continued with his report. • Regarding the infiltration on Aliʻi Drive and other coastal areas, DEM has ordered new vacuum trucks and CCTV vehicles, and they will be regularly checking all of the collection system lines and upgrading and replacing those that are allowing water in or out. • For the force main replacement at Lanihau, they are getting held up again by cultural issues. Section 106 letters just went out. • Regarding the sewer odor near the pier on Aliʻi Drive, staff checked their manholes and systems and made several visits to the area. It is believed that the odors are coming from restaurant grease interceptors and traps that are not being properly maintained. No leaks were found in DEM’s systems. It would be good if there were an enforcement group to check on restaurants and when they clean their interceptors. The DOH checks that there are interceptors, but they don’t check on whether they get emptied. High FOG has been coming into the plant, and this is penalizing the septic haulers. A FOG pre-treatment system is being investigated. It is a problem at both the Kona and Hilo plants. The highest priority is to get the Kealakehe FOG reduced before it gets into the treatment ponds. It is a disaster waiting to happen. • Regarding DEM’s vacant positions and training opportunities, Director Kucharski apologized that he has the information on his phone but did not print it out. He will make it available at the next meeting. Several new employees started on the west side, and there were some internal transfers from other departments. The metrics need to be gone through to see if more positions are necessary, so that closures when employees do not show up can be stopped. • On the regional park, the EA has been signed and begun by PBR. • On the leak off Aliʻi Drive, he did receive a response from the state. Testing was done, but nothing abnormal was found. He did not get a formal report, just a phone call. No leak in DEM’s system has been identified, and he believes it is a groundwater upsurge into the bay.