Report Title:

General Obligation Bonds; Waimanalo Wastewater Treatment Plant

Description:

Authorizes issue of $18,590,000 in general obligation bonds for plans, design, and construction for repairs and improvements to the Waimanalo wastewater treatment plant to render the plant in compliance with rules and to enable additional development in the Waimanalo area.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1942

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds and making an appropriation for the waimanalo wastewater treatment plant.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Waimanalo wastewater treatment plant is currently operated by the City and County of Honolulu. However, the State retains ownership and therefore is responsible for the funds to maintain the facility. The City and County of Honolulu will not take over the maintenance of the facility until the State makes the necessary repairs and upgrades. The plant is currently running between seventy-one and eighty-two per cent of its capacity. Operation and maintenance inspection reports dated April 30, 2001 and April 10, 2002 indicate that the plant is being properly maintained although the plant itself is not in compliance with the Hawaii Administrative Rules and is subject to citations for non-compliance. There have been back-flow problems with the injection wells due to the inadequate size of piping leading into the facility. Effluent collected during inspections has been cloudy and did not settle well in the final clarifier. This indicates that the facility is not processing sewage adequately due to the volume the plant receives. This is a public health problem and there have been spills of sewage within the facility as well as back-ups along the sewage lines.

In addition to the serious public health issues, there are development issues as well. Because the facility is running at near capacity, there cannot be any additional sewer line hook-ups to the plant. This means there cannot be any new developments within the Waimanalo area, a situation that seriously harms the economics of the area. There can be no growth –- no new residential homes or business developments. Waimanalo can be a wonderful residential area for new families and homeowners, but development of new residential areas is impossible without the necessary repairs and upgrades to the Waimanalo wastewater treatment plant.

The seriousness of this situation cannot be over-emphasized. With documented deficiencies, the State has been put on notice that there are serious problems with the condition of the Waimanalo wastewater treatment plant. These repairs and upgrades have been long overdue. Time is critical and public health is at stake.

SECTION 2. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $18,590,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for fiscal year 2004-2005 for the plans, design, and construction for repairs and improvements to the Waimanalo wastewater treatment plant on Oahu.

SECTION 3. The appropriations made for the capital improvement project authorized in this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all appropriations that are unencumbered as of June 30, 2007, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.

INTRODUCED BY:

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