#injection wells maui

The county’s use of injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility in West Maui violates the federal Clean Water Act according to a federal district court ruling on Friday, the environmental law firm Earthjustice announced.

While the report confirms a hydrologic connection between the Lahaina facility’s treated wastewater injection wells and the near-shore seeps, monthly sampling by Hawaii Department of Health has detected no bacterial indicators.

The negotiated order was approved by the county in July. It requires the installation of a non-chlorine disinfection system at the facility by the end of December 2013.

Mayor Arakawa said the gathering was helpful in providing insight on how each county approaches issues such as union contracts, wastewater systems, and infrastructure.

The Infrastructure Committee yesterday heard testimony on a preliminary plan to phase out the use of injection wells in Maui County.