HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-04-25 EMC Agenda and Director's Informational Report
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI
MEETING AGENDA
DATE: April 25, 2018
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Aupuni Center Conference Room
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 1
Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MARCH 28, 2018
3. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS
4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Continued discussion on current wastewater chemistry at the Kealakehe
Wastewater Treatment Plant.
b. Continued discussion regarding composting of old lumber and whether borate
degrades the compost quality.
5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Presentation by the Department of Environmental Management’s Recycling
Coordinator regarding recycling education at the schools.
b. Discuss recommending to DEM that when it contracts with contractors for things
like recycling and reuse of water, an educational component is included.
c. Discuss disposal of soil contaminated by arsenic from Hilo to the West Hawaiʻi
Landfill, what the EPA regulations are, and how it will be managed to prevent air
and water contamination.
d. Formation of a permitted interaction group. Pursuant to HRS Section 92-2.5, the
Commission proposes to form a permitted interaction group whose members shall
investigate how to address implementing the Commission’s resolution approved
and adopted by the Commission on March 28, 2018, to adopt a proactive
pollution elimination program consistent with Federal NPDES standards and
practices.
6. REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE
a. Director’s Informational Report. (Note: The report is available on the County’s
website at http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/Browse.aspx?startid=8405&dbid=1
or go to County of Hawaiʻi.gov / Boards & Commissions / Environmental
Management Commission / Agendas / 2018.)
The Director will provide informational updates on the following:
(1) Status of Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant Maintenance.
(2) Discussion of R-1 water management.
7. COMMISSIONERS’ DISTRICT UPDATE REPORTS AND ISSUES
Chair Bennett: Update on the “talk story” sessions for the proposed wastewater treatment
plant in Nāālehuʻ.
8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Commissioners can suggest items they would like placed on the next agenda.
9. ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. The next meeting is scheduled for May 23, 2018, in Kona at the West Hawaiʻi
Civic Center, Building G.
10. ADJOURNMENT
The regular meeting place is accessible to persons with disabilities. To request an auxiliary aid or
language translation, please call 961-8083 five days prior to the meeting date. Comments may be
sent to the Department of Environmental Management, 345 Kekūanāoʻa Street, Suite 41, Hilo,
Hawaiʻi 96720, or emailed to cohdem@hawaiicounty.gov.
Notice to lobbyists: If you are a lobbyist, you must register with the Hawaiʻi County Clerk within
five days of becoming a lobbyist. \[Article 15, Section 2-91.3(b), Hawaiʻi County Code.\] A lobbyist
means “any individual engaged for pay or other consideration who spends more than five hours in
any month or $275 in any six-month period for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or
administrative action by communicating or urging others to communicate with public officials.”
\[Article 15, Section 2-91.3(a)(6), Hawaiʻi County Code.\] Registration forms and expenditure report
documents are available at the Office of the County Clerk-Council, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaiʻi
96720.
2
DIRECTOR’S INFORMATIONAL REPORT
TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
APRIL 25, 2018
CURRENT LEGISLATION
ITEM, DESCRIPTION, AND CURRENT STATUS
Res 521-18: Authorizes the Mayor to enter into a five-year lease agreement for five copiers at an approximate monthly cost of $300 each. Four copiers would replace units at various Solid Waste scalehouses and baseyards and one
copier would be used at the Pu‘uanahulu scalehouse. Adopted at 3/28/18 first reading at Council.
Bill 117: Amends Ordinance No. 17-39, as amended, the operating budget for the County of Hawaiʻi for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 (appropriates $45,000 in state
grants to be used towards the Solid Waste Division’s Electronic Waste Recycling Program. Passed second reading at Council on 3/28/18.
Bill 124: Increases revenues in the Environmental Management Lono Kona Improvement District – County project by $4 million, bringing the total amount to Council.
$5,698,000. Funds for this project shall be provided from General Obligation Bonds, Capital Projects Fund – Fund Balance and/or Other Sources. These additional
funds for the acquisition of easements, design, and construction of this public sewer system improvement project is due to initial bid responses that came in
higher than anticipated. Passed second and final reading on 3/28/18.
