INVESTIGATION OP
THE WAIPIO STABILIZATION PONDS
AND SURROUNDING AREA
Surveillance and Analysis Division
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IK
San Francisco, CA 94111
Report No: 004-73
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
I. BACKGROUND 1
Statement of Problem 1
Objectives and Scope 1
Acknowledgements 1
II. STUDY AREA 3
Physical Description 3
Historical Development 4
Present Status «... 9
III. INVESTIGATION 12
Waipio Ponds 12
Waipahu Incinerator on Waipio Peninsula . . 16
Oahu Sugar Company 16
Pearl City STP 17
IV. RESULTS 19
Conclusions 19
Recommendations 19
V. APPENDICES 22
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I. BACKGROUND
A. Statement of Problem
The Waipio Waste Stabilization Ponds were constructed
. and put into operation in October 1971 as an interim
measure to divert raw sewage discharge from West
Loch and to provide primary or higher treatment to
this waste prior to discharge into Middle Loch.
Odors associated with these ponds resulted in numer-
ous complaints, and it soon -became apparent that the
ponds were not functioning as originally intended.
It was suspected that discharge from the Waipio
Ponds was one of the major causes of the low dis-
solved oxygen condition in Middle Loch which
resulted in an invertebrate kill during June 1972.
The Surveillance and Analysis Division (S&AD) was
requested by the Enforcement Division, EPA,
Region IX, to inspect the Waipio Ponds and report
its findings with respect to treatment efficiency,
effluent quality, impact upon the receiving waters,
environmental nuisances, threats to public safety,
and recommendations to eliminate existing and
future problems.
B. Objectives and Scope
The scope of this investigation was limited to a
visual inspection of each of the major dischargers
to Middle Loch and an analysis of all available
data on these wastewaters. Special emphasis was
directed toward the Waipio Ponds.
C. Acknowledgements
The investigation was conducted by Daryl G.
De Ruiter, Sanitary Engineer, Surveillance and
Analysis Division, EPA, Region IX. Persons con-
tacted during this visit include the following:
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Charles M. Seeley - Director, Pacific Islands Office,
EPA, Region IX.
Dennis Tulang - Environmental Engineer, Sanitary Engi-
neering Branch, Hawaii State Department of Health.
Denis Lau - Environmental Engineer, Sanitary Engi-
neering Branch, Hawaii State Department of Health.
George M. Uyema - Civil Engineer, Department of
Public Works, Division of Sewers, City and County
of Honolulu.
Raymond C. Y. Len - Mechanical Engineer,, Department
of Public Works, Division of Sewers, City and
County of Honolulu.
John Murray - Director, Environmental Protection Data
Base Office, Pearl Harbor Division, Pacific Division,
Naval Facilities Engineering Command.
Donald Morris - Biologist, Environmental Protection
Data Base Office, Pearl Harbor Division, Pacific
Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command.
Lou H. Herschler - Oahu Sugar Company, Waipahu,
Hawaii.
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II. STUDY AREA
A. Physical Description
Oahu is a tropical island which has sunshine through-
out most of the year. Fanned from the northeast by
prevailing tropical tradewinds, the island's tempera-
ture varies from a high of about 85 degrees to a low
of 60 degrees, with an average daily span of 9 de-
grees. Normal relative humidity is 70 percent,
except during occasional "kona" weather. (Kona
weather is a local term used to describe weather
conditions which occur during the change of seasons.
A kona is a stormy rain-bearing wind from the south-
west or south-southwest in Hawaii. It occurs about
five times a year on the southwest slopes which are
in the lee of the prevailing northeast trade winds.)
Elevation and geographic location have a significant
effect on the amount of rainfall on Oahu. The
average annual rainfall at the town of Waipahu,
elevation 59 feet above sea level, is approximately
30 inches. At the Waiawa station, elevation 725 feet
above sea level, the yearly average is about 160
inches. Such variations generally hold true through-
out the Hawaiian Islands.
Pearl Harbor is a 9-square-mile estuary made up of
three embayments or lochs. These lochs (East, Middle
and West Loch) are drowned river valleys which have
been modified by wave and current action. The upper
reaches of the lochs are generally quite shallow
(5 to 10 feet), while the lower reaches have been
dredged and at some places exceed 50 feet in depth.
A quarter-mile-wide entrance channel connects the
inner harbor to the sea.
There are five streams which drain into Pearl Harbor;
near each stream is an onshore spring. The area of
the basin drained by the streams is 89.6 square miles.
Mean flow estimates made in past surveys put the
combined stream discharges at 56 mgd and the mean
flow of spring discharges at 87 mgd.
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B. Historical Development
Presented in this section is a chronological list
of the major actions and developments that have
directed the Waipio Pond situation to its present
status:
1. On May 6, 1970, the Hawaii Department of Health
announced the applicability of the Water Quality
Standards for the water areas into which the
Waipahu Sewage Pump Station Force Main discharges,
On May 4, 1970, the Department received an appli-
cation from the City and County of Honolulu for
a permit to discharge for the Waipahu Sewage Pump
Station Force Main. The application did not
contain an implementation plan but indicated that
a decision regarding such a plan would be made
after the completion of the "Water Quality Pro-
gram for Oahu" in April 1972. The Department
of Health on September 14, 1970, informed the
County that the April 1972 decision date was
not acceptable. This letter gave the County
until October 15, 1970 to submit a schedule of
implementing actions and deadlines. The County
then submitted an acceptable schedule for an
interim solution to the Waipahu sewage wastes;
that is, the construction of a stabilization pond
to be completed by .October 1971.
A permit to discharge was issued by the Depart-
ment of Health on October 26, 1970, based on the
City/County of Honolulu's plan to construct the
pond. One of the provisions in the permit was
that raw sewage discharge be diverted from West
Loch, Pearl Harbor, into Middle Loch within
30 days after issuance of the permit. The
Department of Health on December 17, 1970,
informed the City/County of Honolulu of its
intention to revoke the permit due to failure
to divert the sewage within the prescribed
30-day period, and a contested hearing was held
on January 29, 1971.
The Department of Health's decision for immedi-
ate removal of the raw sewage discharge from
West Loch to Middle Loch was largely based on a
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report by the Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration (FWPCA) entitled "Report on Pollu-
tion of the Navigable Waters of Pearl Harbor."
The FWPCA's investigation indicated that West
Loch oyster beds were contaminated by salmonella
and coliform bacteria due to the direct discharge
from the Waipahu sewage pump station force main.
The report made several recommendations, one of
which was that raw sewage discharge be immedi-
ately diverted from West Loch to Middle Loch.
As a result of the contested hearings (a second
portion was held on February 23, 1971), the
Department of Health rescinded its intention to
revoke the permit and allowed the original permit
to remain in force, subject to construction of
the stabilization pond being initiated by April
1971 and completed during October 1971. This
decision was based largely on the fact that the
increased time needed and the cost of the project
to meet the Navy's specifications were not prac-
ticable.
2. On September 21-23, 1971, the EPA convened an
enforcement conference concerning the pollution
of the navigable waters of Pearl Harbor and its
tributaries. The purpose of the conference was
to bring together the State water pollution con-
trol agency,, representatives of the EPA, and
other interested parties 'to review the existing
situation and the progress which had been made,
to lay a basis for future action by all parties
concerned, and to give the State, localities and
industries an opportunity to take any remedial
action under State and local law. The advantages
derived from this conference were: 1) the iden-
tification of remaining deficiencies in pollution
areas, 2) designation of responsibility and rec-
ommendations to eliminate these deficiencies, and
3) a workable timetable to allow implementation
of these recommendations.
3. In October 1971, the Waipio Ponds were filled
with sugar-rich irrigation tailing water from the
Oahu Sugar Company and began receiving raw sewage
from the Waipahu pump station.
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4.. On November I, 1971, the Report of the Technical
Review Group for the Waipio Stabilization Ponds
was made available (see Appendix A-2). This
report was prepared in conjunction with Recommen-
dation 19 of the Pearl Harbor Enforcement Confer-
ence. It established guidelines to assure
satisfactory operation of the Waipio Ponds with
regard to treatment efficiency, safety, and
nuisance control.
5. On January 4, 1972, the City/County of Honolulu
began adding sodium nitrate to the ponds for odor
control purposes. The exact dates, quantities,
and method of application of this chemical are
listed in Appendix D-l, Table III.
6. In a letter dated January 25, 1972, to Murray
Stein, Chief Enforcement Officer-Water, EPA,
Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink (D-Ha) indicated that
in late December, her husband, John F. Mink,
"made an on-site examination of the pond, and
noted that...the effluent...was still black and
highly contaminated" and requested that the EPA
attend to this matter.
7. Russell Freeman of EPA, Region IX, met with
representatives from the City and County of
Honolulu and the State of Hawaii on February 1,
1972, concerning the correction of the Waipio .
Pond situation. One of his recommendations was
that the ponds be aerated.
8. In a letter, dated February 17, 1972, to
Dr. Walter B. Quisenberry, Director of the
Hawaii State Department of Health, R. L.
O'Connell, Director of the Enforcement Division
of EPA, Region IX, noted that the ponds had
failed to operate properly and that none of the
recommendations of the committee had been adopted.
He also recommended that the State "take immedi-
ate enforcement action to abate the nuisance and
and water pollution conditions which are being
caused by this facility."
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9. Dr. Quisenberry formed a committee consisting of
a representative from the City/County of Honolulu,
the State Department of Health, and the EPA.
This committee met on April 11, 1972 to evaluate
the progress of the City/County of Honolulu in
correcting the Waipio Pond problem. The improve-
ments reported by Charles M. Seeley, EPA,
Region IX representative, included: the addi-
tion of sodium nitrate for odor control, monitor-
ing the ponds for dissolved oxygen content, scum
removal from Pond I, installation of a diffused
air system in Pond I, and the discontinuance of
discharges from the Waipahu incinerator into the
Waipio system.
10. On April 18, 1972, twenty-three 3/4" diameter
PVC perforated air lines (approx. 10,000 lineal
feet) had been installed 1% feet above the bottom
of Pond I at 20-foot spacing. However, the
pressure loss through this system was so great
that on September 5, an additional twenty-two
1%' diameter PVC lines were installed between
the existing lines. Air was supplied to the
system by two 20-HP pumps and compressors with
a rated capacity 1120 scfm. These were still
functioning as of September 1972.
11. A severe kill of sessile and free-moving inver-
tebrates was discovered in Middle Loch on June 15,
1972 by the Naval Undersea Center which was con-
ducting a biological survey of Pearl Harbor.
The three major groups of affected organisms were
polychaetes, mollusks, and crustaceans. The
suspected cause of the kill was an oxygen-
scavenging substance which apparently entered
Middle Loch in the vicinity of Pearl City STP
(sewage treatment plant) diffusers. A more
detailed description of this situation is pre-
sented in the Naval Undersea Center Report, Pearl
Harbor Biological Survey - Summary Report for
First Survey Cycle (August, 1972).
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12. A massive oyster kill in West Loch with an esti-
mated 99% mortality (34 million oysters) was
suspected on July 5, 1972 and confirmed by a
survey on July 10-12. A virologist from the
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Lab in Oxford, Maryland
suspected that a biotic agent such as a fungal
infection or slime mold was the cause of the
kill since no other variety of organisms was
apparently affected.
13. On September 15, 1972, the State Department of
Health held a public hearing to determine if
the permit for the Waipio Ponds should be with-
drawn because present flows were greater than
authorized. The results of this hearing were:
a. An accepted proposal from the City/County of
Honolulu to install eight aerators (borrowed
from Dole Pineapple Company) by October 15,
1972 to operate until April 1973.
b. A three-month monitoring and evaluation
period by the Department of Health following
installation to determine effectiveness of
this approach. If successful, the City/
County of Honolulu would purchase and install
thirty-one new aerators by June 1973.
c. A temporary moratorium on new connections in
service area (except for a few cases of hook-
ups from existing homes), which will keep
flows at present level (2.4 - 2.7 mgd).
d. A probable re-hearing in one year on the
question of a new permit to allow flows up
to 3.6 mgd.
14. On September 26-29, 1972, an on-site investiga-
tion of the Waipio Ponds and other significant
dischargers to Middle Loch was conducted by
Daryl G. De Ruiter, Surveillance and Analysis
Division, EPA, Region IX. A discussion of this
investigation is presented later in Section III.
