Public-private partnership proposed: Environmental commission urges fast work on sewage discharges

The Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant is seen in this file photo. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today file photo)

Casting a wary eye toward a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said discharging wastewater indirectly into the sea by allowing it to flow through groundwater violates the Clean Water Act, the county Environmental Management Commission on Wednesday unanimously voted to ask the County Council and administration to solicit proposals for public-private partnerships to fix island projects falling into that category.