Department of Environmental Management’s Departmental Budget and Program Reviews before the
County Council (scheduled for 4/19/18).
DIRECTOR’S INFORMATIONAL UPDATES
1. Status of Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant Maintenance.
2. Discussion of R-1 water management.
3. Status of the following bills currently in the State Legislature:
• Senate Bill 2567 (Cesspool Conversion Working Group; Statewide Study of Sewage Contamination in Nearshore Marine Areas; Appropriations: In Conference
Committee.
• Senate Bill 2717 (Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Cesspools; Upgrade, Conversion, or Connection; Grant Program; Appropriation): Unknown.
• House Bill 2626 (Cesspool Conversion Working Group; Statewide Study of Sewage Contamination in Nearshore Marine Areas; Appropriations. Matched with SB 2567):
In Committee.
4. Information requested at previous meeting:
• How high above sea level are the ponds at Kealakehe? Per the site drawings, they are
56 feet in elevation from the top of the lagoon to sea level.
• Can someone from Planning brief the EMC on sea level rise? The Planning
Department will do the presentation at the EMC’s June 27, 2018, meeting.
• Provide an update on the salt intrusion problem in Kona. Awaiting response from
WWD.
• Provide specifics on how DEM will be achieving the 90% reduction in nitrogen and
phosphorous in the R-1 discharge. This is in the preliminary design phase. Once
Brown and Caldwell get into detail design, we can provide the design parameters.
• Provide figures on how many vehicles DEM has towed over the last 10 years. We are
compiling the data and will provide.
• Contact Neil Mukai of Clean Water Branch in Kona about testing the discharge
former Commissioner Fear was concerned about. Pending.
• Provide update on the options for the unsewered areas in the Keauhou regional study.
Awaiting input from the Planning Department.
SOLID WASTE DIVISION PROJECTS AND UPDATES
1. OPERATIONS
A. COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING (CDL) TRAINING:
• One additional Solid Waste Facility Attendant in the Hilo baseyard qualified to
begin temporary assignment as an Equipment Operator III.
• Two additional employees have started the training process which will allow
them to be temporarily assigned to Equipment Operator III work.
B. WEST HAWAI‘I SANITARY LANDFILL:
• The contractor has continued to perform repair work for the shop building.
• SWD is discussing options with Waste Management Hawaiʻi for increasing the
overall capacity of the WHSL. These changes have the potential to increase
the life of the WHSL by as much as 100 years.
C. EQUIPMENT
• The SWD put into service new trailers, roll-off trucks, and a grapple truck.
2. ADMINISTRATION
The new Abandoned Vehicle Coordinator began work on April 2, 2018.
3. SOLID WASTE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
• The Kealakehe Scrap Metal Facility Remediation Project is currently in progress. The
contractor began hauling materials from Kealakehe to the West Hawaiʻi Sanitary
Landfill over the past few weeks.
• The SWD has continued working on the restated contract with Hawaiian Earth
Recycling, and it will likely be finalized in early May. This will reestablish the
contract for greenwaste and composting services. This work is ongoing.
• The consultant has begun the work for the environmental assessment that is needed for
the East Hawaiʻi Compost Facility. Pre-consultation letters were sent out in early
April.
4. COMPLIANCE
• The first meeting of the 2018 Solid Waste Advisory Committee was held on March
19, 2018. The next meeting is scheduled for May 9, 2018.
5. RECYCLING SECTION
A. ORGANICS DIVERSION PROGRAM:
• The SWD is in the process of revising the contract for the provision of
greenwaste and composting services.
B. TRANSFER STATION RECYCLABLES (“TWO-BIN”) COLLECTION AND
RECYCLING:
• The current contract will end on September 30, 2018. The SWD is now
enforcing the ban on illegal commercial usage of self-haul resident-only
recycling bins at recycling and transfer stations. Commercial generators/
collectors should work directly with recycling companies to manage
recyclables. Redesign of the Hilo site is proposed to better handle traffic and
customers. The Hilo Sort Station recyclables diversion has tentatively resumed
for commercial-only usage. We are working with the vendor to update and
replace signage and repair ramps. The Hilo and Puakō ramps were fixed and
painted.
