Hawaii First Water

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Contact

Archives for October 2021

(Big Island) Council eyes state support for wastewater issues

October 21, 2021

October, MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY Hawaii Tribune-Herald:  The County Council is urging the state to seek solutions for the mounting wastewater problems on Hawaii Island.

A resolution discussed at Wednesday’s council meeting would urge the state legislature to set funding for wastewater management projects around the state as one of its legislative goals next year.

Hamakua Council-woman Heather Kimball, who introduced the resolution and waived its prior reading at committee, said the county is facing very expensive and necessary wastewater projects that it cannot finance alone, and called for the state to develop possible systems that could support those projects in cooperation with the county.

“We need $1 billion for facilities improvement, another $1 billion for cesspool conversion,” Kimball said, citing estimates from the county Department of Environmental Management. “Are we going to put that on the taxpayers?”

The day before, at a meeting of the Regenerative Agriculture, Water, Energy and Environmental Management Committee, Environmental Management Director Ramzi Mansour said the county is facing the monumental challenge of converting the bulk of the county’s housing developments away from cesspool systems. But because there are only about 15,000 users of the county’s sewer service, the department isn’t receiving enough fees to fund such a conversion.

Furthermore, Mansour said, 86% of all equipment at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant needs to be either replaced or repaired. Similarly, 65% of the equipment at Kula‘imano Wastewater Treatment Plant is failing, as is 72% of the equipment at the plant in Papaikou.

See the rest of article at https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2021/10/21/hawaii-news/council-eyes-state-support-for-wastewater-issues/

 

Filed Under: Groundwater, Water Contamination, Water Pollution

10/21/21-PARTICIPATE IN “IMAGINE A DAY WITHOUT WATER”

October 19, 2021

(October 2021) (DLNR/Honolulu) – Imagine a Day Without Water, on Oct. 21 is a day to pause and reflect on the value of water in our daily lives. COVID-19 and the climate crisis have underscored the critical role that natural and man-made water systems play in our communities. They protect our health and safeguard the environment. DLNR is partnering with the Honolulu Board of Water Supply for this nationwide awareness event.

Not having water is a reality for many people. Across Hawai‘i, some families still lack access to reliable and safe drinking water. They eagerly await the next rainstorm so they can collect and filter the water that falls on their rooftops. During periods of prolonged drought, their only options are filling containers at remote stations or paying high prices to have water delivered to their home. “Some rural communities in Hawai‘i actually live without water security,” explained Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) Deputy Kaleo Manuel. “Streams continue to be diverted that impact instream biota and traditional and customary rights, water rates are increasing on private and public water systems, and some families have to make real decisions about whether to pay for electricity or water .”

 

To see more of article see. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2021/10/15/nr21-181/

Filed Under: Groundwater, Rainfall, Stormwater, Streams and Rivers, Water Conservation, Water Usage

About Hawaii First Water

This blog focuses on shaping water strategies for the Hawaiian Islands.

Articles

  • Families Demand Answers After Navy Water Main Breaks Near Pearl Harbor
  • The lawsuit over Hawaii’s Red Hill water contamination crisis has drawn in more than 100 new plaintiffs
  • Hawaii Postcards 2050
  • Visions of the Future, Part 2
  • Climate Change In Paradise 2050 Postcards; Visions of the Future?

Categories

  • Climate Change
  • Rainfall
  • Groundwater
  • Water Conservation
  • Water Technologies
  • Renewable Energy

Copyright © 2023 Hawaii First Water · Sitemap · Designed by Websites with Aloha · Log in