A Honolulu resolution aims to protect Oahu’s drinking water from landfill sites
Honolulu: A resolution from the City Council is making waves. It’s all about keeping landfills away from Oahu’s drinking water. This has been a concern for over 20 years.
Introduced by Council Vice Chair Matt Weyer and Council member Radiant Cordero, this resolution is a response to plans for a new landfill in Weyer’s district. The proposed site is on agricultural land, right above the island’s aquifer.
Weyer emphasized that the focus is on protecting drinking water, not just picking a landfill spot. The city’s current landfill is set to close soon, so they need a new site to handle the island’s waste.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s team wants to place the new dump on land owned by Dole Food Co. near Wahiawa. But Dole isn’t on board with this plan. They’ve made it clear they don’t want a landfill on their active fields.
During a recent meeting, Board of Water Supply Manager Ernie Lau explained why a landfill above the aquifer could be a bad idea. He pointed out that the area gets a lot of rain, which could lead to contamination of the water supply.
City officials are also looking to change a state law that restricts where landfills can go. They hope to reduce buffer zones around residential areas, which could open up more land for potential sites.
However, this change might take time, and there’s no guarantee it will happen. In the meantime, the city is considering safety measures, like installing barriers to prevent leaks from the landfill.
Managing Director Mike Formby mentioned that they had a productive chat with Dole about alternative properties. But there’s still a big question about the cost of developing a new landfill, which could be around $200 million or more.
Council Chair Tommy Waters expressed concerns about the budget, comparing it to the rising costs of the rail project. He wants to be cautious about expectations regarding the landfill’s cost.
Ultimately, the committee is pushing for the full Council to adopt the resolution, which also includes a note about amending the state law for more landfill options.