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15. Eight 5-HP surface aerators (borrowed from Dole
Pineapple Company) were installed in Pond I on
December 21, 1972. According to Raymond Len,
City and County of Honolulu, the addition of
these aerators has eliminated the floatables
problem, but is not sufficient to maintain a
significant level of dissolved oxygen in the
ponds.
C. Present Status
The conclusions and recommendations of the Pearl
Harbor Enforcement Conference are contained in
Appendix A-l. The following comments refer to those
recommendations that pertain to facilities visited
or discussed during this investigation.
1. Recommendations 4 & 5:
The entire Mamala Bay wastewater treatment and
disposal system (which includes facilities for
the complete conveyance, treatment, and disposal
of all waste flows in the Pearl Harbor area) has
been and will continue to be delayed due to
Federal funding constraints. The original sche-
dule calling for completion of the first phase
of the Honouliuli system by December 31, 1974
is no longer feasible.
The total preliminary estimated cost for the
Honouliuli system is $56.45 million. The follow-
ing breakdown is based upon an October 1972
report prepared by the City/County of Honolulu:
Sewage Treatment
Plant . $23.5 million
Ocean Outfall $11.8 million
Interceptors, Force
Mains, Pump Stations $21.1 million
Total $56.4 million
Based upon present allocations to the State of
Hawaii and assuming a $1 billion increase in
appropriations for each fiscal year after 1974
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and constant percentage of State appropriation
(neglecting inflation), construction on the last
portion of the project would not begin until
FY 1979. The time needed for construction would
mean a project completion date of the mid-1980's.
This is the most conservative estimate based
upon funding levels and State priorities.
On the other hand/ if full funding were made
available through additional discretionary funds
and/or reallocations, the complete project could
conceivably be constructed and in operation by
July 1, 1976. This represents the most optimis-
tic completion date.
2. Recommendation 8:
The U. S. Army has let a contract for the con-
struction of a new secondary treatment plant for
Schofield Barracks and construction is under way.
The Army is also presently evaluating several
alternatives to reroute the effluent from Waikele
Stream for direct discharge into Waiahole Ditch.
3. Recommendation 7:
The Oahu Sugar Company has agreed to utilize the
effluents from the various sewage treatment
plants discharging to the Waikele Stream and its
tributaries for the irrigation of cane fields as
subject to the conditions outlined in Appen-
dix A-3.
4. Recommendation 10:
As of December 31, 1972, the Waipahu dump has
been officially closed. This facility presently
receives only ash from the Waipahu incinerator.
Trash is now hauled to alternate sites.
5. Recommendation 13:
The Oahu Sugar Company has submitted an accept-
able plan designed toward 1) the elimination of
mill waste and tailwater discharges to Pearl
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Harbor or its tributaries, and 2) control of
soil erosion from,their lands to the maximum
feasible extent. This program is included in
Appendix A-4. The Oahu Sugar Company is well
under way toward implementation of this plan.
6. Recommendation 19:
The Technical Review Group for the Waipio Stabil-
ization Ponds has submitted a report (see Appen-
dix A-2) detailing recommendations for the
operation of that facility. However, these were
not immediately carried out by the City/County
of Honolulu, and the black, murky effluent and
associated odors from the ponds resulted in
considerable controversy.
The City/County of Honolulu has since installed
aeration facilities and is in the process of
expanding its aeration capability to cope with
the high pond loadings.
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III. INVESTIGATION
This section of the report describes the findings of
the investigation which was conducted by EPA on Septem-
ber 26-29, 1972 .(see Appendix G for photos) :
A. Waipio Ponds
1. Original Design. (See Appendix for design
calculations. Detailed drawings of the ponds
are available for reference in the S&AD files.)
The pond size was determined using an equation
for facultative ponds developed by Herman and
Gloyna(1958)For sewage treatment employing a
2-3.5 foot depth. A critical evaluation of this
determination yields several discrepancies.
a. The influent 6005 was found to be 160 mg/1
based upon 2 days of 24-hour composite
samples, whereas the design criterium was
200 mg/1 (see Appendix C).
b. The yearly average temperatures for Pond I
and Pond II were 26.6°C and 26.4°C, respec-
tively (based upon data from November 1971
through October 1972) , whereas the design
criterium was 30°C (see Appendix C).
c. The 4-foot depth chosen is not within the
depth range specified for this equation.
d. The relationship used to predict the BOD
removal was developed from data from con-
trolled laboratory experiments and may not
apply to this situation.
e. The decision to install a two-cell system in
series has the effect of doubling the BOD
loading rate to the first cell. The result
is an anaerobic pond instead of the faculta-
tive pond upon which the design equation is
based. Thus, the relationship is no longer
valid.
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Appendix D-l contains the schedule of operating
depths for the ponds (Table I) and the subsequent
sizes and loading characteristics at the present
pond depths (Table II). The BODs loading rate
of 681 pounds per acre per day to Pond I with a
3.2-day detention time explains the anaerobic
condition of the ponds.
2. Present Aeration Facilities:
The diffused aeration system in Pond I is not
sufficient to maintain an aerobic environment.
The pond substrate was a murky, gray-black color
(photos WP-5 and WP-6) and contained no measur-
able amount of dissolved oxygen. Only a limited
bubbling action was observed at the surface
directly above the air lines (photos WP-1, WP-2
and WP-3), and the mixing effect due to aeration
was negligible.
The schedule for adding sodium nitrate for odor
control is listed in Appendix D-l, Table III.
The odor emitted from the ponds at the time of
the visit (12:30 p.m., September 26 and 3:00 p.m.,
September 27, 1972) was relatively mild.
3. Degree of Treatment:
Raw data on the Waipio Ponds and plots of
vs. time and suspended solids vs. time are
available in the S&AD files. A summary of
these data is included in Appendix D-2. These
data are based upon grab samples collected dur
ing the morning hours when flows are generally
low. While these data are probably not indica
tive of average conditions, the downward trend
in the effluent BODs does reveal that the aera
tion equipment has had a beneficial effect on
the performance of this facility. Adequate
chlorination has also had a significant effect
in reducing the final 6005. since the latest
aeration equipment was installed, the effluent
has stabilized in the 60-70 mg/1 range.
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A City/County of Honolulu employee who was mea-
suring dissolved oxygen and residual chlorine at
the time of the EPA visit to the facility said
that the condition of the ponds is quite erratic:
i.e., the ponds appear murky and septic at times,
while at other times they have a relatively clear
substrate with good algae blooms. The erratic
BOD5 data confirms this observation. At the
times of the EPA visit to the facility, phyto-
plankton growth was non-existent, although
periphyton was present along the edge of the
Pond II and the effluent structures (photos WP-9
and WP-10).
By comparing the BODs data with the suspended
solids data, one might roughly conclude that the
effluent BODs is relatively low when the sus-
pended solids concentration is high, and vice
versa. Since the effluent suspended solids con-
centration would be expected to increase when
algae blooms occur, one might logically associate
a higher degree of treatment with respect to
BODs reduction during conditions when algae
proliferate.
4. Future Aeration Equipment:
As previously mentioned, eight 5-HP surface
aerators, borrowed from Dole Pineapple Company,
were installed in Pond I on December 21, 1972.
Plans are presently being made by the City/
County of Honolulu to purchase and install
twenty-one 7^-HP surface aerators according to
the following schedule:
Advertisement for bids Jan. 25, 1973
Bid opening Feb. 8, 1973
Awarding of contract &
notification to proceed Feb. 9, 1973
Delivery of the aerators is expected 90 days
after the award of the contract, with installa-
tion to be completed by City/County of Honolulu
personnel 5 weeks after delivery.
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It is expected that some optimum number of aera-
tors will convert the facility into a complete
mix system in which odors will be no problem.
This new system will sustain an active growth of
microbiological organisms which will oxidize a
significant portion of the organic waste load.
The cell mass accumulated during this process
will pass into the second cell where it will
settle and undergo anaerobic fermentation at
the bottom layer of the pond. The surface layer
will be aerobic due to algal blooms and surface
aeration. The net result will be a high quality
effluent which is relatively low in organic
materials.
5. Waipio Pond Discharge:
The effluent of Pond II is similar to that of
Pond I: i.e., gray-black in color (photos WP-9,
WP-10 and WP-11) and void of any dissolved oxygen,
This effluent then enters the chlorine contact
chamber (photo WP-11) with approximately 15 min-
utes detention where it is dosed with 10 p.p.m.
of chlorine. The effluent from this unit cas-
cades over a 4-foot drop (photo WP-14) where
some oxygenation occurs (see Appendix D-3).
Considerable foaming was observed at this point
(photo WP-15) during the time of the EPA visit.
Approximately 400 feet from the discharge weir,
the pond effluent enters a sugar plantation
irrigation ditch (photos WP-16, WP-17 and
WP-180) which carries both the Waipio Pond
effluent and irrigation tailing water to the
west edge of the Middle Loch at a point about
halfway up the Waipio Peninsula.
The quantity of irrigation tailing water dis-
charge fluctuates according to irrigation needs.
However, at the time of the visit to the Waipio
Ponds, the contribution of waste flow from the
tailing water was nearly equal to the contribu-
tion from the ponds. Specifically, this tailing
water is the centrate of a centrifuge treatment
process of the wash water from the Oahu Sugar
Company in Waipahu. The centrate has a high
oxygen demand and suspended solids content (see
Appendix E).
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At 3:00 p.m., September 27, a force main was dis-
charging a high flow to the irrigation ditch
(photos WP-19, WP-21, WP-22 and WP-23). This
discharge had the same appearance as the wash
water centrate. Fungus growth was observed in
the drainage ditch near the point of discharge
into Middle Loch. At low tide, a heavy sediment
deposit could be seen reaching out from the mouth
of the drainage ditch (photos WP-26 and WP-27).
Because of the high silt content of the irriga-
tion tailing water, it is believed to be the
major contributor of this deposit.
6. Safety Features (Waipio Ponds):
A wire fence with a securely padlocked gate has
been constructed around the Waipio ponds and
chlorine contact chamber.
B. Waipahu Incinerator on Waipio Peninsula
As of March 30, 1972, the wastewater from the Waipahu
incinerator has been diverted from the Waipio ponds
to a storm drain. At the time of the visit to this
facility (3:30 p.m., September 28), there was no
discharge at all. The scrubber spray was completely
evaporating, and the quenching water was being
recycled.
C. Oahu Sugar Company
Water usage for this plant is approximately 15.5 mgd,
most of which is used for the washing of raw sugar
cane (photo OS-2). This wash water is.treated by a
centrifuging process (photo OS-3) for removal of
silt and fiber. Approximately 1 mgd of sludge draw-
off is pumped to sludge drying beds on the Waipio
Peninsula. The 14.5 mgd of centrate is used for
irrigating cane fields on the Waipio Peninsula. This
quantity exceeds the irrigation requirements of this
area, and most of the excess discharges to Walker
Bay. Some, as mentioned previously, is discharged
with the Waipio Pond effluent to the Middle Loch.
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Facilities are being installed to divert approxi-
mately 5 mgd of the centrate to cane fields further
inland. These facilities are to be completed by the
end of 1973 to prevent discharge of tailing water to
Middle Loch. The plan to construct a dam across
Walker Bay and use this detention pond for treating
tailing water has been abandoned. Holding ponds are
to be constructed in this area also, and facilities
are to be installed to divert irrigation water to
cane fields further down the Waipio Peninsula.
D. Pearl City STP
This primary treatment plant discharges through a
diffuser extending 2300 feet from the east shore of
Middle Loch almost directly across from the point of
the Waipio Pond discharge. The degree of treatment
provided by this plant is difficult to ascertain
because of the inadequacy of the monitoring program.
Some of the shortcomings of this monitoring program
are:
1. Analyses are performed on grab samples collected
during the morning hours before the peak load
arrives at the plant.
2. Influent (raw sewage) samples are collected in a
chamber to which the trunk sewer discharges
(photo PC-3)-. Digester supernatant also inter-
mittently discharges to this chamber.
3. Effluent samples are obtained by means of a sam-
pling line and pump connected to the discharge
end of the effluent pipe. When this pump is out
of order, the sample is collected from the chlo-
rine contact chamber.
