2018-06-27 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

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Vice Chair Olson said the ornamental fresh cut flower industry will be looking for a place to relocate, as they were in Kapoho, and they will need a lot of water. Director Kucharski said it would be a win-win situation due to the nutrient rich R-1 water. Commissioner Gaffney said another idea is to move the R-1 water to Keahole, where the state has a huge amount of property designated for an ag park. There is a power plant, and the ag park is largely in production of turf grass, landscaping plants, and ornamentals. If the state moves forward with grading the rest of the land, the R-1 could be moved to that area and the displaced farmers could be accommodated. Moving the R-1 water there would solve a lot of issues. It would require a public- private partnership for the power plant and for the state to spend money to finish the park, and it would require moving the water from where it is currently discharged. It is possible to do, though, as the continuation of Ane Keohokalole Highway is to go to the top of the ag park. The pipes could be above ground for now. The commissioners further discussed the R-1 water and how the plumbing of it will work. Chair Bennett suggested speaking with Greg Barbour of NELHA about providing water, as NELHA is fresh water limited and has a problem with disposing of aquacultural waste. It has been suggested they take the enriched material and grow algae with it, and then make a fertilizer product from the algae. This would reduce the need of farmers to buy chemical fertilizers from off-island, which adds to the nutrient budget of the island. If existing wastewater nutrients could be used to grow algae, which would then be dried and sold as fertilizer, it would solve a couple of problems. Director Kucharski thanked the commissioners for their ideas, which he will bring to the Water Reuse Task Force as suggested demonstration projects. Commissioner Gaffney said Greg Barbour could also be contacted about a solar power demonstration project that failed and was abandoned, leaving large half-round reflectors. They have federal funding to do a reverse osmosis project using seawater, but part of that project could use the water that comes out of the wastewater treatment plant. Vice Chair Olson said fish farming is another idea. There were preliminary tests being done years ago involving Peter Boucher, who used to be with the County. c. Design and performance questions and concerns about the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant R-1 Upgrade Project and the soil aquifer treatment ponds, also known as SAT ponds, and what will and will not be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement.