[     Business case listing ](/en/references/group-references-business-cases "  Business case listing")



 

 

 

## Reuse / Operation and maintenance (O&M) service provider since 2000 for largest reclamation plant of its type in the Hawaiian Islands, employing state-of-the-art technology to treat secondary effluent previously discharged into the Pacific Ocean. 



 

 

 



**The challenge**

In 1998, the City and County of Honolulu and Veolia North America entered into a $140 million, 20-year agreement for Veolia to design/build/operate (DBO) and own and transfer the Honolulu Water Reclamation Facility.

In 2000, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply purchased the facility from Veolia, which continues as the O&M service provider.

The plant treats 49,210 m3/day (13 MGD) of secondary effluent from the City and County's Honouliuli facility to produce some 45,424 m3/day (12 MGD) of reclaimed water for beneficial reuse.

The process generates two types of water: high-purity reverse osmosis water which is sold to industrial users and R1 water used for irrigation.

The project also includes a collection system and reclaimed water distribution system.

**Veolia’s solution**

**Innovative solutions:**

- Constructed microfiltration/RO building, R1 product delivery pump station, reuse influent pump station, hydroclear seven-bay sand filtration, UV channel, R1 transfer pump station, three reservoir tanks, operations building and laboratory, yard and distribution piping.
- Veolia led the design/build development of the facility.
- Industrial processes use 7,751 m3/d (2 MGD) of RO water, which frees 13,627 m3/d (3.6 MGD) of valuable potable water for potential residential and domestic uses.
- Backwash water is returned to the Honolulu Wastewater Treatment Plant influent and a new 24 km (15-mile) network distributes the reclaimed product to users.

**The benefits**

- Projected $35 million in cost savings over the contract term.
- Veolia assumes full risks and responsibility for the project.
- Eliminates the need for the community to spend millions of dollars to build treatment facilities necessary to meet a federal consent decree.
- Enables the community preserve its limited potable water resources through stringent treatment and reuse of wastewater — a win-win for rate payers, the city, the environment and a number of businesses that will have a guaranteed supply of quality water.
- Recognized by the WateReuse Association through its 2003 award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Water Use.
- ​Recipient of the Regional Operational Excellence Award for Large Municipal Project (2011) from Veolia.



 

 

 



 

 

**Honolulu, Hawaii, USA**

**Duration: since 1998, extended to 2038**

**Type: DBO & O&M**

**49,210 m3/day of wastewater treated**

**45,424 m3/day of reclaimed water**

**7,751 m3/day for industrial use**



 

 

 

 

 

 





   ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2926/files/styles/media/public/image/2023/10/Honolulu_3.jpg.webp?itok=1hjox9kM)   





 

 





  [  ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2926/files/styles/default/public/image/2023/09/CSC%20Honolulu%20Municipal%20USA%20Water%20EN.png.webp?itok=EJc2B7x3)  ](/sites/g/files/dvc2926/files/document/2023/09/CSC%20Honolulu%20Municipal%20USA%20Water%20EN.pdf)  





 

 

 



 

 

 

 









 

 



*The Board is proud that it was quick to recognize the benefits of water reclamation. Thinking strategicall is critical for communities challenged by limited resources. Water reclamation has become a cornerstone of the state’s strategy for water management, broken down into watershed management, conservation and diversification of water supplies.*  
  
**Barry Usagawa, the Board’s water supply program administrator**

## VEOLIA’S PURPOSE: committing to a multifaceted performance



 

 

 



SOCIAL

- Maximize community resources.
- 92% of treated wastewater is recycled. The reclaimed water is used instead for lawn and golf course maintenance as well as for industrial operations.



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

COMMERCIAL

- Innovative solutions to sustain growth and preserve fresh water resources.
- Cost savings.
- Energy efficiency improved by 65%.



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

ENVIRONMENTAL

- Minimize water footprint;

The plant has helped save an average of 10 million gallons of fresh water in island aquifers and other reserves each year.



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

HUMAN RESOURCES

- Zero lost time incidents.