4. The flow recorder has been inoperative for a
considerable period of time.
A well equipped laboratory is located at the Pearl
City plant. Two certified lab personnel and one
technician perform all the laboratory analyses for
ten leeward Oahu STP's, including the Waipio Ponds.
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The following table lists the average BODs and sus-
pended solids values (based upon morning grab sam-
ples) at the Pearl City STP for the months of July
1971 through May 1972:
BOD 5(mg/1) Suspended Solids(mg/1)
Raw Sewage 142 176
Primary Effluent 161 66
Final Effluent 158 71
Based upon available data and a visual inspection of
the facility (photos PC-3, PC-4, PC-8, PC-9, PC-10
and PC-11), it can be safely concluded that the degree
of treatment provided by this facility is far less
than would be expected from a well operated primary
treatment plant.
Appendix F contains the Report on Operation and Main-
tenance of Wastewater Treatment Plant, EPA Form
7500-5 (4-72), which contains information gathered
at the Pearl City STP.
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IV. RESULTS
A. Conclusions
1. A fence has been constructed around the Waipio
Ponds, as required by the report by the Techni-
cal Review Group.
2. The Waipio Ponds are severely under-designed as
oxidation ponds and are consequently overloaded.
The effluent quality reflects this overloaded
condition.
3. The aeration facilities and addition of sodium
nitrate have been successful in eliminating a
large portion of the odors from the Waipio Ponds.
4. According to available data, the effluent BOD
has been reduced as a result of aeration.
5. The quantity of air supplied by the diffused air
system is not sufficient to maintain an aerobic
environment in either pond. Treatment can be
significantly upgraded with the addition of more
aeration facilities.
6. The Pearl City STP effluent contributes a much
greater amount of oxygen-demanding materials to
Middle Loch than do the Waipio Ponds.
7. The irrigation tailwater discharge from the Oahu
Sugar Company has a potentially high oxygen
demand. It is quite possible that the low dis-
solved oxygen condition that apparently caused
the invertebrate kill in Middle Loch could have
been caused by a slug discharge of this tailwater,
The tailwater also carries a heavy silt load to
the Middle Loch.
B. Recommendations
1. General:
a. EPA, Region IX, should assist the State of
Hawaii in .developing a water quality monitor-
ing program for the State of Hawaii. Such a
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program would be useful in identifying
causes of such disasters as the oyster kill
in West Loch and the invertebrate kill in
Middle Loch.
b. A priority list for new waste treatment
systems should be established as early as
possible so that EPA funds can then be
immediately used for construction of new
facilities before inflation and rising con-
struction costs mount. Lack of a concrete
priority system has been responsible in the
past for much of the delay in construction
of the proposed facilities.
2. Waipio Ponds:
a. EPA, Region IX, should provide assistance to
the City/County of Honolulu in developing a
monitoring program for the Waipio Ponds.
b. The City/County of Honolulu should install
a flow measuring device at the Waipio Ponds.
(Flow is presently determined by a pump
rating curve for the Waipahu pump station.)
c. The performance of the ponds with the new
surface aerators should be evaluated to
determine the maximum load that the ponds
can treat reliably. "Until such an evalua-
tion is made, the number of new connections
allowed to this system should be strictly
limited to insure that the ponds are not
further overloaded.
3. Pearl City STP:
a. A more reliable monitoring program should be
developed.
b. The flow meter and recorder at the plant
should be repaired.
c. An analytical quality control program should
be initiated at the laboratory.
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Oahu Sugar Company:
a. Frequent surveillance should be performed
on the progress of the Oahu Sugar Company
in meeting its time schedule for the elimi-
nation of mill waste and tailwater discharges
to Pearl Harbor and the soil erosion control
program. A re-evaluation of the measures
undertaken should be made after these become
effective.
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V. APPENDICES
Appendix Page
A-l Conclusions and Recommendations of the Pearl
Harbor Enforcement Conference 23
A-2 Report of the Technical Review Group for the
Waipio Stabilization Ponds. . 33
A-3 Statement by Oahu Sugar Company Relative to
the Use of Sewage Effluent for Sugar Cane
Irrigation - Waiahole Ditch 36
A-4 Report by Oahu Sugar Company Containing Their
Program for the Abatement of Irrigation Tail-
water into Pearl Harbor and its Tributaries
and the Control of Soil Erosion 40
B Map of Pearl Harbor and Surrounding Vicinity. . 55
C Design Criteria and Calculations for the
Waipio Waste Stabilization Ponds. . .... . . .56
D-l Table I: Schedule of Changes in Depth of
Waipio Ponds 60
Table II: Sizes and Loading Characteristics
of Waipio Ponds 60
Table III: Addition of Sodium Nitrate 61
D-2 Waipio Waste Stabilization Pond Data Summary. . 62
D-3 Dissolved Oxygen Data in Waipio Waste
Stabilization Ponds and in Receiving Ditch. . . 63
E Analytical Results of Oahu Sugar Company
Wastewater Samples 64
F Report on Operation and Maintenance of
Wastewater Treatment Plant (EPA Form 7500-5)
for the Pearl City STP 65
G Photographs 71
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EXECUTIVE SESSION
- - APPENDIX A-l .
:-'. Septenber 23. 1971
.'. .; lit30 a.a.
MR. STEINi This meeting is reconvened.
CONCLUSIONS AN'D RSCOKKEKDATIONS
The conferees have unanimously reached the following
conclusions and recomiaendfitionc j
1. Pollution subject to ebateEcsnt under the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act exists in the interstate
and navigable waters of Pe&rl Ksrbor. This pollution is
caused by waste discharge from municipal, industrial &nd
Federal facilities, -egriculturel ectivitiee end u,rban
developasnt.
2. Keeeures token thue far toward abatcsent of
the pollution cr© inadequate to bring about its ©liBination
within E-recsoncbl© period of tiEe.
3. Delays being encountered in abating the
pollution are caused principally by the coeplexity of the
problea end the need for closely coordinated action by
variouo levels of governaent and industrial establishments.
Howevert recent fornation of a Pearl Harbor Task Farce by
Governor Burns has assisted greatly in bringing about this
needed coordination.
\
r.\ ' 4. The first phase of the Honouliuli system (as
r
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EXECUTIVE SESSION
generally described in.the report, "Water Quality Program
for Oa'hu," dated July 1971) shall consist of the following
units:
a. An adequately sized sewage treatment plant
providing at least 85 percent BOD removal
and continuous disinfection of the effluent;
b. An ocean outfalli ."....:'
c. Interceptor sewer lines and pumping stations
serving the following areas: Waiau-Pearl
City, Kunia-Waipahu, Honouliuli, Iroquois
Point, and Barbers Point. . . ,
v 5. The first phase of the Honouliuli system as
described above shall be constructed by the city and county
of Honolulu in accordance with the following schedule:
a. By December 31» 19?1» all necessary State
Health Department permits to be obtained,
design to begin, and plant site to be acquired;
b. By November 1, 1972, financing arrangements
for the entire first phase to be completed
and bids for construction of initial units
to be advertised!
c. By March 1, 1973, construction contracts for'
initial units to be awarded!
d. By October 1, 1973, construction contracts
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EXECUTIVE SESSION
for ell units of the first phase to be
: awarded;
e. By December 31» 1974 construction of all units
of the first phase as described above to be
completed.
6. The Navy sewage treatment facilities at
Barbers Point Naval Air Station and Iroquois Point (Capehart)
shall be abandoned, and these systems shall be connected to
the Honouliuli system by December yi, 197^» In the interim
the Navy shall identify and apply feasible operating pro-
cedures to upgrade the performance of existing treatment
facilities at Barbers Point and Iroquois Point.
?. The city~"and county of Honolulu shall take
the necessary action to exclude from the harbor the sewage
presently reaching the harbor from the watershed of the
Waikele Stream, in accordance with the following schedules
a. By December 31 1971 - A sewage disposal plan
providing for irrigation or export from
the watershed is to be selected;
b. By September 30» 1972 - A design is to be
completed and necessary financing arranged.
c. By December 31, 1972 - The necessary site is
is to be acquired, and bids for construction
advertised;
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EXECUTIVE SESSION
d. By March 31, 1973 - AH necessary construction
contracts are to be awardedj . .
e. By December 31, 197^ - Construction is to be
completed. . . ,
8. The Army shall defer initiation of construction
of a new secondary sewage treatment plant at Schofield
Barracks until December 31, 197! to allow time for selection
of a Waikele watershed plan as specified in paragraph 7
herein. If the plan selected requires a new Army plant,
construction shall proceed immediately. Any sewerage
project undertaken -by the Army is to be consistent in scope
and timing with the selected Waikele watershed plan and
provide for payment by the Army of its pro-rata share of the
costs of any joint facilities. ; .
9. The Air Force shall, by July 1, 1973, complete
design of an interceptor sewer project that is consistent
with the selected Waikele watershed plan so as to permit
abandonment of their existing Wheeler AFB treatment facili-
ties. The Air Force shall complete construction of the
project by December 31t 197^« In addition, the Air Force
is to pay its pro-rata share of the costs of any joint
facilities.
10. The city and county of Honolulu shall, by
July 1, 1972, establish controls to prevent leaching
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EXECUTIVE SESSION
of pollutants from the Waipahu Dump into the waters of
West Loch, and shall operate and maintain the Waipahu refuse
disposal -site "so :as "to eliminate all o'ther adverse environ-
mental effects in a manner acceptable to the State Department
of Health.
11. By December 31, 1971, the Navy shall develop
a schedule to control vessel waste discharges into Pearl
Harbor, shall provide for financing of such controls .no
later than July 1, 1972, a.nd shall commence implementation
.of its schedule .no later .than September 1, 1972.
12. Erosion controls, as required by approved
State-Federal water quality standards (Chapter 37A (6),
State Public Health Regulations) shall be imposed on all
State projects, and as a condition for issuance of all
grading permits. It is also recommended that by July 1, 1972,
the city and county of Honolulu amend its subdivision and
grading ordinances to require that prior to issuance of
permits, the permittee obtain a certification by the State
Department of Health of the acceptability of the proposed
erosion controls. It is further recommended that Federal
loans and grants be withheld from housing, highway and other
construction projects which do not provide for erosion
controls satisfactory to the State Department of Health.
' -1-3-.-T-he^-Qa-huSugar Company shall, by December 31
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EXECUTIVE SESSION
197lt submit to EPA and SDOH an acceptable program including
a time schedule of actions leading toward a) the elimination
of mill waste and tailwater discharges to Pearl Harbor or
its tributaries, and b) control of soil erosion from their
lands to the maximum feasible extent. This program shall
be In full operation by December 31, 197^. .
14. Major pineapple growers shall, by December 31,
1971 submit to EPA and the SDOH an acceptable program
including a time schedule of actions leading toward the
control of soil erosion from their Pearl Harbor watershed
lands to the maximum feasible extent. This program shall
be in full operation by December 31» 197^»
15- the State Department of Agriculture shall,
in cooperation with the Oahu Soil Conservation District, by
July 1, 1972i develop a plan for a major study of soil
erosion from undeveloped lands in the Pearl Harbor watershed.
The study is to be completed not later than July 1, 19?^.
The pla.n is to be acceptable to the State Department of
Health and the Environmental Protection Agency.
16. By July 1, 1972, the State Harbors Division,
Department of Transportation, shall conduct an investigation
of existing and proposed underground oil transmission lines
to determine whether leakage is occurring or threatened and
develop a program for maintenance and replacement to elimi-
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. . . EXECUTIVE SESSION . -
nate any hazards to water quality that exist.
1?. By March 1, 1972, the. State Department of
Health shall identify and prescribe control requirements on
thermal discharges to Pearl Harbor by the Hawaiian Electric
Company so as to achieve compliance with the thermal water
quality standards by December 31 197^» The Navy is to
control the thermal discharges from its powerplants in a
manner commensurate with the foregoing requirements,
18. The State shall, by July 1, 1972, review all
existing and pending permits for waste discharges to the
Pearl Harbor watershed, and shall add conditions as necessary
o achieve consistency with the recommendations of this
conference.
