RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, between December 27, 2003, and February 27, 2004, two major storms blanketed Oahu and Kauai, with areas on Oahu such as Maunawili receiving over 21 inches of rain, Waianae Valley receiving almost 18 inches of rain, the Kahaluu area receiving almost 20 inches of rain, and Schofield East receiving almost 16 inches of rain; and

WHEREAS, the heavy rains disrupted Oahu's wastewater system, causing treated and raw sewage to overflow at the Waimanalo Wastewater Treatment Plant; and

WHEREAS, sewage spills contaminated many Oahu beaches that attract hundreds of residents and tourists, with the Windward Oahu beaches of Kailua, Lanikai, Waimanalo, and Kaneohe Bay among the most contaminated; and

WHEREAS, bacteria levels were high at some Oahu beaches because of raw and treated sewage spills and storm runoff; and

WHEREAS, according to the Department of Health, this level of bacteria could cause gastrointestinal illness, diarrhea, or stomach illness; and

WHEREAS, coastal water quality in Hawaii is important to our tourism industry because nearly six million visitors visit our State each year; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's unique marine and coastal environment is among the main reasons we are chosen as a visitor destination, and clean streams and coastal waters are integral components of that desired environment; and

WHEREAS, water quality is also vital to Native Hawaiian cultural practices, leisure and recreation, and research and technology, and all people should be afforded an environment free of pollutants and degradation; and

WHEREAS, during one storm in 2004, a 3,600-gallon sewage spill occurred in Nuuanu from a backed-up manhole at Waolani Stream, which feeds into Nuuanu Stream, and in Kalihi, sewage overflowed into Kalihi Stream; and

WHEREAS, sewage spills have been an ongoing problem and in July 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered the City and County of Honolulu (city) to explain a pattern of sewage spills in the Kalihi and Nuuanu streams over the previous five years and what was being done about it; and

WHEREAS, the EPA noted 33 spills in the two Honolulu streams since April 1998, ranging from 25 gallons to 58,000 gallons each; and

WHEREAS, inspectors from the EPA and Department of Health believe the spills may have resulted from leaks in old and deteriorated sewer pipes near both streams; and

WHEREAS, both streams run through densely populated areas, and the inadequate warning signs are not heeded by the public, and especially not by children, who are easily attracted to streams; and

WHEREAS, a 1995 consent decree agreement between the EPA and the city requires the city to implement a 20-year sewer rehabilitation and replacement program, which is now entering its fifth year; and

WHEREAS, the EPA said poor maintenance of the city's sewer system had allowed "chronic overflows and spills" of raw and partially treated sewage into Honolulu waters; and

WHEREAS, in the past three budget years, the city administration transferred $122 million from the sewer fund to the city's general treasury, and this move was criticized by some council members as short-sighted in light of the high spending levels needed to maintain the sewer system; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the Senate concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct an audit of the wastewater management performance on Oahu; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this audit, if possible, should be expanded to the neighboring counties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and County of Honolulu is requested to cooperate with and provide assistance to the Auditor to help resolve this pressing public health problem; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to report its initial findings for Oahu to the Legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor, the Director of Health, the Director of the City and County of Honolulu Environmental Services Division, and the County Councils of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui Counties and the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title:

Wastewater management on Oahu