The Environmental Protection Agency says Honolulu should increase capacity and provide redundancy for its sewage treatment operations at Sand Island, which is running “slightly over capacity.”

The recommendations and findings are part of an evaluation inspection report the EPA’s Clean Water Act Compliance Office sent to the city’s Environmental Services Department last month. ENV Director Tim Steinberger forwarded it to the City Council last week.

The fertilizer-pellet-producing digester at Sand Island has been a source of a lot of political wrangling. Here’s some background from the last few months:

• Council Chair Accuses Mayor of ‘Quid Pro Quo’ Politics on Sewage Project
• Will Honolulu Council Give Back Mayor’s Sewage Construction Money?
• Mayor Won’t Cancel Sewage Treatment Contract

— Michael Levine

Photo courtesy Ron Slauson