Honolulu Has Major Sewage Problems
Contrary to its reputation as a vacation paradise, Honolulu has had major sewage problems, particularly the 2006 spill that flushed 48 million gallons of raw sewage into the Ala Wai Canal that borders the hotels and condos of densely populated Waikiki and the Honolulu convention center. Smaller sewage spills are frequent.
With a resident population of over 900,000, and more than 485,500 visitors a month, Honolulu is the largest U.S. city that does not provide secondary sewage treatment. The EPA has warned the city government for years that it has been breaking environmental law by not treating sewage twice before sending it into the ocean through an outfall pipe.
Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, now a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said last year, "Providing full secondary treatment at Sand Island and Honouliuli wastewater treatment plants will drive monthly residential sewer fees as high as $300 in less than 20 years."
"This settlement will lead to significant improvements in water quality for the people of Oahu, and for the visitors to the island's world-class beaches," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA administrator for the Pacific Southwest region.
"It calls for aggressive actions in the near term to upgrade the city's sewage collection system, and set outs a longer term schedule for construction of secondary treatment at the Sand Island and Honouliuli plants," he said. "The work is on a multi-year schedule to allow the city to spread out the costs of this critical program."
Honolulu residents can expect to pay more in sewage fees. City officials did not release specific amounts but said rates will increase over time.
