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An excess of approximately 11.4 million gallons per day of reclaimed water is produced at County of Mauitreatment facilities. Since the County of Maui does not have sufficient storage and distribution capability to utilize all of the reclaimed wastewater produced on our islands, the excess is sent to the injection wells.
The County of Maui wastewater treatment plants and injection wells reduce the impact of human waste on the environment.
Wastewater discharged into wells is absorbed by natural geologic formations, which complete the treatment by natural filtering through rock and sand layers. When properly sited, constructed and operated, injection wells are an economical, environmentally responsible and effective tool for safe wastewater management.
Our permits require that the water consist of no more than 30 mg/l of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), 30 mg/l Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and 10mg/l of Total Nitrogen. Nevertheless, our plants typically deliver water far cleaner than required. The County of Maui’s treatment plants normally produce effluent with less than 5mg/l BOD5 and TSS.
Our treatment plants use an aerobic biological process, nutrient removal and filtration. Because the water contains between 4 and 10 mg/l of Total Nitrogen (the regulatory limit is 10mg/l) - the effluent that our treatment facilities produce actually meets federal and state drinking water standards for Total Nitrogen.
By making use of recycled water that comes from treated wastewater, potable water can beconserved.
Wastewater facilities depend entirely on user fees and do not receive funding from the County of Maui’s general fund. Thus, any unfunded federal mandate would result in increased costs paid for by sewer system customers.