C. DO-IT-YOURSELF (DIY) USED MOTOR OIL RECYCLING:
• IFB 3625 resulted in contract award to HFN and Cameron Corp. The NTP
issued on October 16, 2017.
• A list of island-wide year-round collection locations (seven) is on our website
at http://www.Hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/motor-oil. Residents can also
recycle DIY used motor oil at all County Household Hazardous Waste
collection events. Used motor oil is not accepted at the recycling and transfer
stations. The DOH ended funding of the program in FY2015. DEM has
funded the continuation of the UMO program in the FY2018 Budget.
D. REUSE CENTERS:
• RFP 3693 resulted in contract award to Transfer Station Thrift Store LLC for
all seven locations.
• The County operates seven Reuse Centers at Recycling and Transfer Stations
located in Hilo (opened June 5, 2017), Kea‘au, Pāhoa, Kealakehe, Keauhou,
Waimea, and Wai‘ōhinu (opened August 14, 2017).
E. ELECTRONICS RECYCLING:
• The IFB 3514 contract awarded to Mr. K’s R&R expires April 17, 2018. A
memo requesting to extend the contract was sent to our Business Services
Section, and the vendor indicated willingness to extend.
• Residents are allowed no-charge household electronics recycling on Saturdays
at Mr. K’s R&R. Businesses, non-profits, schools, and others are offered
discounted fees on Saturdays. An acceptable list and more information is at
http://hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/e-waste. Mr. K’s is open and accepting
electronics daily.
• The County provides free monthly electronic recycling collections in Hilo,
Kona, Waimea and Wai‘ōhinu for residential electronics only. Details of the
County collections and any changes to private collections will be posted on our
website at http://hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/e-waste.
• No manufacturer currently offers convenient on-island take-back of
electronics; manufacturers only offer convenience on O‘ahu to comply with
the Electronic Waste and Television Recycling & Recovery Act mandatory
take-back provisions. The DOH has issued an MOA to the County to resume
grant funding in FY2018 Q4 partially reimbursing SWD electronics recycling
expenditures. It is awaiting approvals.
F. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW):
• March’s Waimea and Pāhoa HHW turnouts and quantities collected were
similar to last year.
• The next HHW Collection Events are scheduled for June 2, 2018, in Kealakehe
and June 16, 2018, in Hilo. More information is available at
http://www.hazardouswaste.org/recycle/household-hazardous-waste/.
G. GREEN WASTE DIVERSION:
• The State Department of Agriculture finalized a permanent rule (HAR § 4-72-
13) prohibiting the interisland transport of ‘ōhi‘a plant material to prevent the
spread of Rapid Ōʽhiʽa Death caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata. They also
recommend not transporting ‘ōhi‘a plant material from an infected area to a
non-infected area. DEM has recommended that people not bring any ‘ōhi‘a
plant material to our green waste collection sites and recommends composting
on-site. The County’s new contract with Hawaiian Earth Recycling continues
green waste recycling. Enhanced mulch is available at the East Hawai‘i
Organics Facility. The mulch is treated for invasive species at EHOF since the
modified State Department of Health permit was issued. The SWD relocated
the green waste recycling at the Waimea Recycling and Transfer Station to
make it more convenient for residents.
H. SCHOOL RECYCLING AND TOURS:
• Requests for school and HCC/UHH tours of SWD facilities continue. Many
were scheduled around Earth Day in April. These tours are helpful in
educating the next generation on recycling and sustainability. Several tours
have already taken place for various schools island wide.
I. SPECIAL EVENT RECYCLING:
• The Recycling Section continues to offer free rental HI-5 Event Recycling Bins
for fundraisers at community, sports or family events. Bins can be requested via
an online application form at http://www.hawaiizerowaste.org/event-planning.
Please submit applications for reservations well in advance of events to make
sure bins are available and to schedule pick-up/drop-off. The
hawaiizerowaste.org website also provides helpful resources for planning zero-
waste events.
