Environmental Management Commission reaches out to the state for solution

HILO — Concern about partially treated wastewater entering Hawaii Island’s marine areas has prompted the county’s Environmental Management Commission to reach out to the state for a solution.

The commission voted during its Wednesday meeting to send a letter to state Health Director Virginia Pressler asking that the Department of Health require that the wastewater also be disinfected in addition to partially treated, to further eliminate microbes in the water.

Commissioner Richard Bennett, who represents District 6, said he decided to take action after learning that bacteria was entering the harbor at Kealakehe from a seepage sump. After writing to the Department of Environmental Management about protocol for partially treated wastewater, he learned that there were no requirements to disinfect wastewater after initial treatment.

“I was a little surprised, to say the least,” Bennett said.

“We know that microorganisms in partially treated … wastewaters are moving in the groundwater and emerging along the coast,” he said. “The DOH belief … is that somehow the ground filters all this stuff, and there’s just no data to support that.

“It is my recommendation that the DOH change its rules. They’re going to have to do an administrative rule change, which takes forever, but let’s begin the process.”

Bennett said an upgrade that would use ultraviolet light as a disinfectant would be preferable to chlorine. Chlorine also can be used, he said, but is not environmentally friendly and “doesn’t kill everything.”

Environmental Management Director William Kucharski noted that people can still disinfect their water even though it is not mandated.

District 4 commissioner Jon Olson suggested the group bring a resolution to the Hawaii County Council asking it to support the goals of the letter.

Copies of the letter will be sent to council members as well as the mayor’s office.

Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.