#wastewater

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is reporting that a wastewater sample from Hawaiʻi County has tested positive for dengue virus. The sample was collected Aug. 24, 2026, at the Hilo wastewater treatment plant and DOH was notified of the result Aug. 31, 2026. A follow-up sample was collected on Aug. 31; those results are pending. DOH is not currently tracking any active dengue cases in Hawaiʻi County.

Approximately 200,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater (backwash) overflowed at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility, 3300 Honoapiʻilani Highway, Lahaina, during kona storm 2 on March 21, 2026, according to the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management.

Maui County officials issued a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact for a $6 million project to install 5,800 feet of sewer lines and replace aging waterlines for approximately 100 lots in Waikapū.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers are part of a team that was recently awarded a three-year, $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to address the environmental and public health impacts of outdated wastewater infrastructure in island communities.

Today marks the start of a long-awaited bathroom and wastewater system construction project at Kahului Small Boat Harbor on Maui.

Properties connected to the County’s wastewater (sewer) system in South Maui (Sugar Beach, Kīhei, Wailea/Makena) no longer need to restrict usage due to repairs to Kīhei Wastewater Pump Station No. 6, according to an update issued by the Maui Department of Environmental Management on Friday afternoon.

A wastewater overflow this morning at Kalama Park in Kīhei did not enter storm drains or the ocean, and has been cleaned up, with the area sanitized and cordoned off, according to the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management.

The Nature Conservancy received a three-year $125,000 grant from the Ulupono Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation to develop innovative tools and advance policies that support viable wastewater conversion to protect Hawaiʻi’s people, fresh water supplies and marine life.

On Friday, Kauaʻi legislators and community advocates gathered to celebrate the recent enactment of several key bills that reflect efforts of the Kauaʻi community to protect natural resources, improve public land access, and support community initiatives.

Sewer service is now active at 183 West Maui lots from Dickenson Street to Shaw Street, makai of the Honoapiʻilani Highway in Lahaina.

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Reclamation Division announced today it has amended the Sewer Service Status from “red,” which indicates a property that does not currently have active sewer service, to “green,” meaning the sewer service is active, for 61 properties in the Kelawea Mauka area.

Sewer service status was recently amended for several properties in West Maui, making service active for several lots near Kopili St. and Puiki Place, as well as one lot near the Kuhua St. and Lahainaluna Road intersection.

The state legislature authorized Maui County to implement a 0.5% general excise tax surcharge that took effect Jan. 1, 2024. Revenue from the county surcharge will be used for housing infrastructure, including water, wastewater, pedestrian paths and sidewalks.

A Brown Water Advisory has been issued in West Maui from Kapalua to Hanakaʻōʻō Beach Park. The state Department of Health Clean Water Branch reports that heavy rain has resulted in stormwater runoff entering into coastal waters. “The public is advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing […]

“This historic level of investment from the federal government will be used to provide safe drinking water to residents of Hawai‘i and ensure aging wastewater infrastructure, including cesspools, is replaced to protect public health and the environment,” said Gov. Ige.

Three new low cost, low energy, green infrastructure systems are being constructed this summer to purify water coming out of the Kīhei Wastewater Reclamation Facility. These new systems will harness the power of plants, soil and microbial activity to purify wastewater to approach drinking water standards, dramatically expanding its potential uses and reducing the need for disposal via injection wells.

Restrooms at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center and Pāpōhaku Park in Wailuku will be closed today and tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 22, and Thursday, Jan. 23), for repair work to the wastewater manholes that service the facilities.

A wastewater overflow of approximately 1,944 gallons occurred on Thursday, June 7, 2018 on Māʻalo Street in Kahului.

The overflow was caused by heavy rains and sewer manholes being opened by the public to eliminate street flooding.

The discharge was larger than initial reports, with 68,000 gallons entering the ocean north of Kahului Harbor between Kanaloa Avenue and Linekona Street.