J. HI-5 CERTIFIED REDEMPTION CENTERS (CRCs)
• The following Certified Redemption Centers will be going out to bid for IFB
3552, to “Provide Certified Redemption Center Services at County Recycling
& Transfer Stations 2018-2019” at Kealakehe, Kea‘au, Keauhou, Ocean View,
Volcano and Waimea. Business Services Hawaiʻi will continue to operate at
Hāwī, Hilo, Honoka‘a, and Puakō; and Atlas Recycling at the Wai‘ōhinu
certified redemption center. Sherri Izuno, Deposit Beverage Container
Program-Kona, started February 1, 2018. DBC staff is currently working on a
budget request to the State Department of Health for 2018-2019.
K. RECYCLING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH:
• The Recycling Section’s website, www.hawaiizerowaste.org, completed its
transition to a mobile-ready format with enhanced location features.
The Recycling Section is researching upgrades to website to improve
functionality and visitor experience.
• Information is continually updated on the site.
• The staff continues to give presentations to community organizations. The
th
next big event is the 30 Earth Day Fair at UH Hilo on April 20, 2018.
L. TIRE RECOVERY/RECYCLING EDUCTION AND OUTREACH:
• The contractor has completed the second round six-month follow-up of tire
retailer/wholesaler education and site inspections, educating tire
retailers/wholesalers of their responsibility to charge a disposal fee for tires
sold and accept used tires from customers when tires are being replaced. One-
year follow-up site visits started in April.
• The contractor completed an initial and second round of consumer education
(media release, radio, newspaper, social media, posters/flyers, etc.) during the
September through December period, encouraging consumers to leave used
tires at the retailer when purchasing new ones, as customers already paid the
mandatory fee for disposal. Ads can be seen at
https://www.facebook.com/Return-Your-Tires-853709718126074.
• More information is at: http://www.hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/tires/
6. DERELICT AND ABANDONED VEHICLE (DAV) PROGRAM
• Bids were opened for the vehicle disposal contracts. Hilo Impound Lot was awarded
to HMP, Inc., dba Business Services Hawaiʻi; NTP issued on February 22, 2018.
Kona and Puʻuanahulu Impound Lots were awarded to Big Island Scrap Metal; NTP
issued on March 19, 2018.
• DAV coordinators continue to meet with the Hawaiʻi Police Department, Traffic
Services Section, to explore ways of improving the tagging and removal of abandoned
vehicles.
• Monthly towing numbers:
AV Towing 2017-18 (in Hilo and Kona)
July: 46 in Hilo; 37 in Kona
August: 35 in Hilo; 64 in Kona
September: 47 in Hilo; 51 in Kona
October: 34 in Hilo; 55 in Kona
November: 37 in Hilo; 51 in Kona
December: 29 in Hilo; 52 in Kona
January: 45 in Hilo; 59 in Kona
February: 33 in Hilo; 40 in Kona
March: 40 in Hilo; 45 in Kona
The total tow requests sent for the month of March 2018 was 97; however, 12 were not
on location at the time of arrival.
7. SORT STATION UPDATE (FY 17-18)
July 2017: 1,091.43 tons taken to sort station (0 diverted)
August 2017: 1,261.89 tons taken to sort station (0 diverted)
September 2017: 1,128.11 tons taken to sort station (0 diverted)
October 2017: 1,534.62 tons taken to sort station (0 diverted)
November 2017: 1,484.47 tons taken to sort station (0 diverted)
December 2017: 1,353.19 tons taken to sort station (0 diverted)
January 2018: 1,456.82 tons taken to sort station (0 diverted)
February 2018: 1,239.54 tons taken to sort station (0 diverted)
March: 1,964.27 tons taken to sort station (0 diverted)
Totals: 12,514.34 tons taken to sort station (0 diverted)
Per the Solid Waste Division, Total Tons Diverted has been zero for some time because
they have not been conducting active sorting. Much of this is due to the storage of tires
in the Sort Station collected during the dengue outbreak. Waste is received at the Sort
Station early in the day, then the remainder is sent to the landfill. Just recently is the
SWD at the point where they have enough space in the sort station to receive waste.
