The challenge
Operation and maintenance (O&M) service provider since 2000 for largest reclamation plant of its type in the Hawaiian Islands, employing state-of-the-art technology to treat secondary effluent previously discharged into the Pacific Ocean.
The project challenges are:
- In 1998, the City and County of Honolulu and Veolia North America entered into a $140 million, 20-year agreement for Veolia to design/build/operate (DBO) and own and transfer the Honolulu Water Reclamation Facility.
- In 2000, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply purchased the facility from Veolia, which continues as the O&M service provider.
- The plant treats 13 MGD of secondary effluent from the City and County's Honouliuli facility to produce some 12 MGD of reclaimed water for beneficial reuse.
- The process generates two types of water: high-purity reverse osmosis water which is sold to industrial users and R1 water used for irrigation.
- The project also includes a collection system and reclaimed water distribution system.
The solution
Innovative solutions:
- Constructed microfiltration/RO building, R1 product delivery pump station, reuse influent pump station, hydroclear seven-bay sand filtration, UV channel, R1 transfer pump station, three reservoir tanks, operations building and laboratory, yard and distribution piping.
- Veolia led the design/build development of the facility.
- Industrial processes use 2 MGD of RO water, which frees 3.6 MGD of valuable potable water for potential residential and domestic uses.
- Backwash water is returned to the Honolulu Wastewater Treatment Plant influent and a new 15-mile network distributes the reclaimed product to users.
Benefits for our clients
Results & Value Delivered:
- Projected $35 million in cost savings over the contract term.
- Veolia assumes full risks and responsibility for the project.
- Eliminates the need for the community to spend millions of dollars to build treatment facilities necessary to meet a federal consent decree.
- Enables the community preserve its limited potable water resources through stringent treatment and reuse of wastewater — a win-win for rate payers, the city, the environment and a number of businesses that will have a guaranteed supply of quality water.
- Recognized by the WateReuse Association through its 2003 award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Water Use.
- Recipient of the Regional Operational Excellence Award for Large Municipal Project (2011) from Veolia.