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Drinking water is sourced from the aquifers in areas of the Koʻolau & Waiʻanae Mountain ranges and pumped to your home via water mains.
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Untreated wastewater from your home is conveyed through sewer mains from Halawa through Makakilo, including Barbers Point and Mililani, then arrives at Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant where the water receives primary and secondary treatment.
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12-13 millions of gallons per day of effluent receives primary treatment and is then discharged into West Mamala Bay via a deep ocean discharge. The other 13 millions of gallons per day is secondary treated and sent to the Board of Water Supplyʻs Ewa Reclamation Facility where it receives tertiary treatment and is reused in the Kapolei and Ewa areas.
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Treated wastewater flows through an outfall pipe and is discharged into receiving waters (the ocean). The introduced wastewater can then mix with ocean water, be carried by currents to nearby coral reefs and possibly affect the health of these ecosystems. Reclaimed water is used in Kapolei and Ewa areas.
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Oʻahu's Drinking Water Sources
Oʻahu relies solely on underground water sources for drinking water which are all dependent on three natural elements: northeast trades, high mountain ranges, and the island's geological landscape. The NE tradewinds drive clouds filled with moisture inland, the high mountain ranges (Koʻolau mountains and Waianae mountains) capture and force moisture-filled clouds to higher elevations which causes rainfall on watershed areas. The Hawaiian Island geological landscape serves as a natural filter and underground storage system of water. Rainwater percolates into the earth, filtered by volcanic rock, and stored in aquifers. The aquifers are an underground freshwater reservoir storage from which the Board of Water Supply sources water to deliver to homes. Water is pumped from a network of shafts, water tunnels, and many wells located all over Oʻahu, (except for the North Shore area) and conveyed to homes through mains, booster systems and reservoirs.
- Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility
Do You Know What Happens After You Flush?
