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Hawaiʻi County Works Out Agreement With EPA To Fix Aging Treatment Plans sedimentation basin at the Hilo wastewater treatment plant. Credit: Draft EA January 2024. the county’s director of environmental management, Ramsi Mansour, answered council members’ questions at the February 20 hearing. He informed the council that already, by the time the agreement is signed, “some projects are almost 60, 70 percent complete.”
EPA talks dismal state of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached a consent decree with Hawai’i County on its aging sewage system, including the Hilo treatment plant. EPA pacific Southwest regional Administrator Martha Guzman was in the islands last week. We sat down with Guzman to talk about the dismal state of the Hilo facility.
PDF Energy Assessment Report for County of Hawaii – US EPA of the Hilo wastewater Treatment plant (WWTP) facility. The facility is located at 150 Kekawnoa Place, Hilo, hawaii. Representatives from the Hilo WWTP provided access to the facility and they also provided valuable data and data on the Wastewater Plant operations including site energy use,equipment,systems,and operations. The study’s findings are already driving action.
“Results from this research have been shared with the community and Hawaiʻi County, and are being used by the county to help prioritize locations for sewer line expansion in Hilo as part of the statewide effort to transition away from cesspools,” saeid Tracy Wiegner, a marine science professor at UH-Hilo who co-authored the study.
The study was a collaboration between UH-Hilo faculty and students, including former graduate students Joseph Nakoa and Devon aguiar, and marine science undergraduates Nicolas Storie and Ashlynn Overly.
They are continuing environmental work in doctoral programs and conservation efforts throughout Hawaiʻi.
UH-Hilo marine science undergraduates Darienne Kealoha, Kaitlin Villafuerte, Finn Reil and brooke enright along with tropical conservation and environmental science graduate student Walter Boger also contributed to the study.Other co-authors include UH-hilo marine science professor Karla McDermid,UH-Mānoa Hawaiian studies associate professor Noe Puniwai and UH-Mānoa oceanography professor Craig Nelson.
Interview with Tracy Wiegner on Sewer Line expansion and Environmental Research in Hawaiʻi
Table of Contents
- Interview with Tracy Wiegner on Sewer Line expansion and Environmental Research in Hawaiʻi
- Editor: Can you tell us more about the study that UH-Hilo is conducting on cesspool management in Hilo?
- Editor: How is the collaborative effort between UH-Hilo faculty, students, and other institutions contributing to this research?
- Editor: Can you discuss the significance of this research in the broader context of environmental efforts in Hawaiʻi?
- Editor: What are the next steps for this research and the professionals who have been involved?
- Conclusion
Editor: Can you tell us more about the study that UH-Hilo is conducting on cesspool management in Hilo?
Tracy Wiegner, a marine science professor at UH-Hilo who co-authored the study, explains:
“The study is focused on identifying high-risk areas in Hilo where cesspools are negatively impacting groundwater and coastal water quality. This data is being used by the county to help prioritize locations for sewer line expansion as part of the statewide effort to transition away from cesspools.”
Editor: How is the collaborative effort between UH-Hilo faculty, students, and other institutions contributing to this research?
Wiegner continues:
“The study was a collaboration between UH-Hilo faculty and students, including former graduate students Joseph Nakoa and Devon aguiar, and marine science undergraduates Nicolas Storie and Ashlynn Overly.UH-Hilo marine science undergraduates Darienne Kealoha, Kaitlin Villafuerte, Finn Reil, and Brooke Enright along with tropical conservation and environmental science graduate student Walter Boger also contributed to the study. other co-authors include UH-Hilo marine science professor Karla McDermid, UH-Mānoa Hawaiian studies associate professor Noe Puniwai, and UH-Mānoa oceanography professor Craig Nelson.”
Editor: Can you discuss the significance of this research in the broader context of environmental efforts in Hawaiʻi?
Wiegner elaborates:
“This research is part of a larger effort to address the environmental challenges posed by cesspools throughout Hawaiʻi.By identifying high-risk areas and prioritizing sewer line expansions, we can effectively reduce groundwater pollution and improve coastal water quality, which is crucial for both the ecosystem and public health.”
Editor: What are the next steps for this research and the professionals who have been involved?
Wiegner concludes:
“Those involved, including the former graduate students and marine science undergraduates, are continuing their environmental work in doctoral programs and conservation efforts throughout Hawaiʻi. The team is also planning to expand their research and collaborate further to enhance our understanding and address the broader issues of cesspool management in Hawaiʻi.”
Conclusion
The collaboration between UH-Hilo faculty, students, and others in the field highlights a comprehensive approach to addressing Hawaii’s environmental challenges. By prioritizing sewer line expansions in high-risk areas identified through their research, the study contributes substantially to the statewide effort to phase out cesspools and improve water quality.
