It is known that the Honolulu Water Service (BWS) has rejected all landfill candidates proposed by the Honolulu city government.
The city government is required to find a new landfill site by the end of this year to replace the currently used Waimanalo Glutch landfill, following an order from the State Land Use Commission (LUC).
In response, Mayor Rick Blangiad formed an advisory committee, selected six landfill sites, and requested a review by the Waterworks Authority.
However, Director of Waterworks Ernie Lau rejected the city government’s request, explaining that all landfill candidates are located above aquifers and pose a risk of water contamination.
The Honolulu Water Authority supervises water resources located on the island of Oahu, and the aquifers that serve as drinking water sources are classified as No Pass Zones and are specially managed.
In other words, the city government’s landfill candidates were all rejected because they overlapped with the no-pass zone.
Director Lau cited the Red Hill fuel leak incident that occurred in November last year as the reason for rejecting the candidate review, and emphasized that preventive measures should be taken to avoid repeating the same disaster.
He also pointed out that although modern landfill design and the latest technology have reduced the risk of leachate and pollutant leakage, complete containment is not possible, so contamination of drinking water sources cannot be ruled out.
Roger Badcock, director of the city’s environment department, promised the city would go all out to protect drinking water sources.
Ann Wright, a member of the grassroots group Oahu Water Protectors, noted the potential for leachate contamination if landfills were placed over aquifers, and would require the city to apply to the State Land Use Board for an extension of the deadline to find new landfill candidates.