Marines


High bacteria levels possible in offshore waters near the shared Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) & Kailua Wastewater Treatment Plant outfall
25 Oct 2021

The MCBH Wastewater Reclamation Facility (WRF) is currently undergoing extensive improvement project activity, designed to modernize the WRF for greater effectiveness and efficiency.  During recent project work, a WRF process disruption occurred resulting in release of waters exceeding permit limitations for Enterococcus [Limit: 57,850 (No./100mL); Sampled results received on 24 Oct: 79,000 (No./100mL)]. These effluent waters, combined with treated waters from the City and County of Honolulu’s Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, are discharged approximately two miles off-shore of MCBH at 110 feet below the surface of the ocean into the natural zone of mixing. Direct risk of exposure is extremely low. MCBH has initiated daily sampling to monitor the situation and the disrupting activities have been completed. MCBH’s WRF and Environmental Compliance and Protection Division will maintain this increased sampling rate until results show effluent limitations are once again being met. Marine Corps Base Hawaii is dedicated to our environmental stewardship efforts and continues to improve our installation’s facilities, like the MCBH Wastewater Reclamation Facility, to persist in our protection of the local environment.


1stLt Mark McDonough

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Marine Corps Base Hawaii