Overview
Honokaa WWTF is a secondary treatment plant serving 1,500 people in Honoka'a, Hawaii. It discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, contributing to the protection of downstream coastal waters.
Honokaa WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Lehua Street in Honoka'a, Hawaii, a small town on the Big Island. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,500 residents, reflecting its role in managing wastewater for a rural community in Hawaii County. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the US Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. Its designed capacity is 227.12 volume units, with an actual discharge volume of 211.98, indicating near-capacity operation. As a US facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Hawaii Department of Health, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains to the Pacific Ocean. This coastal discharge requires careful management to protect nearshore marine ecosystems, including coral reefs and coastal habitats that are ecologically sensitive and support diverse aquatic life.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters the local drainage system on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii Island, flowing into streams that reach the Pacific Ocean. The nearshore marine environment supports coral reefs and coastal ecosystems that are important for biodiversity and local fisheries. Protecting these waters from nutrient pollution is critical, as excess nutrients can lead to algal blooms and degrade coral health.
Frequently asked questions
Honokaa WWTF is located on Lehua Street in Honoka'a, Hawaii, on the Big Island. It serves the local community of about 1,500 residents.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. This process removes biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains to the Pacific Ocean. The discharge is regulated under an NPDES permit to protect coastal water quality.
As a US facility, Honokaa WWTF operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to NPDES permits issued by the Hawaii Department of Health. These permits set limits on pollutant discharges to protect receiving waters.
For small communities like Honoka'a, secondary treatment is standard. The US Clean Water Act requires secondary treatment for all municipal plants, and smaller facilities often use technologies like activated sludge or trickling filters.
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