HAWAII ISLAND
KAILUA-KONA >> Hawaii County officials are trying to move forward with plans for a proposed wastewater project that could be one of the most expensive the county has ever undertaken.
The $100 million upgrade to the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant would allow treated wastewater to irrigate crops in North Kona. But officials say several issues need to be addressed before the project can start, West Hawaii Today reported.
The wastewater plant currently treats water to a lower standard than what’s being planned with the upgrade before chlorinating the waste, which gets funneled into a nearby pit. Richard Bennett of the county’s Environmental Management Commission said a big concern is saltwater infiltration of private sewer lines.
“The chloride in the water is alarmingly high, so it will be extremely toxic to vegetation” as well, Bennett said. “Asking people to irrigate with that water is a prescription for failure.”
The commission wants the state Department of Health to test private sewer hookups for infiltration or to have property owners inspect their own lines.
North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff said it is important for more water to be filtered, cleaned and put to good use so less pollution threatens the near-shore waters of the Kona Coast.
To begin the upgrade, the county must complete a $23 million sludge removal project at the plant. That work would need to accommodate an endangered bird species that lives nearby.
A $54 million upgrade to the sewer plant is being planned. The next phase is a $50 million distribution project to install reuse pipes from the plant to Old Kona Airport Park, Queen Liliuokalani Trust land, Kohanaiki golf course and the long-anticipated Kealakehe Regional Park.
Bennett said the county should focus its efforts on providing the treated water free to public parks instead of selling it to private businesses and golf courses. “Once we get higher-quality reclaimed water, I firmly believe there will be a high demand for it. It’s going to make our drinking water resources go much, much further.”
The county hopes to complete the project within three years.