Hawaiʻi County has begun a $337 million upgrade of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Thursday, where officials used traditional ʻŌʻō sticks to mark the start of the five-year project. The 30-year-old facility processes about 3 million gallons of wastewater daily and serves the local community.
“I never thought I’d be blessing one wastewater treatment facility,” Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda told Hawai'i News Now. Alameda signed an emergency proclamation earlier this year to speed up upgrades to the county’s wastewater treatment plant, which include modernizing technology, replacing old pipes, and improving systems to prevent environmental issues. However, Keaukaha residents may not directly benefit, as “Most of our community is still on cesspool or septic tanks,” Kaʻaka Swain of the Keaukaha Community Association said, though the project is expected to have a positive environmental impact.
Honolulu-based Nan Inc. is overseeing upgrades to Hawaiʻi County’s wastewater treatment plant, which will stay operational during construction. The project, carried out in phases, includes new digesters, updated automation, and odor control systems to meet compliance standards. Hawaiʻi County Environmental Management Director Wesley Segawa said the community needs a reliable system, and Mayor Kimo Alameda directed staff to prepare a plan to address sewage spills after several discharge events in recent years. The improvements will serve about 30,000 Hilo residents, as mentioned by Big Island Now.
