Report on the Rehabilitation and Replacement Project for the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant

1.0 Introduction and Executive Summary

The County of Hawaiʻi has initiated a comprehensive rehabilitation and replacement project for the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant, a critical infrastructure facility constructed in the early 1990s. This report outlines the project’s background, scope, and significant alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The $337 million project, awarded to Nan Inc. with a projected completion in 2030, aims to address deferred maintenance, achieve regulatory compliance, and modernize the facility to protect public health and the environment. The initiative is a direct response to an Administrative Order on Consent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and recent significant effluent discharge events. The upgrades are fundamentally linked to achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

2.0 Background and Justification for Intervention

2.1 Regulatory Compliance and Infrastructure Deficiencies

After years of deferred maintenance, Hawaiʻi County entered into an Administrative Order on Consent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in March 2024. This legal mandate necessitates significant upgrades to bring the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant and its related infrastructure into full compliance. The facility, which serves approximately 30,000 residents and processes an average of 3 million gallons of wastewater daily, has demonstrated critical vulnerabilities. Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda acknowledged the project is “well overdue” and emphasized the historical burden placed on the Keaukaha community, where the plant is located.

2.2 Recent System Failures and Environmental Impact

The urgency of the project is underscored by recent large-scale discharge events, which represent a failure to meet the targets of SDG 6 and SDG 14.

• June 2024: An estimated 607,000 gallons of non-chlorinated, secondary treated effluent were discharged into Hilo Bay due to a chlorination system failure.
• November 2022: An estimated 2.2 million gallons of partially treated sewage were discharged into Hilo Bay, prompting public health warnings.

These events highlight the risk to marine ecosystems and public health, reinforcing the need for resilient and reliable infrastructure as outlined in SDG 9 and SDG 11. Kaʻaka Swain, President of the Keaukaha Community Association, noted the community’s long-standing advocacy for improving the water quality of Puhi Bay.

3.0 Project Scope and Implementation

3.1 Project Management and Timeline

The Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation and Replacement Project is a $337 million contract awarded to Honolulu-based Nan Inc. Construction commenced following a groundbreaking ceremony on July 31, 2025, with an expected completion date of 2030. To mitigate risks during the construction period, Mayor Alameda signed an emergency proclamation to streamline procurement and emergency response coordination. Regular quarterly meetings will be held to ensure project oversight and transparency.

3.2 Phased Implementation for Operational Continuity

A key challenge is maintaining plant operations during the extensive upgrades. Wesley Segawa, Director of the Department of Environmental Management, stated that the project will be executed in carefully scheduled phases to prevent interference with the daily treatment of wastewater, ensuring continuous service for the community.

3.3 Schedule of Improvements

The project encompasses a full-scale modernization of the plant’s primary and secondary treatment processes. These upgrades directly contribute to building resilient infrastructure (SDG 9) and improving water quality (SDG 6).

1. Headworks: Complete replacement of the existing structure with new screening, grit removal, and odor control systems to improve initial processing efficiency.
2. Primary Sedimentation Tanks: Repair of concrete and replacement of mechanical equipment to enhance solid separation.
3. Secondary Clarifiers: Upgrades to valves, pumps, and sludge collection systems to improve water clarification.
4. Effluent Disinfection: Modernization of chemical feed and monitoring systems to ensure compliance with environmental standards, directly supporting SDG 14.
5. Sludge Management: Construction of a new solids handling building with modern thickening, dewatering, and anaerobic digestion systems. This improves biosolids management, contributing to principles of a circular economy and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
6. Pump Stations: Full replacement of on-site pump stations to guarantee system efficiency and reliability.
7. Electrical and Control Systems: Comprehensive modernization of the plant’s electrical infrastructure and installation of a new SCADA system for automated monitoring and control, a key component of innovative infrastructure under SDG 9.
8. General Site Improvements: Upgrades to utilities, paving, and a new warehouse to support overall plant operations.

4.0 Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This project is a significant investment in sustainable development for Hawaiʻi County, with direct contributions to several key SDGs.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Ensures access to safe and reliable sanitation for 30,000 residents.
• Substantially improves wastewater treatment quality, reducing pollution and protecting water resources.
• Mitigates the risk of future spills, thereby safeguarding public health and the local water environment.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Develops quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure.
• Upgrades a critical public facility by integrating modern technology, such as a new SCADA system for enhanced control and efficiency.
• Increases the long-term resilience of the community’s essential services against system failures.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Reduces the adverse per capita environmental impact of the city by improving municipal waste management.
• Enhances the safety and resilience of the Hilo community by addressing critical infrastructure vulnerabilities.
• Addresses long-standing environmental justice concerns for the Keaukaha community.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Directly addresses marine pollution by preventing the discharge of untreated and partially treated wastewater into Hilo Bay.
• Contributes to the protection and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems.