19. A joint city and county, Sta.te and Federal
Technical Review Group shall be formed by October 1, 1971.
for the purpose of reviewing the design and operation of
the Waipio oxidation ponds. The EPA shall provide adminis-
trative services to the group. This review shall be
completed and a report prepared within 30 days thereafter
and shall contain recommendations for any modifications
found necessary to assure satisfactory operation of this
facility with regard to safety, treatment efficiency, and
control. The city and county of Honolulu shall
implement these recommendations in the manner and time period
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EXECUTIVE SESSION
specified by the Technical Review Group.
20. The parties listed below shall supply to the
conferees (or conferee, as the case may be), semiannual
progress reports with respect to the recommendations
contained herein and specifically as identified below; the
first report to be submitted on December 31» 1971.
Reporting; Agency .Subject of Report
paragraph numbers
Navy 6, 11, and 17
Army 8
' A - ''".'.'.'.-.
Air Force 9
City & County of Honolulu 5» 7» and 12
State Dept. of Agriculture 15
State Dept. of Transportation 16 .
Hawaiian Electric Company 17 .
Oahu Sugar Company 13
Dole Company 14 : :
21. The State Department of Health and the
Environmental Protection Agency shall cooperate with the
Navy in monitoring the waters of Pearl Harbor, and shall
make their studies available to the public.
22. The Environmental Protection Agency should
provide all possible support to the Governor's Task Force
on Pearl Harbor in reaching the goal of achieving a protected
environment which provides the greatest benefits to all
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EXECUTIVE SESSION
people. Support through technical assistance, studies,
appropriate cost-sharing and stimulation of other Federal
..Agencies ,to participate should be provided in coordination
with the Task Force.
23. The State of Hawaii urges that the Administrator,
Environmental Protection Agency, recognize the great dis-
crepance between the amount of Federal grant funds needed
"by Hawaii to complete the sewage treatment facility construc-
tion schedule which has been set and the funds expected to
be allocated under current formulae and appropriations.
The Administrator should take all pos.sible steps to accelerate
Federal financial support for these much .needed projects.
This concludes the conclusions and recommendations
of the conferees. I thi.nk that .you can see that we have
specifically laid out a curriculum. We have a lot of
homework to be done, but I am confident that if we do
this, we are going to arrive at clean water in Pearl Harbor.
I want to assure you, speaking for ourselves and
the State, that we are going to follow through on this.
We have a resident office here, as you know, and we are
going to try to make sure that these deadlines are met.
If the EPA Administrator approves these recommendations,
we will be following these recommendations through and see
that both . .thespir-ii-.-andthe letter of the recommendations
-------
EXECUTIVE SESSION
are met. .. . , . :/.
Given the magnitude of the problem here, I don't
think that we can afford to be content with what is
euphemistically known in the trade as "slippage," or
generally known as falling behind and not cleaning up the
environment.
At this point, we will entertain questions from
the press, if there are any.
THE PRESS: What action, if any, will be taken if
these recommendations are not met?
MR. STEIN: We have several courses of action.
In industry, we can move on to the 1899 River and Harbor
Act. That's a criminal section. Also, if an industry
discharges into navigable waters it has to have a permit.
The permit can either be granted or 'denied, and it's against
the law to discharge now without a permit.
In the municipality, if there is a violation of
the standards I think the recommendations are fully
consistent with the Federal-State water quality standards
we issue a 180-day notice. If that is not complied with,
then we can go to court, or else we can call a public
hearing and come up with recommendations. And again, after'
180 days, if the hearing board's recommendations are not
complied with, we can go to court.
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t. APPENDIX A-2 ** *
REPORT OF THE TECHNICAL REVIEW GROUP
FOR THE WAIPIO. STABILIZATION PONDS
NOVEMBER 1, 1971
A joint City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawaii
and Federal Technical Review Group was formed on
October 1, 1971 for the purpose of reviewing the de-
sign and operation of the Waipio oxidation ponds. The
following report contains the recommendations found
necessary by the Review Group to assure satisfactory
operation of that facility with regard to treatment
efficiency, safety, and nuisance control.
A. Treatment Efficiency
The original purpose for construction of the fac-
ility was to a) divert raw sewage from^the West
Loch of Pearl Harbor to the Middle Loch and b)
. provide primary or higher treatment for the new
Middle Loch discharge. This facility as designed
is capable of satisfying the purpose for which it
was constructed. The ponds are currently under
State permit to discharge until completion of the
Honouliuli system or no later than 1975.
The loadings currently received by the facility
approached the maximum level at which stabiliza-
tion ponds have been predicted to operate satis-
factorily. Operation and maintenance of the
facility therefore becomes more critical than
in ponds with lower loadings. The following
1 EPA Recommendation
2 USN Requirement
3 The Waipio facility has been designed and construc-
ted based on the theoretical derivations established
by Eckenfelder and 0'Conner. The facility is designed
to reduce the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of the
influent waste by 70 to 80 per cent.
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i»«ipio SLauijtiauLion Ponds ^^uvtuuijer 1,
recommendations are made in view of this high .'
level of loading:
1. - That a training program be instituted by the
City and County of Honolulu to provide the
' operators of the Waipio facility with a review"
j of stabilization pond theory, operation, and
;: maintenance and that the EPA and State of Hawaii
support this training. '
2. That the ponds be monitored regularly for dis-
solved oxygen levels, and process efficiency.
3. That the ponds be normally visited no less than '
once a day. by those persons responsible for the
operation of the ponds. . .
4. That upon pond failure or upon an increase of '-
25 per cent of the present loading, the City
. and County of Honolulu make provisions to ex-
. pand the facility or to improve the effective-
ness of operation. . . ..-..-..-
5. That flow measuring equipment be provided for
the facility and flow records be maintained.
B. Safety
The facility is constructed upon private property
and access to the area by the public is prohibited.
However, it is possible for trespassers, including
children, to reach the ponds by several unguarded
routes. The following recommendations are made for
the protection of the public:
1. That the facility be surrounded by fencing of
wire-type construction. .
2. That the facility be locked and signs be posted
describing the nature of the facility and warn-
. .ing against trespassing.
3. That a safety education program be promoted by
the communities in the area with special emphasis
placed on the Waipio pond dangers. . .
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Waipio Stabilization Ponds * .. November 1, 1971
. ..
C.![ Nuisance Control : v "-.-';'(>
!J ^^ . ... ._:/_
ii ''.-',..
The facility is remote from habitation. The pre-
vailing winds blow in a direction away from that
habitation. Therefore, nuisances from odor and
insect pest will be eliminated during periods of
normal weather. Days with light or Kona winds
may, however, present problems in these areas.
The following recommendations are made to insure
comfort, physical efficiency, and a sense of well-
being for the people in the Waipio area.
1. That scum control measures be practiced regu-
larly to prevent nuisance and if necessary
automatic equipment be installed for this pur-
pose.
2. That access to the facility in all weather be
provided to assure daily maintenance requirements
are met.
3. That the ponds' be monitored regularly for dis-
solved oxygen and when aerobic conditions no
. longer exist within the upper one-quarter of
the ponds, that the actions recommended in
A-4 be instituted. . .
It is also recommended that the City and County of
Honolulu.seek joint Federal/State/County funding of
construction cost incurred by these recommendations
through the provisions of Section 8 of Public Law 660.
As specified by the Conferees of the Pearl Harbor Pol-
lution Conference, implementation of the above recom-
mendations rests with the City and County of Honolulu,
The Conferees shall meet the representatives of the
City and County of Honolulu by January 15, 1972 to re-
view the progress toward implementation of the above
recommendations.
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APPENDIX A-3
STATEMENT BY OAHU SUGAR COMPANY RELATIVE TO THE USE OF
SEWAGE EFFLUENT FOR SUGAR CANE IRRIGATION - WAIAHOLE DITCH
. We Vrere first approached by engineers of the Oahu Water Quality Study
Consortium last year about our possible use of sewage effluent for irrigation of
; »"
cane. Our response at that time was a qualified yes subject to certain conditions.
..These can be summarized briefly as : ,.
1. Sewage effluent would have to be made available to those areas of .
"... the plantation where such water could be used; . :.
2. Adequate dilution with fresh water would be required to avoid"
* *
' . application of excess nitrogen during the later stages of the cane
. growth (most of the second year of the crop); ;
. 3. The Company could not accept responsibility for the sewage effluent
during non-irrigation periods^particularly, the rainy winter periods.
The Company is the major user of water on Oahu, about 225 mgd, two-
thirds of which is pumped from .the basal ground water at multiple locations.
We have an adequate total supply of water for our needs although water distribu- .
-
tion to some areas of cane is deficient at times. This has been brought about by
loss of cane lands to residential subdivisions, the H-l Highway, etc. and the
replacement in part by the acquisition of new cane lands. Rather than develop
new sources of water, the Company is installing new pumps and pipelines to im-
prove :its distribution capabilities. It is expectable that in future years Oahu
* . ' *
Sugar Company's cane acreage will decrease under pressures of urban encroach-
ment with an accompanying decrease in water requirements.
There is general recognition that the Pearl Harbor basal water supply is
being drawn upon at or near its safe yield potential. Thus, Oahu Sugar Company
is favorably inclined towards any efforts to import water or to recycle fresh water
'" '
-------
(which it now does from the caprock areas of Ewa) or to utilize sewage effluents
for irrigation. It has for a number of years used limited quantities of sewage ;
effluents for sugar cane irrigation, including the effluent from Schofield. While
the quantity of the sewage effluent propos ed for irrigation is not significant to
the plantation's overall present or future needs> it could be put to beneficial
use if discharged to the Waiahole Ditch. But perhaps most important is today's
recognition that water recycling, where feasible, should be carried out. Our
Company has long endorsed this principal. .
The Pearl Harbor Enforcement Conference held in September of this
year unanimously reached various conclusions and recommendations, one of
which involves the Waikele Streaty, viz; . . " .
"7. The City and County of Honolulu shall take the necessary action
. to exclude from the harbor the sewage presently reaching the
*
harbor from the watershed of the Waikele Stream, in accordance
with the following schedule: ... ..' . ' '
:, : a. By December 31, 1971 -- A sewage disposal plan
providing for irrigation or export from the watershed
is to be. selected.
. . ' ' . . ' ~ n
»».«,..«« .
There has been some opinion expressed that the secondary sewage
r \
.effluent discharged by the Schofield treatment plant during non-irrigation periods
of the rainy season could-be tolerated in Pearl Harbor because of the greater
dilution provided by the higher winter stream flows. 'Mr. Murray Stein, Chair-
man of the Enforcement Conference, stated, however, that such discharge would
-------
Our ComvMuy1;; vuivi of llui tiew.'i^e uffluonts from the several sewage treatment
plants discharging into the Waikele Stream watershed is patently a key factor in the
selection of the sewage plan to be determined by December 31, .1971. Subsequent to
the Enforcement Conference, therefore, the Company's staff discussed this problem
at considerable length. We were concerned about (1) the high cost to the taxpayers
for sewerlines to transport sewage to the proposed Hdnouliuli treatment plant (e.g.,..
the estimated cost for the Schofield sewerline alone is $7 million) and (2) the waste .
'of a natural resource by failure to recycle the sewage effluent for irrigation.
We concluded that we could meet the.two concerns stated above as well as the
Enforcement Conference conclusions and recommendations under the following
conditions: ', -. . '
1. That Oahu Sugar Company will accept the sewage effluents (secondary
treatment) of the several'sewage dischargers into the Waikele Stream
drainage system if delivered to our Waiahole Ditch up to a maximum
of 10 mgd (possibly more if further research shows that a lesser
dilution ratio will not adversely affect yields of sugar); .
2. That Oahu Sugar Company will spread said sewage effluents and the
Waiahole Ditch water on its fields on a 7-day a week.basis and during
non-irrigation periods so as to avoid ultimate discharge into Pearl
Harbor. . _
3. That the dischargers will provide temporary storage above our
Waiahole Ditch with gravity discharge to the Ditch to store sewage
effluents for those several days each year when heavy rainfall occurs
to the extent that runoff may occur from our fields (estimated at
three to four days storage requirements); .
-------
That Oahu Sugar Company'is commitment to accept this sewage effluent
'
will continue as long as the Company continues its sugar cane cultiva-
tion served by the Waiahole Ditch (estimated, but not guaranteed, to
be for the next twenty-three years.) .
