Eight Wastewater Treatment Plants Recognized By NACWA

Press release from the City and County of Honolulu:

October 28, 2020

KAPOLEI – Wai‘anae Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), for the 18th straight year, was 100 percent compliant with all its permits and was recognized by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) as a Peak Performance Award Platinum Award winner. COVID-19 cancelled the annual summer conference, so NACWA held a live virtual awards ceremony today from Washington, D.C.

Three other City and County of Honolulu WWTPs garnered Platinum status, now extending their performance to six consecutive years of 100 percent compliance:

• Kahuku Wastewater Treatment Plant - Platinum 6
• Lā‘ie Water Reclamation Facility – Platinum 6
• Pa‘ala‘a Kai Wastewater Treatment Plant - Platinum 6

Waimānalo and Wahiawā WWTPs earned gold awards with 100 percent compliance with their Underground Injection Control (UIC) and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for the 2019 calendar year. Sand Island and Kailua Regional WWTPs garnered silver status.

The NACWA recognition program consists of three categories – Platinum, Gold and Silver. Platinum Awards recognize facilities with 100 percent compliance with its NPDES permit for five or more consecutive years. Gold Awards honor treatment plants that achieved 100 percent compliance during the calendar year, while Silver Awards identify facilities that received no more than five permit violations during that same time.

The NPDES permit program, mandated by the Clean Water Act, controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge into U.S. waters. UIC permits and recycled water facility permits regulate facilities that do not discharge into U.S. waters.

For eligibility, facilities must operate under a federal or state equivalent NPDES permit, an underground injection control permit, or a state control mechanism that regulates effluent quality and reuse of reclaimed flows.

ENV Video of WWTP employees to Pharrell Williams' song "Happy"

This press release was produced by the City and County of Honolulu. The views expressed are the author's own.