HONOLULU – Officials at Hilos Wastewater Treatment Plant warn of the danger of the facility going down. They also warn that it could lead to an environmental disaster.
Hawaii County claims it urgently needs $100 Million to replace the facility.
Jason Imamura is the plant operations supervisor. It’s impossible to predict what might happen.
HNN’s recent tour was led by Imamura, who pointed out all of the difficulties along the way.
He stated that all motors on the valve actuators are dead. If this continues to corrosion. This (grit-tank) wall could cave in.
Imamura claims that a lot of the things people flush down the toilet are making matters worse.
You have feminine products. He said that you have flushable wipes.
You can also find condoms and masks, as well all sorts of trash and even bedsheets.
It can get in our pumps, said Imamura. It can damage other equipment.
Some machinery is totally inoperable. Many of the parts that work are obsolete and break constantly. He said that many of the parts are already obsolete.
The equipment is so deteriorated that an independent environmental engineering agency did a survey last year, and found that 95% needed to either be replaced or had significant defects.
It could happen at any time, I believe. Imamura described it as the worst-case scenario.
Officials estimate that 3 million gallons per day of sewage from the plant would leak into the ocean less then a mile off the coast if it were to fail. This is according to officials through a Keaukaha pipe.
Imamura said that for more than a decade, problems were reported to the county repeatedly.
It was not something that happened overnight, he said.
Money was always an issue. We created a priority list of items that needed to be repaired or replaced and were told to reprioritize our priority list. Many times.
HNN was also joined on the tour by Hawaii Island Mayor Mitch Roth.
He said that we had a sewage overflow the other day.
The problem was caused by an electrical short in a pump. In just four seconds, 8,600 gallons partially treated sewage were released into ocean.
Roth stated that we are in a situation where we have to act.
HNN asked Roth why the facility was allowed in its current state. Roth replied, “I’m not sure.” But this administration, we took ownership.
Laura Acasio, state senator, says that the county does not have the $100 million required to replace the plant.
She said that this will require a lot of effort from federal, state, and county officials.
The crew at Hilo Wastewater Treatment tries to keep the facility in operation, desperately trying not to let any spillages happen.
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