Inspection of outfall and transmission pipe at Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant scheduled

Sea Engineering will inspect the outfall and transmission pipe of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Thursday.

The Hawaiʻi County Department of Environmental Management, which contracted the firm to conduct the inspection, reports that the scheduled test will take 1 day and use a biodegradable and nontoxic dye approved by the federal government, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

Inspectors will look at the structural integrity, operational status and maintenance needs of the reinforced concrete pipe that discharges secondary disinfected treated effluent 4,400 feet from the shoreline at Puhi Bay. The inspection, which will involve scuba diving to the outfall on the sea floor, is dependent on ideal ocean conditions and required by permit.

Environmental Management anticipates no impact to shoreline recreation.

Bids are now being accepted for the rehabilitation and replacement of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. The county also entered a federal administrative order to improve its facilities in East Hawai‘i, including at the Hilo treatment facility.