8. MONTHLY LANDFILL TONNAGES (FY 17-18)
July 2017: 6,285.01 tons (SHSL); 11,599.78 (WHSL)
August 2017: 6,363.62 (SHSL); 11,580.58 (WHSL)
September 2017: 6,037.19 (SHSL); 10,132.09 (WHSL)
October 2017: 6,404.06 (SHSL); 11,406.20 (WHSL)
November 2017: 5,956.18 (SHSL); 11,773.83 (WHSL)
December 2017: 6,906.55 (SHSL); 10,988.65 (WHSL)
January 2018: 6,510.36 (SHSL); 10,134.36 (WHSL)
February 2018: 5,730.29 (SHSL); 9,517.57 (WHSL)
March 2018: 6,702.33 (SHSL); 11,387.65 (WHSL)
Totals: 56,895.59 (SHSL); 98,520.71 (WHSL)
WASTEWATER DIVISION PROJECTS AND UPDATES
1. COMPLIANCE
• TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL: No report.
• COLLECTION SYSTEM: No report.
2. OPERATIONS
A. TREATMENT/COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND PUMPING STATIONS/
FORCE MAINS:
• Unscheduled repairs/upgrades/replacement of failing equipment due to age and
prolonged wear and tear continue where necessary throughout the wastewater
facilities.
B. SAFETY PRACTICES/TRAINING:
• WWD Administration continues to review and update the Emergency
Response Procedures and the Standard Safety Procedures.
3. ADMINISTRATION
A. VACANT POSITIONS:
• Progress continues in filling vacant positions in Operations: Operator I and II
(Hilo); Sewer Maintenance Working Supervisor (Hilo); WWTP Operator
Supervisor III (Kona).
• Interview in progress: Civil Engineer IV.
7
4. WASTEWATER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
A. NĀ‘ĀLEHU LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT:
• “Talk story” sessions to start the initial public outreach efforts took place on
April 10 - 12, 2018, at the Nāālehu ʻCommunity Center.
• The State Environmental Assessment process is to be completed prior to the
acquisition of land for the treatment/disposal facility.
• Closure of the large capacity cesspools as mandated by the EPA will occur
once the treatment and disposal system has been constructed and properties
have been connected to the new collection system.
• The project is funded by Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF)
monies.
B. PĀHALA LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT:
• Public outreach meetings following the talk story sessions are tentatively
planned to take place sometime in May 2018.
• As a result of EPA funding for this project, the NEPA process in addition to the
State EA process are required. Both processes are to be completed prior to the
acquisition of land for the treatment/disposal facility.
• The WWD has been teleconferencing with the EPA and their consultants on a
bi-weekly basis to ensure all items in the NEPA process are completed.
• Closure of the large capacity cesspools as mandated by the EPA will occur
once the treatment and disposal system has been constructed and properties
have been connected to the new collection system.
• The project is funded by Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF)
monies and partially by a federal EPA grant.
C. NORTH KONA SEWER AND EFFLUENT REUSE UPGRADE:
• The revised draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the last re-design
and additional construction cost attributed to project delays for the sewer and
reuse lines has been signed by the County and returned to the State DOT for
continued processing.
• The State DOT began the overall project construction in September 2015.
Currently, the anticipated completion date is August 2018. The last
wastewater project item to address is the adjustment of sewer manhole rim
elevations following the road paving work.
• The project is funded by Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) monies.
D. LONO KONA SEWER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT:
• Project re-bid opening took place on 3/29/18. The County is securing USDA
concurrence on the contract awardee in accordance with the terms of their
Letter of Conditions associated with the USDA funding.
• Loan closing is scheduled to occur in April 2018. Construction NTP is
estimated to be issued in mid-2018.
• The USDA Rural Development has obligated loan and grant funds of
$2,437,000 and $4,024,800 respectively to this project.
8
E. KEALAKEHE AERATION UPGRADE AND SLUDGE REMOVAL:
• Final approval of the project will be issued pending completion of all punchlist
items.
• With respect to the Endangered Species Act for Hawaiian Stilts and Coots, the
County has executed a contract with Hoʻomaluo LLC to continue the predator
control and bird monitoring of endangered bird species.
