Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-06-30
Superintendent Murray Gives
Facts and Figures on Past,
Present and Future
BY HARRY z. MURRAY, superinten.
dent Of WaterNores and Sewers

The first real effort by the govern
ment for q sanitary sewer system 70
Honolulu was In the year 1881. Thu
consensus Of opinion at that time
however, was against the establish
ment Of a sewer system 50 that httl'
| was done.
In 1883 the question Of sewerag,
was again discussed.
In 1886 Major Bender made q repor
on q sewer system which was fileG
This report called for an interceptinl
sewer along Queen street into whic.
the ,laterals would deliver.
A reservoir and pumping plant wa!
to be erected in such a location thai
the sewage could be collected and
pumped far enough to sea SO that II
would not return. Major Bender had
not decided on the exact location FOL
the pumping plant, but experiment.
had shown that from a point Oft, the
slaughter house refuse thrown into
the sea was carried outward.
The Herring Report =
In 1898 very thorough report ON q
sewer system, which was adopted,
was made by Mr.. Rudolph Herring,
In this report two locations for an
outfall sewer were considered. One
was west and one east Of the harbor.
Both projects we're worked out In de-
tail. The hest discharge that could
BE- obtained for the western outfall.
allowed the sewage to be discharged
under only 13 feet Of water. The east.
ern outfal ollowed sewage to be dis
charged in 100 feet Of water.
In 1899 contracts were let for the
first sanitary sewer system for the
city of Honolulu. These contracts
called for a sewer system fort CEN
trail or business section, practically
33 miles of sewer lines, the construc-
ton Of the easterly outfall; the build
ing Of q pumping station and the fur
nishing of pumps and machinery.
improvements Decided On
The easterIy outfall was decided
upon because 1t discharged, sewage
from 100 feet Of water; provided q
better location for pumping station;
took care Of q larger area of territory
and was less costly from pumping
standpoint.
In 1S99-1900 the business section
Of the sewer system was finished,
but the outfall sewer line was only
extended $500 feet, or into q feet OF
water. Through the difficulty Of ex-
tending the line through heavy seas
and for other reasons the contractor
failed to finish the outfall, laying
only 1852 feet Of sewer. The de-
partment continued to complete the
job laying practically 1000 feet more.
when insufficient funds compelled the
work to be discontinued. =. :
(Note. The outfall sewer line st
the present time extends only into
% feet Of water instead Of 100 feet as
originally planned. Its condition af-
ter seventeen years Of service is such
that 1t would be q waste OF money to
extend It to the original depth plan
ned. The only practical way TO carry
out the original plan, that Is, discharg3
the sewage In 100 feet Of water, is
to construct an entirely new outfall
sewer.l "
Record Of Progress
In 1891 the Makiki and Punahou
sewer lines were Installed. Fez.
In 1902 and 1908. Part of the Ka'
kaako system was completed. = I
In 1904 q Nuuanu line was laid,
which in 1906 was extended to 1Hdd
street.
In 1908 part of the Kalihi system
was laid. z- s..
In 1911 line was laid on Metcalf
street.
! In 1912 Palama was severed. II
In 1913 Auwaiolimu, or Punchbowl,
its sewer system.
In 1916. The entire Puunui dis
trict was severed making the total
length of the sewer lines In the city
Of Honolulu. in 1916 practically 80
miles.
The sewer system as originally
planned estimated so gallons per
capita daily for $4,000 people, or a.
total discharge per day of practically
1000, 900 gallons.
At the present time the amount
per capita is nearer 200 gallons, or
!. discharge Of 10000. 900 gallons daily. |
Mr.. Hiring in his report stated that
he volume of sewage depended upon
he consumption Of water" and warn |
ID us, that It was essential to have
our system built water-tfght which, |
I is thought, was done.
It appears, however, with only about !
;wo-thirds Of our people served, the
Iystem Is over-taxed.
suggestions
To reduce the per capita discharge |
o q reasonable amount we should
meter the water privileges adopting /
his suggestion. The sewer system
a the area in which is is constructed
8 adequate for all present or proba-
lie demands for the next % years,
Except the Kalihi outfall, which is
a greater danger than the
lump outfall as the accumulation has
10 waves to break it up and no cur
emit to carry it away. The Kalihi
'utfall should be extended across Ka-
hi bay into deep water and pump
ng station unit installed.
A test was made Of the amount OF
Vater unnecessarily handled by the
ever station, by reducing the pres
ure carried In our city mains. Just