• All wastewater needs to be treated so that it can be reused or released back into the environment without harming human health or the ecosystem.  The first and biggest digester for sewage sludge on Oahu is on Sand Island.  In 2011, officials were running the digester above its approved rate, risking disaster.  At that time, they contemplated trucking the sludge to Kailua, Honouliuli or Waianae for treatment; or alternatively stop development projects that would create more sewage.  They chose to truck it to Honouliuli.
  • There is only one bioconversion facility on Sand Island which is run by Synagro, a private company (as of July 2011).  It converts sewage to fertilizer pellets.  The Sand Island facility reached its capacity in 2010.  In May and June 2011, Council slashed a $26 million budget item that would have built a second bioconversion facility on-island.  This was due to Romy Cachola’s opposition to both bioconversion and Synagro.
  • Prior to 2010, the Federal EPA sued the City for significantly violating environmental laws related to sewage.  This was resolved through a 2010 settlement agreement between the Federal EPA and the City & County called the “Global Consent Decree” which has an extensive timetable of requirements for sewer system rehabilitations and improvements that need to be done between now and 2035.  The consent decree does not define the changes that need to be make to make the system optimal; only the bare minimum requirements needed.
  • Honolulu does not have secondary treatment facilities.  It only filters solid waste and then discharges the rest 1.5 miles out in the ocean.
  • In the past few years, there have been some high-profile sewage problems: wastewater dumped into the Ala Wai Canal to relieve pressure in the sewage system; a temporary closure of Hanauma Bay one day in January 2014 due to a backup; a similar closure by the McCully Shopping Center in late 2013; and persistent sewage odor in Kakaako.