WaterWorld

The city of Honolulu issued the following news release:

Five City wastewater treatment plants received Peak Performance Awards for outstanding compliance records last year at the recently held 2009 National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Summer Conference and 39th Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wis.

Waianae Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) notched a Platinum 8 Award for eight straight years with 100 percent compliance with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Wahiawa, Kailua Regional and Honouliuli WWTPs garnered Gold Awards, while Sand Island achieved silver status.

The NACWA recognition program consists of three categories - Platinum, Gold and Silver. Platinum Awards recognize facilities with 100 percent compliance with its NPDES permit for five or more consecutive years. Gold Awards honor treatment plants that achieved 100 percent compliance during the calendar year, while Silver Awards identify facilities that received no more than five permit violations during that same time.

The NPDES permit program, mandated by the Clean Water Act, controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge into U.S. waters. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or manmade ditches. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters.