The Waimanalo Facilities Plan project has been initiated by the City Department of Wastewater Management (DWM)to create a comprehensive long-range planning document addressing the wastewater requirements for twenty years. A citizens advisory group met March 16 with Tessa Yuen, project manager with DWM, and Roy Ade of Hawaii Pacific Engineers, the consultants performing the study.

Ade discussed on-site systems: he indicated Waimanalo has about 740 homes on cesspools, and of those 191 needed pumping at least once in 1995. One residence was pumped as frequently as once a week. Most of the pumping was required in several pockets: near Hihimanu Street and Kalanianaole Highway, Flamingo Street, and along Kumuhau to Waikupanaha Streets. Possible causes for cesspools to require pumping are: too many persons using the systems, sludge or plant roots clogging the openings of the cesspool, soil that is saturated by ground or rain water, and soil that does not provide adequate percolation. Dr. Robert Shleser and others at the meeting pointed out that all of these causes can be remedied.

Currently the wastewate treatment plant injects all of the treated effluent into the ground where it goes directly into the ground water. Alternatives to injection wells could include leach fields in sandy areas of Bellows or irrigation of certain crops. Roy Ade said, "what you want to see is total reuse of the water." n