Our analysis indicates that over the long run the value of the sewage
effluents for irrigation use will be more or less offset.by the costs of spreading the
Waiahole water sewage effluents when not needed for irrigation. Initially, we
expect our costs to exceed the benefits but as the sewage effluents increase with
increased expansion of Mililani Town and the WaipjLo developments the pendulum
should swing in the other direction. .Accordingly, we do not consider this proposal
as a bonanza to our Company but rather as a break-even proposition from an
^onomic standpoint. We think that the final decision on this proposal must be
based on the premise of not expending unnecessary public funds and the desirabi- ' .
lity of recycling natural resources as weighed against the possible hazard to our
ground water resources. ' : " . .' ' ' ' . . . .
..'.'>' " * . ' .
November 1971 ; .. . .. ... ..... .
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:.. APPENDIX A-4
OAHU SUGAR COMPANY LTD. AN cftonfoc COMPANY
P.O. 80X "0" ' /
WAIPAHU. HAWAII 96797
TELEPHONE 677-3577 December 29, 1971
Conferees,
Enforcement Conference on Pearl Harbor
September 21-23, 1971
Honolulu, Hawaii
1} Dr. Walter B. Quisenberry,. Director of Health
Department of Health :
State of Hawaii .
P.O. Box 3378
Honolulu, HI 96801, .
(Through Mr. L. Russell Freeman
Director, Pacific Island Basins Office
Environmental Protection Agency
1481 S. King Street
Honolviu, Hawaii 96814) .
2) Mr. Murray Stein,
Chief Enforcement Officer
Environmental Protection Agency,
.3) Mr. Richard L. O'.Connell
Enforcement Officer
Region IX
Environmental Protection Agency
i
Gentlemen:
REPORT - DECEMBER 31. 1971
ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE ON PEARL HARBOR
Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 13 of the conclusions and
recommendations of the Conferees of the Enforcement Conference on Pearl
Harbor we submit herewith our program for the abatement of irrigation
tailwater into Pearl Harbor and its tributaries and the control of soil erosion.
Paragraph 13 is quoted herewith:
"The Oahu Sugar Company shall, by December 31, 1971, subm.it
to EPA and SDOH an acceptable program including a time schedule
of actions leading toward a) the elimination of mill waste and tail-
water discharges to Pearl Harbor or its tributaries, and b) control
of soil erosion from their lands to the maximum feasible extent.
-------
o o
Report - Deccniuor 31, 1971 ' Pago 2
Enforcement Conference on Pearl Harbor December 29, 1971
Our pi'0£iMiii as presented herewith is divided into two operational plans;
(1) Soil and Water Conservation Plan and (2) Water Pollution Abatement Plan.
Various Exhibits are included, and will be referred to in the text by number.
Some are attached to this report and the others included separately as a
supplement to the text. ;
Before going into the detail of the plans, a brief description of Oahu Sugar
Company and some of its operations are included as background for better
understanding of the material to follow.. . . . '
INTRODUCTION
Oahu Sugar Company started its farming operations in 1897 and has continued
. the cultivation and milling of sugarcane without cessation since that date.
Last year Oahu Sugar Company acquired Ewa Plantation Company resulting in
almost doubling the size of its cane acreage and sugar production. The cane
lands are located adjacent to and above Pearl Harbor, principally, West Loch.
They represent approximately 19,950 acres of a total of some 35, 000 acres of
land under the Company's control, and produce 120,000 tons of 96° sugar a
year.
To serve these lands with needed irrigation water, the Company operates 26
pumping stations with 51 pumps and a gravity system that brings mountain
water from the windward side of Oahu through the Koolau Range. Thirty-four
pumps derive their water from artesian or basal sources, 14 pumps obtain
.water from the caprock and 3 pumps divert water from Waikele Stream. The
yearly average of pumped water is about 195 mgd and that of the gravity water
is about 32 mgd. or a total of approximately 227 mgd. Essentially all of this
water is used for irrigation with about 25. 0 mgd. being largely recycled water
which is first used for condenser cooling, mill processing and finally cane
washing in the Waipahu and Ewa mills. (In 1972 the Ewa Mill will be closed
down and all cane will be processed by the Waipahu Mill.)
No cane trash or bagasse (fiber residue of the cane stalk ) is discharged into
Pearl Harbor or any of its tributaries. Bagasse is burned as fuel to produce
steam and the rocks and cane trash are used for land fill. The principal
problem insofar as water pollution is concerned is irrigation tailwater. «
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
Oahu Sugar Company has long been a cooperating member of the West Oahu
Conservation District, and, more often than not, one of its staff members
has served as Chairman of the District. Much valuable assistance and
guidance has been received from the District and from personnel of the Soil
Conservation Service with the result that many of the plantation practices
-------
i\cport - Dcccmuer Ji, IV < i
Enforcement Conference on Pearl Harbor December 29, 1971
Sugarcane is planted cross-slope in relatively deep furrows at maximum 1-1/2
percent grades. This practice prevents sheet runoff and, except in unusually
heavy rainfalls, no runoff at all occurs from the fields. The "cloddy" type
surface of the prepared fields with the prevailing high porosity soils provide
optimum intake capabilities to absorb rainfall. Photograph "A", Exhibit I,
shows the typical "contour furrows" of a recently planted field with the cane
shoots just beginning to emerge in the bottom of. the furrdws.
Sugarcane in Hawaii is normally a two-year crop with plowing, harrowing, and
new planting taking place about every eight years. In the intervening two-year
. cycles the land is only "reshaped" to renew the furrows permitting the cane to
sprout up from the undisturbed roots left after harvesting. Planting and reshap-
ing take place as soon as possible after harvesting so" that the fields are "open"
for a minimum of time. In four to five months the cane "closes in" to form a
canopy to further protect the soil from heavy rainfall.
Sugarcane, as locally cultivated and harvested, is a very effective crop for
retention of rainfall and prevention of soil erosion. This is borne out by the
runoff studies conducted at the Waialua Sugar Company on Oahu by the Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration in 1967-69- ("The Hawaii Sugar
Industry Waste Study", Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, San
Francisco, California, pages 97-104.)
Most of the plantation's supply ditches are cement-lined or have cut-stone
linings. Economics no longer make it possible to install cut-stone linings but
"we have had for many years a program of "guniting" ditches with cement
mortar for soil erosion and water percolation control. Photograph "B",
Exhibit I, shows a mortar lined ditch installed in 1970. Photograph "C" shows
a section of a lined ditch bordering a cane field. This ditch serves not only
to convey water but also to retain soil in the field and catch any runoff that
might occur from the field.
Some thirty reservoirs of various capacities are used for water use regulation
in the irrigation system. Several of these also provide some retention and
regulation of storm flows together with some retention of settleable solids.
Reservoir banks are grassed for erosion protection as are most of the unlined
ditches. Kikuyu grass and nut grass have been found favorable for these
purposes. . ;
Soil removed from the cane by the cleaning plants and recovered by cyclones
and a hydro-separator have been used for years to reclaim waste lands and
bring them into productive use. Also leaf trash from the mills has been used
for similar reclaimingof lands. Several hundreds of acres of such waste lands
have been reclaimed to date and many additional acres made more productive
by these reclamation procedures.
« '
' . ' -47- ' '
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: o ; o
Report - December 31, 1971 . Page 4
Enforcement Conference nn Pearl Harbor December 29. 1971
Our Company has for many years made use of recycled water--both the cane
wash water from the mills after soil-removal treatment and sewage effluents.
We do this not only to supplement our water supply for irrigation but we
sincerely believe in the principle of conservation of our natural resources.
We have worked with the engineers in their preparation of the Oahu Water
Quality Program as to methods and means of using sewage effluents in our
irrigation system. We have also cooperated fully with the City and County
of Honolulu in their plans for eliminating sewage treatment plant effluents
entering Pearl Harbor. The use of sewage plant effluents for sugarcane
irrigation in the "Central Oahu Sewer System - Waikele Stream Watershed"
is one of the alternatives in Paragraph 7 of the Conferees Conclusions and
Recommendations of the Enforcement Conference on Pearl Harbor. As
evidence of our willingness to cooperate in this respect we submit herewith "
as Exhibit II the letter to Mr. Murray Stein, Chief Enforcement Officer,
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D. C. from Mr. Albert C.
Zane, Director and Chief Engineer, Department of Public Works, City and
County of Honolulu (December 1971.)
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
We recognize the need for water pollution control and have long been concerned
with finding the best solutions. Representatives of Oahu Sugar Company have
participated in and attended numerous hearings, conferences, meetings and
'seminars on water pollution control since 1965 when the Board of Health, regu-
. lations on water pollution control were first being considered. One of our
staff members is currently a member of the Pearl Harbor Task Force.
Oahu Sugar Company has complied with all of the requirements of the State
Department of Health pursuant to Chapters 37 and 37-A. On December 21,
1971 the "Plans and Specifications" implementation report covering our
irrigation tailwater discharges was submitted to the State Department of
Health. Applications for our three mill discharges at Waipahu, and the sub-
mission of the required waste water parameter analyses, have been made
to the Corps of Engineers pursuant to the 1899 Refuse Act.
Our main source of water pollution originates in the cane cleaning plant where
soil brought in with the harvested cane is removed by washing of the cane
stalks with water sprays. Since this water is recycled for use in cane irriga-
tion the pollution problem is transferred to the tail-ends of the irrigation
system.. ...
-43-
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xoi: *' Ji, i)tl ^~ ' i"'agO J
Enforcement Conference on Pearl Harbor December 29, 1971
In irrigating cane, it is necessary to convey the water to the last row of cane
until such time as sufficient water has percolated into the soil. This inevitably1
results in some tailwater discharge which can be kept to a minimum through
careful water handling by experienced and well-trained irrigators. For higher
fields the tailwater can be conveyed to lower fields for reuse in irrigating.
However, for the lowest fields, and for those fields bordering gulches and for
the perimeter fields of Waipio Peninsula, the tailwater must be contained or
treated in sedimentation ponds before being discharged.
At the Waipahu Mill, the cane wash water (about 16. 5 mgd) is passed through
36 cyclones \vhich remove up to about 65 percent of the soil particles. These
soil particles are then pumped as a mud slurry to settling ponds on Waipio
Peninsula. After drying, this soil is used for land reclamation work. The
cane wash water, after passing through the cyclones, is used for irrigation on
Waipio Peninsula where most of the settleable solids settle out in the cane
furrows. The tailwater at the ends of the fields, however, still contains a
small percentage of the settleable solids and suspended collodial material which
imparts a reddish-brown color to the water. In the upper fields, the water which
is of good quality initially, picks up fine soil particles as it passes through the
furrows--a reverse process to that which takes place with the cane wash water
used for irrigation on Waipio Peninsula.
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PLAN
(Prepared in cooperation with the West Oahu Soil
& Water Conservation District)
t
Land use is approximately as follows:
Sugarcane - 19,950 acres.
Contributory Land (village, camp, residence, factory, office,
ponds, haul roads, private road rights-of-way) - 2,513 acres.
Woodland - 7,985 acres.
Pasture - 412 acres.
Miscellaneous (unused gulches, palis, gravel pits, etc.) - 4,406 acres.
Leased Out Land - 1,372 acres.
': .
CONSERVATION PLAN
Revised December 1971
In order to provide for the protection and conservation of soil and water
resources, practices as described below will be applied as rapidly as harvest
and-replant schedules will permit. ' .
.' * I
-44- ' .
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iVcport - December 31, 1971 Page
Enforcement Conference on Pearl Harbor December 29, 1971
Specific practices for each field will be designed and installed as the fields
are scheduled to be replanted. This will be done a few days after harvest by
plantation personnel assisted by Soil Conservation Service technicians on re-
quest.
Conservation practices to be applied are as described below by land uso.
CANELAND:
1. Protective Cover;
Crop residue management to maintain as much cane trash as possible '
on the surface. Reduce or eliminate liliko raking on steep slopes and
hilly areas. Weed control practices modified to maintain grass on
drainage ditch and gulch banks.
2. Minimum Tillage - Weed Control:
. Ratoon fields--no discing or harrowing--the only tillage will be opening
small furrows for seed in replant spots and interline subsoiling.
Plant fields--surface tillage reduced to the minimum necessary for good
cane growth. Maintain surface in cloddy and trashy condition after plant-
ing.
