Aeration, Lagoon, Blower Upgrades Planned At Hawaiian Wastewater Plant
A Hawaiian wastewater treatment plant is undergoing a massive transformation — totaling an estimated $23 million.
According to West Hawaii Today, upgrades have been underway at the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant since 2014, and the facility is slotted to receive even more in the coming years.
The latest addition to the project is the replacement of badly eroded liners in several lagoons. The addition was approved by the Hawaii County Council in February and added an additional $5 million to the project’s original estimated cost of $18 million. The extra cost will be funded by the state water pollution control revolving fund.
The plant is also undergoing an aeration upgrade and sludge removal project, which began in 2014 and is anticipated to be completed later this year, according to West Hawaii Today. All five lagoons will undergo aeration equipment upgrade and sludge removal. The project also involves upgrading the blowers. They will be replaced with more energy efficient units that will reduce electrical costs at the plant.
Each lagoon is being improved individually so that the plant can remain operational during the renovations.
“This is the most important project in my district, even though it’s not very glamorous,” said North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff, in the West Hawaii Today article. “But it is serious.”
A second phase of upgrades for the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant is also planned that will transform the operation into the county’s first-ever wastewater reuse facility.
The goal of the reuse facility, which has been discussed in the area for almost two decades, would be to utilize recycled water at Hawaii parks and golf courses.
The project is estimated to cost $50 million and would include a distribution system that pipes the water to Old Kona Airport Park and Kealakehe Regional Park. The water would be stored in a tank uphill, and gravity would feed the water to its destination, according to West Hawaii Today.
A water reuse facility would also reduce the amount of wastewater discharged off the coast of Hawaii.
The administration is currently in the process of contracting with a consultant to plan and design the reuse upgrades, according to West Hawaii Today. A timeline has not yet been determined.