DEQ flags lagoon overflow and requests sewer-repair pricing; possible fine up to $50,000

City officials reported that when new lagoons were built the city decided to forgo infiltration-and-inflow (I&I) repairs because of cost, and that 2022 snowfall and new staff unfamiliarity with irrigation caused the lagoons to overflow.

Officials said the city received discharge and paperwork violations tied to that overflow and that fines could "possibly be up to $50,000." The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has asked the city for pricing for trenchless sewer repair and for HECO to re-evaluate engineering costs; those figures were requested for a future meeting as part of next steps.

No formal vote or commitment to a repair method was recorded at the May 14 meeting; staff said they would present cost estimates and options to the council in a future session.