3. Contour Farming:
i
Cane lines are planted in furrows on a graded contour. This grade is
generally 1-1/2 percent or less. This reduces erosion and makes better
use of irrigation water. .
*
4. Sodded Waterways:
Where natural drainages cannot be controlled by other practices and
where needed to serve as outlets for diver sions where natural outlets
are not available. Plant pangola or kikuyu grass on 21 by 2' or closer
spacing and fertilize for quick establishment.
Constructed waterways will be designed as needed and mowed as needed
to maintain capacity and condition.
5. Irrigation Water Management:
Irrigation water will be managed at a rate and in such a manner that the
crop can use it efficiently and that significant erosion does not occur.
6. Irrigation Ditch Lining;
Lining ditches with impervious material to conserve water.
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y o . o
Report - December 31, 1971 Page 6
Enforcement Conference on Pearl Harbor December *29i 1971
8. Debris and Sediment Ponds or Basins:
Pits, ponds or dams constructed on water courses to trap and remove silt
and sediment carried by drainage water.
9. I\v.-.v>:';' Control System;
In-field diversions will be designed and built to carry runoff from the
fields to natural gulches or constructed sodded waterways. In favorable
topography, diversions will be spaced at 400 to 600 foot intervals. On
irregular topography, they will be located to take advantage of the most
favorable conditions for alignment, side slopes, and outlet. Outlets will
be protected where necessary by sodding or structures, as required.
10. Retirement from Cultivation:
Areas of land with slopes over 20%, which are not practical to improve
by land shaping, will be retired from.cultivation as soon as plantation
economics will permit. Land use will be determined at that time.
11. Other:
Improved harvesting methods being developed by the industry are expected
to reduce field damage and leave more cover on the land. These benefits
will be included in evaluation by the plantation of harvesting machines or
other proposed changes in present operating methods.
PASTURELAND:
Pastureland owned by the plantation is leased to private livestock operators.
These leases will require that a good cover of grass be kept on the land and
noxious weeds controlled.
CONSERVATION TREATMENT UNIT NO. 1 .
Mapping Unit Symbols are: EmA, HeA, HxA, KmbA, KmA, KiA, KyA, KlaA,
LuA, LvA, MuA, MvA, PhA, Ph, WaA,:: WkA, WzA.
: '
This unit is located on nearly level land. Slopes generally are from 0 to 3
percent. Crop residue management and good farming practices are adequate
to control erosion.
CONSERVATION TREATMENT UNIT NO. 2 '
Mapping Unit Symbols are: EaB, EmB, EuB, HnB, HeB, HxB, KfB, KiB, KiaB,
-------
o o
Report - Doccmbcr 31, 1971 Page 7
Enforcement Conference on Pearl Harbor December 29, 1971
This unit is located on gentle slopes ranging from 3 to 8 percent. Erosion
hazard is slight.
Conservation practices needed are crop residue management, cross slope
farming, grassed waterways as needed, diversion terraces as needed, and
irrigation water management. ' .
CONSERVATION TREATMENT UNIT NO. 3
Mapping Unit Symbols are: EaC, EuC, JaC, KlaC, KiC, KyC, KiaC, KuC, KibC,
LaC, LaC3, LeC, MuC, MpC, MnC, MaC2, PbC, WaC, WvsC.
This unit includes slopes ranging from 8 to 15 percent. Erosion hazard is
slight to moderate. .
Conservation, practices needed are crop residue management, cross slope
farming, diversion terraces spaced at regular intervals as needed, grassed
waterways and outlets, and irrigation wate~r management.
CONSERVATION TREATMENT UNIT NO. 4
Mapping Unit Symbols are: KuD, KpD, MpO, MpD2, MuD, MoDZ, McD2.
This unit includes slopes ranging from 15 to 25 percent. Erosion hazard is
moderate.
Conservation practices needed are contour farming, crop residue management,
forage cycle cropping with as many ratoon crops as possible. Minimum dozing
during harvesting. Minimum tillage at all times.
CONSERVATION TREATMENT UNIT NO. 5
Mapping Unit Symbols are: rsY, rsT, LpE, Fd, Fl, 2sy, cR, HCMC, 2HEB,
KpE, McF2. NRK, HeB, TR.
'..
This land is generally not used for cropland. It can be safely used for grass,
trees and other non-crop uses. It should be protected from burning. A good
vegetative cover should be maintained. '
Supplementary Exhibit A- Waipahu Quadrangle - Land Use Map.
" " B- " " Conservation Treatment Units
11 . " C - Schofield " Land Use Map
-------
Deport - December 31, 1VV1 Pagc 3
SiU'orcement Conference on Pearl-Harbor December 29» 1971
Supplementary Exhibit E - Puuloa Quadrangle Land Use Map
11 " F - " " Conservation Treatment Units
11 " G - Ewa " . Land Use Map
" " . H - " " Conservation Treatment Units
" "I - Layout of Canefields in Waipahu Section
" ' H j . Water system layout and locations of pumps
and reservoirs in Waipahu Section
11 " K - Layout of canefields and'the locations of pumps
and reservoirs in Ewa Section
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT PLAN
Almost four years ago the Company constructed its first experimental sump
for removal of settleable solids from irrigation tailwater. The findings showed
that settleable solids could be effectively removed but the fine colloidal soil
particles including color could not be removed except after a long retention
period.
Chemical treatment of the irrigation tailwaters was considered as was also
the installation of pumps to pump the tailwater back to the interiors of the
fields or to reservoirs. Because of the large number of potential irrigation
tailwater discharge points, it was found that these methods were not feasible
solutions. It was concluded that the answer lay in containment of the irriga- .
tion tailwate rs.
To this end we have embarked on a program of constructing sumps and
ponds as needed to contain the irrigation tailwaters with final disposal of such
waters depending on percolation and evaporation. To reduce the tailwater
discharges from the fields, a program was inaugurated to train the irrigators
and their supervisors in methods of operations best suited to minimize tail-
water discharges. This also brought out the need to make changes in some
ditch distribution systems and the improvement and rearrangement of some
gate installation.
Irrigation intervals (except during the rainy, winter season) range from about
10 days to 20 days. For small fields tailwater discharge may occur only
ouce in every two weeks or so. For larger fields, depending on the topography
and size of the field, tailwater discharges may occur on an average of every
two or three days. The quantity of the discharge depends on many factors,
among which are the size of the area served, the topography of the land, soil
porosity and the skill of the irri gator in handling his irrigation flow. The
rate of flow and time of flow of irrigation tailwaters are quite variable. Ex-
in unusual circumstances, they will range between about 50 gpm and 150
-------
o . o
- December 31, 1971 Page 9
Enforcement Conference on Pearl Harbor December 29. 1971
Because of the many variables involved precise engineering design of the
containment ponds is not very practicable and construction is usually deter-.
mined in the field based on field layout data and operating judgment. First
consideration is given to ditching and field edge diking to combine discharge
points into one sump or pond. Sumps, as considered herein, are excavations
dug by bulldozers in level ground to about the width of a bulldozer blade. The
smallest may be about 14 feet wide, 150 feet long and 10 or more feet deep.
Ponds arc usually constructed in the low point of a cane field by excavating
and using the material for diking around the pond. They may be relatively
small or up to two acres in size.
Several of the sumps constructed on Waipio Peninsula have proven to be
inadequate, primarily because of poor (impermeable) soil conditions. These
have been, or will be, either enlarged or moved to other sites with mor e
permeable soil.
Photographs "D" and "E" of Exhibit I, show examples of a sump and a large
pond, located on Waipio Peninsula respectively adjacent to West Loch and
Walker Bay. . : .
Work completed to date;
27 sumps and ponds completed
3 ponds partly completed .
20 discharge points eliminated by ditching and/or field edge diking
to combine with other discharge points
Work to be completed - 1972-73:
9 sumps or ponds presently planned
2 sumps to be eliminated with the construction of the Walker Bay
Stabilization Pond
4 Sumps to be enlarged or relocated
12 discharge points to be corrected by ditching, field edge diking
and/or the construction of sumps or ponds. (For the most part
these corrections cannot be finally determined until the canefields
are harvested in 1972.)
The figures listed above indicate that a total of about 12 to 14 sumps or.ponds
remain to be constructed, all of which are scheduled for completion in 1972-73.
Supplementary Exhibit L shows the location of sumps and ponds and the
discharge points yet to be corrected. .. '
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o o
Report - licccnibcr 31, l'>71 Pago 10
Enforcement Conference on Pearl Harbor December 29, 1971
Walker Bay Stabilization Pond and Wild Bird Sanctuary
This pond will be made by constructing a dike (or darn) across Walker Bay
to provide a surface aroa of approximitcly 15 acres. This pond, as a com-
bination wild bird sanctuary and brackish water stabilization pond, was
first proposed by a representative of the U.S. Department of Interior about
two years ago during a tour of Waipio Peninsula with U. S. Navy officials.
The State has also indicated interest in this pond as a partial replacement
for the wild bird habitats which will be eliminated by the construction of the
new Honolulu Airport reef runway recently approved by the State Department
of Land and Natural Resources.
The pond will provide ample capacity at minimum velocities to achieve near
100 percent removal of settleable solids and practically all of the fine suspended
solids ax d color. We believe that with the large volume of water and extensive
surface area involved in this pond there will be no problem of oxygen deple-
tion. Also, we believe the level of bacterial concentration in the overflow
water from the pond will be reduced to or below acceptable limits.
The site of the proposed dam is shown on Supplementary Exhibit L. The
profile of the Bay bottom based on soundings made last February is shown
on Exhibit III. Typical cross-sections are shown in Exhibit IV. The dam
will be approximately 1000 feet long with a 15-foot width at the top and a
two-foot freeboard above high tide. Adequate gate controlled spillways will
be provided. It is estimated that 1'6, 000 cubic yards of material will be
required for construction at an estimated cost of $20, 000.
The U. S. -Navy has given us tentative approval for this project. Approvals
from the State Department of Health and the Corps of Engineers are yet to be -
obtained. Barring any problems in obtaining approval of this project we
expect to complete the project by not later than December 31, 1973.
Additional Project
We are also installing a 10. 0 mgd pump and pipeline to make possible the
pumping of additional water, including 5. 0 mgd of mill washwater, to the
"upper irrigation system." This will reduce the quantity of wash water going
to the Waipio Peninsula which is sometimes in excess of our needs during
periods of rain or when sizeable acreages of cane are on "ripening" or being
harvested. The estimated cost of this project for water pollution control is
in excess of $100, 000. Photograph "F", Exhibit I, shows this pipeline under
construction (1971). . . .
-50-
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- December 31, 1971 Page 11
Enforcement Conference on Pearl Harbor December 29, 1971
The above describes in some detail our on-going program for the elimination
of mill waste and tailwater discharges to Pearl Harbor and its tributaries
and the control of soil erosion from our lands. We trust that the information
provided herein will meet with your acceptance and approval.
Very truly yours,
OAHU SUGAR COMPANY, LIMITED
John T. Humme
Vice President - Manager
LHH: cla
Enclosures
-51-
-------
o
o
<
-i wi!
1
'i
:l>.
T
.1
/'I
v.-:
:.r ; '.,-.;," 'V '... ..'.
.' ..- ' ' ;. '-,', * . '
PHOTOGRAPH "E" Large pond on Waipio Peninsula
for containment of irrigation tailwater.
*' ' ' >** ' .....
r '-y ' "7>v:';;":""'^'':':
'' : >... . ^i.. . , .. ' :
'\
rilOTOCRAl'H "K» Pump //2 pipeline undor
conotruotion - 1971.
-52-
-------
X
' '' ' ''
PHOTOGRAPH "C" Lined ditch bordering cnnofield
showing protection against soil erosion and
runoff. . « .
I'iiUTOi'.KAl'll "D" o»iiuy> on Wu:i)»:io reni.nrju.la for
containment of irrigation tailwator.
-53-
IC/II NUT
-------
o
o
PHOTOGRAPH "A" "Contour furrows" of prepared
cane field showing cross-slope cultivation.
r?
i
f
i;
*'.
