Comment Now On Oneawa Wastewater Tunnel Project

The Kaneohe-Kailua sewer tunnel project is a go, with plans being made now to hire a contractor and obtain a water pollution control permit from the state Department of Health.

Tunnel construction could begin as early at October, according to officials.

Approximately three miles of gravity-sewer tunnel will run under Oneawa Hills from the Kaneohe Wastewater Pre-Treatment Facility to the Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in Aikahi – most of it 200 to 300 feet below ground level. The route was altered last year to be farther from homes, and will run behind the Board of Water Supply reservoir above Mokapu Saddle Road.

Residents still have time to make comments for or against the permit for up to “30 calendar days after the June 27 public notice.”

The sewer tunnel fulfills a global consent decree mandated by the EPA and U.S. Health Department to implement remediation projects on Oahu over the next 25 to 28 years.

Project details are available at kkgravitytunnel.org. For additional information, call Darryl Lum of the state Health Department’s Clean Water Branch at 586-4309.