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Rainfall on watershed areas like the Koʻolau and Waiʻanae mountain ranges are collected in underground aquifers. The Board of Water Supply pumps water from these aquifers and delivers it to your home via water mains. Water enters a resident's home and is used for household activities and flushed down the toilet or drain.
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Untreated wastewater is conveyed through sewer lines within the Laʻie community and arrives at Laʻie Wastewater Reclamation Facility where the water receives secondary and tertiary treatment, plus UV disinfection.
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Treated wastewater leaves Laʻie Wastewater Reclamation Facility and is stored in storage tanks at Hawaiʻi Reserves Inc. Laʻie Wastewater Reclamation Facility makes R1 water that meets the requirements for land application.
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Hawaiʻi Reserves Inc. distributes the R1 water from their storage tanks to the Polynesian Cultural Center and to farms in the Laʻie community.
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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.
- Lāʻie Wastewater Reclamation Facility
Do You Know What Happens After You Flush?