:;%
&
<\PH "13" "Gunito" lininr. inatallod in
-------
J
::-/
WEST LOCH
^/!:^y
J^J'il*' ^
WMPIO STABILTZATICN PCWDS
V7AIPAHU INdNERKTOR
QAHU SUGAR
PEARL CI1Y STP
-------
APPENDIX C
DESIGN CRITERIA AND CALCULATIONS
FOR THE WAIPIO WASTE STABILIZATION PONDS
WAIPIO WASTE STABILIZATION PONDS
DESIGN DATA
Qave
Qpeak
BODs
Susp. Solids
Pond Area
Pond Depth
BOD Applied
Detention Pd
Cl Contact Tank
Cl Det. Time
Cl Dosage
Cl Dosage
2.4 mgd
5.2 mgd
200 mg/1
150 mg/1
10.2 ac
4 ft.
4000 Ib/day
390 Ib/acre/day
5.2 days
3100 cu. ft.
15 minutes
10 ppm
192 Ib/day
-56-
-------
Req'd Volume
W. W. Eckenfelder Jr. and D. J. O1Conner
"Biological Waste Treatment" p. 191
V = (5.37 x 10~8 x Nq x Y x 1.07235"T)
V = Lagoon volume in acre ft.
Nq = Sewage flow in gal/day
Y = Influent BOD in ppm
T = Temp in °C. 86°F = 30°C
V = 5.37 x 10~8 x 2.4 x 106 x 200 x 1.07235"30
= 5.37 x 10~2 x 2.4 x 200 x 1.416
= 5.37 x 2.4 x 2 x 1.41
=36.5 acre ft.
-57-
-------
Lagoon Area Req'd
D = 21 A = 36.3 = 18.7 Ac
2
D = 31 A = 36.3 = 12.1 Ac
D = 3.5 A = 36.3 = 10 .3 Ac
375-
D = 4 A = 36.3 = 9.1 Ac
If Area is 10.2 acres and D = 41
V=10.2x4 = 40.8 acre ft.
BOD Applied
BOD = 200 x 10"6 x 2.4 x 106 x 8.3 = 4000 #/
-------
Recheck Design
Actual BOD = 160 ppm
V = 5.37 x 10"8 x 2.4 x 106 x 160 x 1.41
= 5.37 x 2.4 x 1.6 x 1.41
=29.1 acre ft.
If A = 10.2 and D = 4.0 V = 40.8 Ac ft. provided
-59-
-------
APPENDIX D-l
Table I. Schedule of Changes in Depth of Waipio Ponds:
Date Depth of Pond I* Depth of Pond II*
Start-Up 12/14/71 4 Ft. 4 Ft.
12/15/71 2/14/72 3 Ft. 3 Ft.
2/15/72 7/12/72 4 Ft. 4 Ft.
7/13/72 Present 5 Ft. 4 Ft.
* These depths are relative to the original design
elevation of the bottoms of the ponds and do not
take into consideration any accumulation of sediments.
Table II. Sizes and Loading Characteristics of Waipio Ponds:
Pond I Pond II
Surface Area (acres) 5.03 5.46
Depth (feet) 5.0 4.0
Volume (acre-feet) 23.6 20.8
Volume (cubic feet) 1,027,000 906,500
Flow (mgd) 2.4
Detention Time (days) 3.2 2.82
Influent BODs (mg/1) 160
BOD5 Loading Rate
(Ib/acre/day) 681
-60-
-------
APPENDIX D-l (Cont.)
Table III. Addition of Sodium Nitrate:
Date
1/4/72
1/11/72
3/23/72
3/30/72
3/31/72
Present
NaN©3 Addition
2900 Ib.
2600 Ib.
2000 Ib.
2000 Ib.
300 Ib. daily
Method of
Dispersion
Scattered over
surface of Pond I
Scattered over
surface of Pond I
Scattered over
surface of Pond I
Scattered over
surface of Pond I
100 Ib. at Waipahu
pumping station
200 Ib. on surface
of Pond I
-61-
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. APPENDIX D-2
Summary of Data
Waipio Waste Stabilization Ponds
September 27, 1971 November 6, 1972
Analyses By The City & County of Honolulu
Pond I Effluent
Low
tgh
dian
Average
Pond II Effluent
Low
High
Median
Average
Chlorine Cont.
Cha. Effl.
Low
High
Median
Average
BODs
No
Aeration
9/27-4/18
83
144
123
121
74
113
96
95
78
120
95.5
96
3/4-inch
Pipes Added
4/18-9/5
92
156
120
121
63
113
95
93
36
111
84
80
1%-inch
Pipes Added
9/5-11/6
84
136
107
106
63
110
83
84
45
83
62.5
63
Suspended Solids
No
Aeration
9/27-4/18
14
65
38
39
12
60
36
34
12
56
32
32
3/4-inch
Pipes Added
4/18-9/5
16
88
36
41
16
116
36
41
8
72
36
37
1^-inch
Pipes Added
9/5-11/6
12
72
32
33
12
60
32
33
8
72
32
34
-62-
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MEDDLE
IDCH
£r-?Si Ewa end of Pond #1
E^Sewage leaving #l?ond to //2. Pon^
C-Before contact chamber
D-Pond effluent-contact chamber
E-lCOyds.below contact chamber
F-lOOyds. from Middle .Loch
G-Outlet Middle Loch ' s": '
DATE/SAMPLING P03UT A
Road'V/ay
B C D E F G
Dissolved Oxygen (PPM)
0.0
0.0 0.0
1.8 0.0 0.0. 1.3 0.0
0.0 ' 0.5
0-0 1.6 3.4 2.2
o
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-------
JOB
No._7_2iA
P. O. BOX 43. HONOLULU. HAWAII OGS10, TELEPHONE S32-441 1 D/iTF 08-10-71
LABORATORY
TO:
SAMPLES OF:
PAGE . OP
ANALYSIS REPORT
. .Oahu Sugar Company ATTW . Mr. L. Herschler
SAMPLING DATE:
SAMPLED BY:
REMARKS:
08-05-71 T1ME. A.M. RECSIPTDATE Oo-0o-/i T|ME A. K.
Client SAMPLE TYPE.- GRAB t^ COMPOSITE PERIOD
CLIENT SAMPLE NO.
LABORATORY SAMPLE NO.
SAMPLE DESCRIPTION
BOB 5 ' klg/1
COD big /I
Total Solids tnsr/1
Volatile Solids !m/;»//
:
,
13
^«-:/:^7
5. 1
82. 0
458
90
438
18
1.44
4.00
2.44
2.23
53.0
0
<100
<100
7. 34
.-,/'- /'WHVi
14
^:V.v-,-7^'
372
1480
2412
898
644
1635
28. 50
13. 60
8. SIT
7. 50
52. 0
83
10, 000, OOC
3,000;00(
6.38
.
'15
. /VY-/ a,--^
1731 ' j
5440
27,814
7138
27,600 .
301
350. 00
46.40
25.40
26. 80
235. 6
205
> 12, -000. OOC
) 6, 000, Q0(
6, 85
16
2-1 t;r L\''-'. t ii
67.2
1210
564
388
529
A
0. 80
20. 20
1 7.30
0. 60
90. 0
5
) 600
) 200
7.00
/
.
I
LABORATORY REMARKS:
Or?anic Carbon, determination shall b
-------
APPENDIX F
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPORT ON OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
DATE OF INSPECTION
Form Approved
OMB No. /58-R0035
A. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. PLANT
(a.) NAME
(b.) OWNER
(c.) LOCATION
., ' /- " ' 'I''
2. TYPE OF PLANT
3. PROJECT NO.
4. AVG. DESIGN FLOW (m&d)
S. DESIGN POPULATION
EQUIVALENT
6.
COLLECTION SYSTEM
COMBINED
SEPARATE
BOTH
7. DATE PRESENT PLANT BEGAN OPERATING
8. STATE PERMIT NO.
9. IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW, FURNISH A SIMPLIFIED FLOW DIAGRAM OR A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT UNITS IN
FLOW SEQUENCE. ,
Collection
irifc Lsr^fill
-------
C. PLANT PERFORMANCE '- '
1. LABORATORY AN ALYSIS (Total plant)
MONTHLY ITEMS
(b.)
SELECT DATA
FROM MONTH
H A VING MAXI-
MUM AVG FLOW
I
MONTH YEAR
SELECT DATA
FROM MONTH
HAVING MINI-
MUM AVG FLOW
I
MONTH YEAR
MONTHLY
AVERAGE FLOW
DAY OF MAX FLOW
(dote)
DAY OFMfN FLOW
(data)
MONTHL Y
AVERAGE FLOW
DAY OF MAX FLOW
DAY OF MIN FLOW
FLOW
(MOD)
(a.) REPORTING PERIOD \ .
FROM (Month, day, year)
SETTLEABLE SOLIDS
(ml/1)
(c.)
INFLU-
ENT
EFFLU-
ENT
% RE-
MOVAL
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
(mg/1)
(d.)
INFLU-
ENT
EFFLU-
ENT
% RE-
MOVAL
TO (Munth, day, year)
BOD5 (me/1)
(c.)
INFLU-
ENT
AFFLU-
ENT
7. RE.
MOVAL
PHOSPHORUS AS
TOTAL P (mg/l)
(f.)
INFLU-
ENT
EFFLU.
ENT
% RE-
MOVAL
NITROGEN AS N (mg/1)
(g->
INFLU-
ENT
EFFLU-
ENT
% RE-
MOVAL
2. LABORATORY ANALYSIS (Effluent Only) .
(a.)
SELECT DATA
FROM MONTH
HAVING MAXI-
MUM AVG FLOW
1
MONTH YEAR
SELECT DATA
FROM MONTH
HAVING MINI-
MUM AVG FLOW
1
MONTH YEAR
..
MONTHLY
AVERAGE FLOW
DAY OF MAX FLOW
frtntn)
DAY OF MIN FLOW
(date)
MONTHLY
AVERAGE FLOW
DAY OF MAX FLOW
DAY OF MIN FLOW
FLOW
(MOD)
(f.) ARE EFFLUENT STANDARDS ESTABLISHED?
r]YEs n^°
(b.)
DO
fae/i)
(c.)
CHLORINE
RESIDUALfmg/O
.
-.- '
(d.)
COLIFORM (Per 100 ml)
TOTAL
FECAL
(g.) ARE EFFLUENT STANDARDS BEING MET?
I | YES | | NO
(«)
OTHER
(h.) ARE MONTHLY OPERATING RECORDS FILED WITH STATE
AGENCY? DYES CD NO
EPA Form 7500-5 (4-72) PAGE 2
CPOt 1872-722-005
-------
3. DOES PLANT HAVE ALTERNATE ELECTRIC POWER SOURCE? 4. ADEQUATE ALARM
f C^JUAL FEED CD GENERATOR QjNONE FAILURES? [~
5. EQUIPMENT PROGRAM ADEQUATE INADEQUATE 6. IS PL
(a.) ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES
(b.) RECORDS OF MAINTEN ANCE, REP AIRS & REPLCMT ., £7J
(c.) SPARE PARTS INVENTORY
8. DOES SEWAGE BY-PASS 9. AGENCIES NOTIFIED OF EACH BYPASS
PLANT IN DRY
WEATHER?
CD YES c5 NO CSC ni vision of S^ars ; State Board of
10. BYPASS FREQUENCY 11. AVG DURATION OF 12. REASON FOR BYPASSING
{Monthly) / BYPASS (Hrs;
SYSTEM FOR POWER OR EQUIPMENT
} YES CD NO
ANT EFFLUENT 7. DOES SEWAGE BY-PASS
G CHLORINATED? PLANT IN WET WEATHER'
YES Q NO CDYES I I NO
: Health
13. CAN BYPASS SEWAGE BE
CHLORINATED? CD Y Es CD NO
14. DO SEWER OVERFLOWS OCCUR IS. ANY ODOR COMPLAINTS BEYOND PLANT PROPERTY? (11 yes, explain)
UPSTREAM OF PLANT?
CD YES Q NO ,_^
16. OBSERVED APPEARANCE OF EFFLUENT, RECEIVING STREAM OR DRAINAGE WAY
17. IS A CONSULTING ENGINEER RETAINED OR AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION ON OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS?
CDYES CD NO (11 yes, check one' ol the tallowing) CD CON TINUI NG B ASES CD R EQU EST B ASES
18. DO OPERATORS AND OTHER PERSONNEL ROUTINELY ATTEND SHORT 19. IS LAE
COURSES, SCHOOL OR OTHER TRAINING? QYES CD NO REQU
AND U
(a.) If yes. cite course sponsor, and date of last course.
