Along the storied coast of Honolulu, Hawaii, the 30 mgd Ft. Kamehameha wastewater treatment facility receives wastewater from a diverse mixture of commercial, residential and maritime wastewater originating from the dry docks, industrial fabrication, piers, and maintenance shops of the Joint Base Pearl Harbor Naval Complex and Hickam Airforce Base.

Built in 1969, the facility’s aging infrastructure was particularly evident in its three sand filter trains, which had surpassed their useful life and frequently malfunctioned. These malfunctions forced operators to bypass the filters in the treatment process, catching the attention of local newspapers and frustrating Honolulu residents, who greatly respecting the environment.

In late 2023, the Joint Base determined that its outdated sand filters were excessively time-consuming to operate and maintain, costly to replenish with proprietary sand, and likely discharging excessive nutrients. Seizing this opportunity to transition away from sand filter technology, the base needed a tertiary solution that would address public outcry, avoid costly fines, and proactively prepare the facility for future regulations.

Click here to read more about the solution, made possible with the HUBER Disc Filter RoDisc gravity-flow filtration system.