Mayor Rick Blangiardi joined officials from the City & County of Honolulu for a groundbreaking ceremony March 1 at the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant, marking the start of a $517 million renovation project aimed at modernizing the facility and enhancing its environmental sustainability.
The overhaul targets Honouliuli’s aging infrastructure, with improvements planned for pre-treatment, primary treatment and solids processing systems, which have served O‘ahu residents since the 1970s.
City & County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services Director Roger Babcock said in a news release that the project aligns with the city’s broader environmental goals.
“The plant is a critical infrastructure asset for our community, and these upgrades show our commitment to sustainability and resource recovery,” he said in the release, adding biogas produced could impact demand on O‘ahu’s energy grid, cut operating costs and support renewable energy targets.
Key enhancements include the modernization of the facility’s pre-treatment process to better protect against inorganic debris, which can hamper overall efficiency and safety. The project also aims to boost primary treatment and solids processing systems to also allow for the generation of biogas — a renewable energy source that can be harnessed to produce both heat and electricity for the facility.
The project, officially named Honouliuli WWTP Phase 1C – Headworks, High-Rate Biological Contractor, Solids Process and Miscellaneous Improvements, was contracted to Hensel Phelps Construction Co., which expects to complete the renovation in three strategic phases over six years.
Phases will include the installation and testing of new electrical, structural and mechanical systems. Additional grading work, infrastructure development and underground piping, as well as decommissioning and demolition of outdated facilities, is also planned.
“This project is a testament to the city’s dedication to improving infrastructure, embracing sustainability and ensuring a cleaner, healthier future for Honolulu,” Mayor Blangiardi said during the ceremony.
