EPA orders corrections
to wastewater violationsHonolulu must bring the treatment
plant in Ewa into compliance
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered the City & County of Honolulu yesterday to correct violations at the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ewa by the end of the month or face fines of up to $25,000 a day for each violation.
In August, the EPA inspected the plant, which treats about 28 million gallons of wastewater a day from Central Oahu and Ewa. The facility also produces 4 million gallons of reclaimed wastewater a day that is used for irrigation.
City officials said this morning they had received the administrative order from the EPA but could not comment until they had time to review it.
Specifically, the EPA wants the city to:
>> Install wastewater flow monitoring for both incoming sewage and treated wastewater as a way to measure the plant's efficiency."To protect water quality in the Pacific Ocean, and all of us who benefit from it, water discharged from any wastewater plant needs to be monitored closely to ensure that it meets water-quality standards," said Alexis Strauss, director for the EPA Pacific Southwest Region's Water Division.>> Repair leaking valves from primary clarifiers.
>> Sample and submit certified data on the incoming sewage and the treated wastewater as indicated in the discharge permit.
>> Explain all flow estimates, data submissions and other non-compliance issues that resulted from inadequate flow monitoring.
"With this action, EPA is requiring the city to comply with the monitoring conditions in its wastewater permit for the Honouliuli plant, which serves Central Oahu and Ewa," Strauss said. "We are confident the city will take the necessary corrective action."
