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<br />4. WASTEWATER DIVISION <br /> <br />As <br />the Wastewater Division faces numerous fiscal, regulatory, and political challenges and seeks the <br />advice, assistance and expertise on ways to overcome these challenges. Efforts are <br />being made among multiple fronts to address these concerns. Wastewater Division reports the <br />following activities and invites comment on the following: <br /> <br />1. <br />communication with the EPA, consultants from Brown and Caldwell, the Office of <br />the Mayor, the Finance Department, and Corporation Counsel regarding the status of <br />the closures of these large capacity cesspools. Knowing the challenges in meeting <br />deadlines due to recent geological discoveries and issues with land acquisition in <br />administration for the design of the two wastewater treatment plants, we are <br />supportive of different designs that will meet the secondary treatment requirement of <br />the administrative order on consent without severely burdening the County with <br />capital obligations. These meetings with EPA Region 9 are ongoing and we do not <br />have a result to report at this t <br />has been paused while these issues are being worked out. <br /> <br />2. Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant: The condition of the treatment plant has received <br />renewed attention recently and has received site visits from federal, state, and county <br />lawmakers. Wastewater Division has presented to Rep. Kahele a list of shovel-ready <br />projects for island-wide that are in dire need of funding, should it become available. <br />Wastewater has placed as its highest priority the design of a replacement for the <br />biosolids digester and the headworks components at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment <br />Plant. The new asset management program and the new positions will get us back on <br />track to catch up on deferred maintenance. <br /> <br />3. County Budget: The County Council beginning on May 5 will receive an updated <br />budget picture with certified real property tax values and will make amendments as <br />they deem necessary. The preliminary budget released on March 1 included a request <br />for 14 positions in wastewater division. These positions are necessary for the new <br />Environmental Quality Control section that includes compliance, and the re-organized <br />maintenance section to serve facilities island-wide. Besides the improvement of the <br />Hilo WWTP, other proposals include upgrades to wastewater treatment plants and <br />facilities island-wide, pump station upgrades and extensions of the sewer collection <br />systems in east and west Hawaii. <br /> <br />4. Currently, working with a grant-seeking consultant who has identified possible <br />loan/grant agencies to follow up with for possible funding. Actively applying for <br />grant funds from USDA. <br />5 <br /> <br /> <br />