Overview
Kaunakakai WWTF is a secondary treatment plant serving 1,821 people in Kaunakakai, Hawaii. It discharges 757.08 m³/day of treated wastewater, with a designed capacity of 1,135.62 m³/day.
Kaunakakai Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) is located on Mauna Loa Highway in Kaunakakai, on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,821 residents, providing secondary treatment for municipal wastewater in this rural coastal community. As a secondary treatment facility, Kaunakakai WWTF meets the standard requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,135.62 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 757.08 m³/day, indicating it operates below its full capacity. The treated effluent from Kaunakakai WWTF is discharged into the surrounding environment, which ultimately drains to the Pacific Ocean. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the nearshore waters of Molokai, which support diverse marine life and are important for local fishing and recreation.
Environmental context
Kaunakakai WWTF discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed on the south coast of Molokai, which drains into the Pacific Ocean. The nearshore environment includes fringing coral reefs and seagrass beds that are sensitive to nutrient loading. Proper treatment helps protect these ecosystems from eutrophication and supports the health of marine habitats that sustain local fisheries and tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Kaunakakai WWTF is located on Mauna Loa Highway in Kaunakakai, on the island of Molokai, Maui County, Hawaii, United States.
Kaunakakai WWTF serves a population of approximately 1,821 residents in the Kaunakakai area of Molokai.
Kaunakakai WWTF provides secondary treatment and discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately flows to the Pacific Ocean.
Kaunakakai WWTF operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The plant is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Hawaii Department of Health.
In the United States, municipal wastewater treatment plants serving populations under 10,000 typically provide secondary treatment as a minimum, in compliance with the Clean Water Act. This ensures adequate removal of organic matter and suspended solids to protect receiving waters.
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