Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-27 EMC Agenda item 5-b(i) - KWWTP Water Reuse Letter - Distributed 10-20-21 (GA) Mitchell D. Roth Georjean Adams ,§¿µ¸Ɏ"®§¯¸Ɏ ɎɎ Ramzi I. Mansour Rick Gaffney #¯¸«©ºµ¸ȍɎ#«¶§¸º³«´ºɎµ¬Ɏ5¯©«Ɏ"®§¯¸Ɏ $´¼¯¸µ´³«´º§²Ɏ,§´§­«³«´ºɎ ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Ph: (808) 961-8083 Fax: (808) 961-8086 MEMORANDUM DATE: October 19, 2021 TO: Mitch Roth, Mayor Maile David, Chair, and members of the Hawaii County Council Ramzi Mansour, Director, Department of Environmental Management FROM: Georjean Adams, Chair Environmental Management Commission RE: Water Policy for Resource Recovery at Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant On September 22, 2021, at the monthly meeting of the Environmental Management Commission (EMC), the EMC voted unanimously in favor of the following recommendations for the County of Hawaii: 1) The County should adopt a water conservation and reuse policy that would specifically designate the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant (KWWTP) as a Water Resource Recovery Facility to be used exclusively for the recycling of wastewater. When KWWTP was originally proposed in the 1990s it was intended to include recycling and reuse of water; the discharge of treated water pumped upslope was thought of as a temporary solution. Recent, exceedingly expensive proposals for upgrades that continue to consider KWWTP as a wastewater disposal facility go counter to the philosophy of sustainability. With climate change pressures on water availability and the health of our coastal waters, it is critical that we have a change in mindset to mlama . The EMC believes we can do that water recovery facility. We should reduce the water taken from aquifers by using recovered R1 water for agriculture. We could also avoid the treatment necessary for direct discharge to the ocean. Furthermore, by selling our recovered water, we can recoup costs of treatment and distribution and spend much less for a reuse facility 2) The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) should have adequate funding to resolve saltwater infiltration into the sewer system and needs an enforcement ordinance Employer. which enables DEM to inspect and require repair by owners of private laterals found to be leaking. One of the significant issues with currently discharged wastewater is its contamination with saltwater. DEM is working on its sewer lines to repair leaks. In addition, we believe that saltwater infiltration is coming from leaking privately owned laterals connected to the public sewer lines. DEM does not have authority to identify leaks in private laterals. A new county ordinance that would authorize and fund inspections and require owners to pay for repairs of their laterals is needed. This would prevent pollution and reduce the costs of treatment to satisfy agricultural requirements. 3) Distribution and reuse of water should use agronomic principles for best management. DEM should ensure optimized plant growth and efficient water use practices is factored into the planning of water distribution and its us should be utilized. sustainability vision and would be willing to discuss these proposals with you further. Sincerely, Georjean L Adams, Chair Environmental Management Commission 2