About 100 projects are under way, focused on O'ahu's sewage treatment plants, pump stations and collection system. These projects are part of $500 million of ongoing wastewater projects, including planning, designing, construction, project management and equipment project phases.

SEWER HEARING ON MAUI

On Maui, a public hearing will be held Thursday at the Lahaina Civic Center social hall meeting area to discuss the proposed permit renewal for the Lahaina underground injection control wastewater project, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.

The hearing will be from 6:15 to 9 p.m.

Written and verbal comments on the proposed permit will be accepted at the meeting. The EPA will consider all public comments before making a final decision.

The proposed permit renewal is for Maui County to operate four injection wells at its Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility. The county owns and operates the facility, which provides secondary treatment to domestic wastewater.

The facility recycles approximately 1 million gallons per day of treated wastewater and sends it for reuse by a nearby golf course, pineapple company and construction contractors.

The facility disposes of most of the treated wastewater on-site in four gravity-fed injection wells. The volume averages 3 million to 5 million gallons per day.

The injection wells range in depth from 180 to 255 feet and are approximately 1,500 to 1,900 feet from the shoreline of West Maui at an elevation of about 30 feet.

There are public and private drinking-water wells on the mountain slopes above the plant, with the nearest well about 2.4 miles away at elevations of around 900 feet.

Comments are welcome. All comments must be received or postmarked by Nov. 6 and must be in writing (e-mail is acceptable) to be considered. Comments already submitted to the EPA on this proposed action are available on EPA's Region 9 Web site at www.epa.gov/region09/water/groundwater/uic-permits.html#cur.

Send comments to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ground Water Office (WTR-9), 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105, Attn: Nancy Rumrill; phone 415-972-3293; fax 415-947-3549; or e-mail rumrill.nancy@epa.gov.