• The project is funded by CWSRF monies which is being increased from $18
million to $23 million.
F. KEALAKEHE WWTP EFFLUENT R-1 UPGRADE:
• R-1 design continues to progress.
• The environmental process for the R-1 system is ongoing. A draft EIS is
anticipated to be published in mid-2018 followed by a 45-day comment period.
• The long range plans for R-1 quality effluent began in 2007 as a phased
approach. Phase I, which installs a reuse line between the Kohanaiki area and
Kealakehe Parkway, is planned under the State DOT’s Phase II Queen
Ka‘ahumanu Highway Project (see item C above).
• The DOH has earmarked SRF monies in the amount of $54 million to fund
both design and construction of the R-1 upgrade at the Kealakehe WWTP.
G. NORTH KONA SEWER PUMP STATION
• This new sewer pump station will be located on the mauka side of Queen
Kaʻahamanu Highway. It is to receive wastewater from a portion of the area
below Ane Keohokalole Highway between Hina Lani Street and Kealakehe
Parkway. The wastewater will be pumped to the Kealakehe WWTP via new
forcemains tentatively scheduled to be installed by mid-2020.
• The pre-design phase, including the archaeological and permitting
assessments, has begun. The archaeological and cultural consultation began
with a site visit on 2/8/18 conducted by Cultural Services Hawaiʻi (CSH) and
invitees representing various interest groups in the local area. A summary
report of participant’s response was made available by CSH on March 7, 2018.
H. WASTEWATER EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PROJECTS:
• Pua Sewage Pump Station (SPS) Upgrade: Design of the upgrade to the Pua
SPS is in progress. It includes a complete renovation to include the structural,
electrical and mechanical upgrades to the pump station. Cause for renovation
is due to deterioration of the wet well from H2S; electrical component damage
due to H2S corrosion and the overall age of the facility; and mechanical
damage due to faulty discharge line valves due to hydraulic surging. Work is
to include upgrading the HVAC; replacing/upgrading components of the
electrical system; replacing corroded duct work; upgrading the wet well level
control system and improving on safety issues by eliminating fire and electrical
hazards to achieve compliance with NFPA 820 and 70E. The project is funded
by CWSRF monies.
• Hilo WWTP Administration Building Reroofing: Work on mold remediation is
complete. The work in progress is sheetrock installation, painting, and HVAC
work.
9
• ZOM Dilution and Assimilative Capacity Study: Due to inclement weather
conditions, the field work for the Dilution and Assimilative Capacity Study for
the Pāpa‘ikou, and Kula‘imano WWTPs has been re-scheduled to early May
2018.
I. ULU WINI WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT:
• The WWD continues to maintain stability of the treatment plant with the goal
of achieving consistent process data and meeting the regulatory as well as
expected effluent limits. The treatment system currently meets DOH
regulatory requirements, and nutrient removal is taking place. The longer term
goal is to cut down on operation and maintenance.
• Progress on the design plans and specifications (for the installation of the
immediately planned treatment plant upgrades aimed at maintaining treatment
plant stability and reliability plus lowered operations and maintenance cost for
the next several years) is on hold due to the Office of Housing and Community
Development’s notification to the Department that they are working with a
Consultant to assess the condition of the treatment plant.
• The State DOH is being kept apprised of the progress.
J. SEWER RATE STUDY UPDATE:
• Work on the Sewer Rate Study continues. DEM is currently working with the
consultant on finalizing the rate study.
K. UPDATE ON WATER SHUT-OFF FOR NON PAYMENT OF SEWER BILLS:
• DEM is currently drafting administrative rules for the implementation of water
shut-off for non-payment of sewer fees. The Department of Water Supply
(DWS) is also drafting amendments to its rules to allow for water shut-off due
to non-payment of sewer fees. Both DEM and DWS rules need to be amended
for the water shut-off to be implemented. In the meantime, we continue to
work with delinquent customers to bring their accounts current and refer
accounts to the Office of the Corporation Counsel to pursue judgments when
necessary.
10