2020-06-24 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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were no state filings on the EA and EA decision. On Nāālehu, they’re in the process of ʻ beginning the DEA and getting it moved forward. b. Status of the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant R-1 Upgrade Project. As stated earlier, they are not able to complete the EIS or move forward on the studies needed to complete designs. They received another grant from the Bureau of Reclamation to continue with the feasibility study and deal with the R-1 design. c. Update on sewer pipe and lateral assessment by the department in Kona (requested by Commissioner Gaffney). They have videoed about one-third of Aliʻi Drive, from the pier up to the hotel (Royal Kona Resort). They did not find any leaks or discharges from the system, and they monitor sewer pump stations and get other indicators. The sewers are checked about every three years with cameras. As for the laterals, the county currently has no control over them. They are in the process of putting forth legislation, and it will include the need for administrative rules, to follow the recent state law which would allows the county to require owners of laterals to determine whether they are leaking and to repair them. d. Discussion of the sewer from the restrooms on the Kailua Pier (requested by Commissioner Gaffney). This is a state issue, and the county has zero authority on it. The state is dealing with the DLNR on the leaks. The state did a study on the algae blooms in Kailua Bay. They were unable to identify a specific source, but they did comment that the restroom leaks could be a contributing factor. Again, the county has no authority over this. e. Discussion of the lava tube system on nearshore waters (requested by Commissioner Gaffney). The county has zero authority on the water quality of nearshore waters. Again, this is a state responsibility. The county works with the state, but the county does not have authority over those waters. When building the Lono Kona sewer system, they did hit a couple of lava tubes, and one had a cesspool discharging into it. When lava tube is hit, a state archeologist has to come and check it. He has no idea how many other lava tubes have cesspools discharging into them. The tubes could be a source of some of the contamination, but he has no way of verifying or quantifying that. There is also surface water, such as storm water, which runs down and flushes into the bay, and this could be another source of nutrients. For example, Hilo Bay generally has an exceedance every time it rains, and it is not coming from the sewer system. There are a number of potential sources of nitrogen and phosphorous that could be contributing to the algae bloom. He would point out that the island is 4,000 square miles, and there are only 108 miles of sewer. 9