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Ms. Beck said she failed to mention that even when a consultant is hired, it still takes <br />staff time to manage the project. It involves the pre- design phase, where data is gathered to <br />provide the basis for the design; then the design itself, then the bidding process; and then <br />construction. Once a project is done, it also needs maintenance. <br />Mr. Sakaguchi said it would be nice if Hilo could do something new and successful and <br />let the rest of the country follow our lead. He asked why we couldn't contract with India or <br />Pakistan, as they have a plethora of engineers. <br />Ms. Stremski asked why we would have to go out of the country, and Mr. Sakaguchi <br />replied that we have to spend so much in our country. <br />Ms. Beck said that it is not that simple, that they are not creating widgets. <br />Mr. Joseph asked how many wastewater treatment plants the County had and whether <br />they were all regulated by the EPA. Ms. Beck said there are five and that the Hilo plant is the <br />only one discharging, so it is subject to DOH discharge regulations. She said the EPA does not <br />get involved, just the DOH as a regulatory agency. <br />Mr. Joseph asked whether there was recycling of wastewater in West Hawaii, and Ms. <br />Beck said that the only organization receiving our effluent is the Swing Zone driving range, <br />about three miles south of the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant. <br />Mr. Joseph asked whether the only time wastewater is recycled is if it is requested. Ms. <br />Beck said she is working with a developer to build a recycling water facility in Kona. This <br />facility will treat the water so it can be used to irrigate golf courses without restrictions. The <br />water would be safe to have human contact. She is pushing to work successfully with this <br />developer to build the plant and produce recycled water to be used for irrigation purposes. <br />Mr. Joseph asked where Hilo's wastewater currently goes, and Ms. Beck explained that <br />after it leaves the plant it goes to the outfall, about a mile off Puhi Bay. <br />Mr. Joseph asked who tests the water, and Ms. Beck said their lab facility at the <br />wastewater treatment plant does. Mr. Joseph said that the County was then monitoring the <br />County. Ms. Beck said there is another entity that does private samples for them, who provides <br />them with data to compile a discharge monitor report for the Department of Health every three <br />months. She said that guidelines are followed every step of the way and that everything is above <br />board. They don't want to get fined. <br />Mr. Joseph asked how they would get fined, and Ms. Beck said that could occur if they <br />exceeded a limit and did not do anything about it. Mr. Joseph asked if County employees were <br />monitoring this, and Ms. Beck said yes. He asked who would fine them, and Ms. Beck said she <br />believes it would be the State —that it is an EPA program but responsibility was given to the <br />State. <br />Mr. Joseph asked if the federal government might come and do a surprise inspection, and <br />Ms. Beck said the State might, but not the federal government. However, there has been a lag <br />because they're extremely busy, too. <br />10 <br />