5.0 Future Outlook and Socio-Economic Impact

5.1 Potential for Water Reclamation

Mayor Alameda has expressed interest in future innovations beyond the current scope, including wastewater reclamation. This forward-thinking approach aligns with advanced targets of SDG 6 concerning water reuse. Potential applications, such as creating a marsh or bird sanctuary, could further enhance local biodiversity, contributing to SDG 15 (Life on Land).

5.2 Economic Growth and Workforce Development

The project is expected to be a major driver of local employment. Jason Ko, Vice President of Nan Inc., highlighted that the project will provide “quality jobs for a lot of local guys,” directly supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Furthermore, the Department of Environmental Management is actively hiring for its Wastewater Division, creating long-term career opportunities in engineering, operations, and maintenance to support the island’s infrastructure.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant rehabilitation project addresses several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on wastewater management, infrastructure, environmental protection, and community well-being links the project to the following SDGs:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most central SDG, as the entire article revolves around the treatment of wastewater to ensure sanitation for the community and prevent water pollution.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The project is a large-scale infrastructure undertaking, focused on upgrading a critical facility with modern technology to make it resilient and sustainable.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The article explicitly details how failures at the plant led to the discharge of millions of gallons of partially treated sewage into Hilo Bay, directly impacting marine life and water quality. The project aims to mitigate this pollution.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The plant is a crucial piece of municipal infrastructure for the city of Hilo, serving 30,000 residents. Improving its function reduces the city’s environmental impact and makes the community safer and more sustainable.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article mentions that the $337 million project will create employment, stating it “is going to provide quality jobs for a lot of local guys” and that the county is actively hiring for the Wastewater Division.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues and solutions presented in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
   • Explanation: The project’s core purpose is to stop the discharge of “partially treated sewage” and “non-chlorinated, secondary treated effluent wastewater” into Hilo Bay, directly addressing the reduction of pollution and untreated wastewater. The mayor’s interest in “wastewater reclamation” for uses like creating a marsh or bird sanctuary aligns with the goal of increasing recycling and safe reuse.
2. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
   • Explanation: The article describes the plant as having “deferred maintenance” and being prone to failure. The $337 million rehabilitation project is designed to create a reliable and resilient system that the “community deserves” and “can count on,” preventing future system failures and supporting the well-being of 30,000 residents.
3. Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
   • Explanation: The article highlights two major spills into Hilo Bay—one of 607,000 gallons and another of 2.2 million gallons. These are clear examples of land-based marine pollution. The entire project is a direct response to prevent these events and reduce pollution in the bay.
4. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • Explanation: The project directly addresses “municipal… waste management” for the city of Hilo. By upgrading the plant, the county is reducing the city’s adverse environmental impact, which has burdened the Keaukaha community for years.
5. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
   • Explanation: The article notes the economic benefit of the project through job creation. It quotes the vice president of Nan Inc. saying the project “is going to provide quality jobs for a lot of local guys” and states that the Department of Environmental Management is “actively hiring” for various roles, contributing to local employment.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article contains several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 6.3 & 14.1 (Proportion of wastewater safely treated / Reduction in pollution): The article provides a baseline for failure by mentioning specific discharge events of “607,000 gallons” and “2.2 million gallons” of partially treated sewage. A key indicator of success would be the reduction of such spills to zero. The plant’s capacity to treat an “average of 3 million gallons of wastewater daily” can be used to measure the volume of wastewater being safely treated post-rehabilitation.
• Indicator for Target 9.1 (Investment in and quality of infrastructure): The financial investment of the “$337 million contract” is a direct indicator of the commitment to developing quality infrastructure. The completion of the project by the “expected completion date is 2030” and the implementation of the listed upgrades (new headworks, SCADA system, etc.) are indicators of progress. The number of residents served (“about 30,000”) is a measure of the infrastructure’s reach.
• Indicator for Target 11.6 (Improved municipal waste management): The successful implementation of the detailed list of improvements—from a “new headworks facility” to a “new SCADA system for automated monitoring”—serves as a direct indicator of enhanced municipal waste management capacity and efficiency.
• Indicator for Target 8.5 (Job creation): While not providing a specific number, the article implies that the number of jobs created is a measurable outcome. Progress can be tracked by the number of “quality jobs” filled by “local guys” through the contractor, Nan Inc., and the number of positions filled in the “Wastewater Division” through the county’s hiring efforts.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bigislandnow.com