State fines Hawaii American Water for unpermitted discharges

COURTESY DOH Hawaii Department of Health logo.

Hawaii health officials today said they have fined Hawaii American Water $47, 750 for discharging effluent exceeding permitted limits of ammonia nitrogen into the ocean.

The state Department of Health has issued a to the private water company for 14 such discharges from its East Honolulu Wastewater Treatment Plant between August 2022 and 2024.

“Ammonia is derived from the breakdown of proteins and amino acids in wastewater, ” said Kathleen Ho, deputy director for the Environmental Health Administration, in a news release. “High concentrations of ammonia can have toxic effects on aquatic organisms and contributes to excess nutrients in the water. As such, the discharge of ammonia above allowable limits into state waters is unacceptable.”

In addition to exceeding limits allowed under its state-issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, the Health Department said the company also failed to submit required noncompliance reports on two occasions.

In addition to paying the penalty, the notice requires Hawaii American Water to take corrective actions.

Honolulu-based Hawaii American Water owns and operates the East Honolulu Wastewater Treatment Plant, which serves about 35, 000 people, according to the notice. The treated wastewater is released into the ocean via an outfall at Sandy Beach.

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DOH said based on state laws, all persons, including business owners, government agencies and visitors must comply with water pollution laws, and that failure to comply may result in penalties of up to $60, 000 a day, per violation.

The department said it charged the company for 10 days of exceeding the limits rather than 12 because two were less than 1 % over the permitted limit.

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Hawaii American Water may request a hearing within 20 days of receiving the notice.

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