CD YE
C & C of Ponolulu am Center for Covernrrcntal
>^volcprcent 7-17-72 through 7-28-72
(b.) If no, are there any courses available in this area?
(c.) Is there an established procedure for training new operators?
3 TESTING ADEQUATE FOR THE CONTROL
RED FOR THIS SIZE AND TYPE OF PLANT
SES OF RECEIVING WATERS?
S CD NO (It No, explain)
20. EXPLAIN MAIN DIFFICULTY EXPERIENCED WITH INDUSTRIAL WASTES
21. PERMANENT RECORD FILE
(a.) PLANT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL? CDYESCDNO (b.) AS BU 1 LT PL ANS AN D SPECI FIC ATIONS? CDYESCDNO
(c.) MANUFACTURERS OPERATION 4 MAINTENANCE SPECIFICATIONS? Q Y ES CD NO (d.) FLOW CHARTS? CDYES | | NO
22. ESTIMATED WEEKLY MAN-HOURS FOR LAB WORK INCLUDING MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS AND PREPARATION OF REPORTS
23. ANNUAL BUDGET FOR MAINTAINING AND OPERATING PLANT
SALARIES & WAGES ELECTRICITY CHEMICALS MAINTENANCE STAFFING & TRX
'. , .'';;/-.-, -;r
24. STABILIZATION PONDS
UNING OTHER TOTAL
(a.) WEEDS CUT AND VEGETATION GROWTH IN PONDS REMOVED? (b.) BANKS AND DIKES MAINTAINED? (Erosion, etc.)
^J"I1 YES [~J NO f~1 YES - | | NO
(^^!NY REPORTS OF GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION FROM POND? (II yes, give details) Q Y ES CD NO
(d.) oEEPAGE REPORTED? (p.) ADEQUATE DEPTH CONTROL? (f.) EFFLUENT RELEASE IS
f~) Y ES CD NO [21 YES D NO CD CONTINUOUS CD 1 N T ERMI T T EN T [^SEASONAL
EPA Form 7500-5 (4-72) PAGE 3
* OPO: I 97a-722-094
-------
.- . D. LABORATORY CONTROL
',. *^^ CODING INSTRUCTION
Ent^^Rst codes opposite appropriate items. If any of the oelow tests are used to monitor industrial wastes, place an "X" in
addition to the test code. . .
1 - 7 or more per week 3 - 1, 2 or 3 per week 5 - 2 or 3 per month 7 - Quarterly 9 - Annually
2-4, 5 or 6 per week 4 - as required 6-1 per month 8 - Semi-Annually
ITEM
(a.)
1. BOO
2. SUSPENDED SOLIDS
3. SETTLEABLE SOLIDS
4. SUSPENDED VOLATILE
3. DISSOLV ED OXYGEN
fl. TOTAL SOLIDS
7. VOL ATILE SOLIDS
8. pH
9. TEMPERATURE
10. COLIFORM DENSITY
11. RESIDUAL CHLORINE
12. VOL ATIL E ACIDS
13. M B STABILITY
14. ALKALINITY
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.^^
RAW
(b.)
^
j
i
->
^
->
->
r
PRIMARY
EFFLUENT
(c.)
-3
",
~>
-
MIXED
LIQUOR
(d.)
FINAL
(e.)
"*
\
'\
'<
-I
1
n
-
~
(f.) SLUDGE
RAW
SUPER-
NATANT
DIGESTER
(g.)
RECEIVING
STREAM
(h.)
CON^PJTS
3 laboratory personnel (2 certified) are responsible for nxjnitoriing data
for 10 leeward Oahu S.T.P.'s.
E. PLANT PERSONNEL INVENTORY
PERSONNEL CLASSIFICATION
(a.)
1. M AN AGEMENT/SUP.ERVISOR
2. OPERATOR
3. LABORATORY
4. MAINTENANCE
5. ^^k^R PLANT WORKERS
6. OTHER OFFICE/CLERICAL
7. TOTAL
EMPLOYMENT
(b.)
ACTUAL
MAN-HOURS
P ER WEEK
j to
-!-:-. ^
f-. >
"> 1 1
NUMBER
1 optr
o -r,r,<-
"I
IT
NUMBER
BUDGETED
'-\v~1f" *
NO. RE-
COMMENDED
(c.) CERTIFICATION
VOLUNTARY
MANDATORY
NO. RECOM-
MENDED OR
REQUI RED
BY STATE
ACTUAL
NO.
CERTIFIED
T
3.
TRAINING REQUIRED
NEXT 12 MONTHS
(d.)
NEW
HIRES
UPGRADE
(Promotion
or skill Im-
provement
EPA Form 7500-5 (4-72) PAGE 4
« CPO: 1972-722-093
-------
F. GUIDE - VISUAL OBSERVATION - UNIT PROCESS
RAj
GENERAL
PRELIMINARY
PRIMARY
SPOSAL
SLUDGE Dl
OTHER
SECONDARY-TERTIARY
(List Items as required)
1 CHLORINE
HP CODES: S = Satisfactory; U = Unsatisfactory; M= Marginal; IN = In Operation; OUT - Out of Operation
tF CONDITION OR APPEARANCE
GROUNDS
BUILDINGS
POTABLE WATER SUPPLY P RO T
SAFETY FEATURES
BYPASSES
STORM WATER OVERFLOWS
MAINTENANCE OF COLLECTION SYSTEMS
PUMP STATION
VEN TIL ATION
BAR SCREEN
DISPOSAL OF SCREENINGS
COMMINUTOR
GRIT CHAMBER
DISPOSAL OF GRIT
SETTLING TANKS
SCUM REMOVAL
SLUDGE REMOVAL
EFFLUENT
DIGESTERS
^TEMPERATURE ANDpH
GAS PRODUCTION
HEATING EQUIPMENT
SLUDGE PUMPS
DRYING BEDS
VACUUM FILTER
INCINERATION
DISPOSAL OF SLUDGE
FLOWMETER AND RECORDER
RECORDS
LAB CONTROLS
EFFLUENT
^HLORINATORS
FFECTIVE DOSAGE
CONTACT TIME
CONTACT TANK
RATING
,-
5
5
a.
5
-
-
c;
v
c;
~
a
,-^^j-
r,
_
^ ....
T:
'%,+-
3
M
COMMENTS .
"^.ck-flcw T-r.^vont.ifTo for i^fl'T-nt: main tr> ^."'vrt.
'--railrv-.l.o f--vr TJ--S .ATrir.T Fitcr-i n^nff ,
-rr-ilr^l.^ =,-.r v-^ ---on r'-'-'Ti^.vhr.r ; ---. '-?-*. *.?».* .
T,-i J-v--,,.,-!--,- on '-Iri.-.f. -r-r.-vN-,-*-,-
-^.^..., .i,- ,_.,., ,,.,,^4- >., r..^.- ^,-! 1-
rr^ ^..^^p^ rn ^-^ ,-,,-f,.^.,^-,^
,-;,-. ,,.^^. ..-,-.;- ,,^.v.^
C^,^, _,,TV,-C^ 4-r, .7-i^oc^-o,.
I. . -'
^**»n*~t"^ ,~ .,»--, ,J -^J~/"s,vT4~ 4 ,.«.
'"^ _ _ A » -. *. »w
"T1 _-».- -TM.^ __, '' *7V-^^^ ..' " ,_ * CT^ '^ !*»1#O O /"^ 1 * >
~- - " *k * ' ,* ._* **-.«« -_ »- . ». -^ J . J ~ . , . .
. '.. .;; ^ -^ ^..^ ^. _, T ^«
r-.^-..:^, i^-^0 -u_ .-i,,--:,^ ,7..,.:r>,, v--.J~
r-Z^^ vj^e." " " : ~ ' '
- .^^ ^
"-NV^",
* '
1 ' - I 1 I- ^ 1
». T -'. _ ..i .- .i.-. :>.-.
-^^. ....... >.._. ^^ ^ . ....
~.s,..r(^)..;r nnif. |.^^,or3-ril,r 0,lfc 0^ 0^-,..,).,.ic.n
.V 1-> , -ii ;;.',! 1^
f;-or-|. ^^p,,-:-.^,,, |V,..nirr -j.ra
EPA Form 7500-5 (4-72) PAGE 5
* GPO: 1972-772-093
-------
G. NOTATIONS BY EVALUATOR
ANY PENDING ACTIONS (Enforcement Conference, change in Water Quality Standards, etc.) THAT WOULD REQUIRE
UTTADING OF TREATMENT BY THIS PLANT? Q Y ES £T] NO (11 yes, explain)
2. IS ANY FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUIRED TO: (1) CORRECT DEFICIENCIES IN THE PLANT OR ITS OPERATION, (2) RESOLVE
INDUSTRIAL WASTE PROBLEMS, (3) STAFF DEFICIENCIES OR TRAINING NEEDS? Q Y ES Q NO (It yes, describe)
3.
IS PURPOSE OF INSPECTION TO DETERMINE IF NEW CONSTRUCTION COMPLIES
WITH FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROVISION OF AN OPERABLE
FACILITY? OYES Q NO
4.
GENERAL RATING
ACCEPTABLE
CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE
UNACCEPTABLE
EVALUATION PERFORMED BY
TITLE
ORGANIZATION
DATE
Deryl G. De^uitsr
Sanitary Engineer
EPA, Psgion. IX
9/2N/72
INFORMATION FURNISHED BY
TITLE
ORGANIZATION
DATE
/._rt F. G^.lten
Asst. S.T.P. Or>'.crator
'; * C of Honolulu
EPA Form 7500-5 (4-72) PAGE 6
* OPO: 1972-722-091
-------
APPENDIX G
Photographs
Waipio Stabilization Ponds
Photo No.
WP-1 View of Pond I from northwest corner (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-2 View of Pond I from west end (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-3 Scum accumulation along west end of Pond I (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-5 Close-up of east edge of Pond I near effluent weir
(9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-6 Pond I effluent weir (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-7 Influent to Pond II (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-8 View from west end of Pond II (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-9 Close-up of north edge of Pond II (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-10 Pond II effluent structure (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-11 Pond II effluent weir (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-12 View of chlorine contact chamber (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-13 Chlorine contact chamber effluent (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-14 Chlorine contact chamber discharge (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-15 Beginning of Waipio Pond effluent ditch (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-16 Confluence of Waipio Pond effluent and Oahu Sugar
Company tailing water discharge (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-17 Upstream of confluence (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-18 Downstream of confluence (9-27-72, P.M.)
-71-
-------
APPENDIX £ (con't)
Waipio Stabilization Ponds (cont.)
Photo No.
WP-19 Force main discharging to irrigation ditch (9-27-72,
P.M.)
WP-21 Force main discharging to irrigation ditch (9-27-72,
P.M.)
WP-22 Force main discharging to irrigation ditch (9-27-72, .
P.M.)
WP-23 Force main discharging to irrigation ditch (9-27-72,
P.M.)
WP-24 Irrigation ditch containing Waipio Pond effluent and
irrigation tailing water near point of discharge to
Middle Loch (9-27-72, P.M.)
WP-26 Point of.discharge of irrigation ditch to Middle Loch
(9-26-72, P.M.)
WP-27 Point of discharge of irrigation ditch to Middle Loch
(9-26-72, P.M.)
Oahu Sugar Company
OS-2 Initial washing of raw cane (9-28-72, P.M.)
OS-3 Centrifuges (9-28-72, P.M.)
Pearl City STP
PC-3 Influent collection chamber (9-29-72, A.M.)
PC-4 Preaeration tank (9-29-72, A.M.)
PC-8 Primary sedimentation tank (9-29-72, A.M.)
PC-9 Primary sedimentation tank effluent (9-29-72, A.M.)
-72-
-------
APPENDIX G_ (cont.)
Pearl City STP
Photo No.
PC-10 Chlorine contact chamber (9-29-72, A.M.)
PC-11 Chlorine contact chamber effluent (9-29-72, A.M.)
Note: Other pictures taken on this inspection were not included
in this report either to avoid duplication or because
they did not relate to the contents of this report.
Slides of these additional pictures are maintained in
the S & A files.
-73-
------- |