Case Study: Honolulu Board of Water Supply achieves $35M projected savings and preserves potable water with Veolia North America

Innovative Technology at Honolulu's Reclamation Plant

The Board of Water Supply partnered with Veolia North America to modernize Honolulu’s largest reclamation plant and address limited potable water supplies and regulatory requirements. Under a $140 million, 20-year design/build/operate agreement, Veolia North America continued as the O&M provider after selling the facility to the Board; the plant treats about 13 MGD of secondary effluent to produce roughly 12 MGD of reclaimed water (high‑purity RO for industry and R1 for irrigation) and includes a reclaimed water collection and distribution system.

Veolia North America led the design/build of microfiltration/RO trains, UV and sand filtration, pump stations, reservoirs and a 15‑mile reclaimed water network, returning backwash to the wastewater plant and delivering reliable reuse to customers. The project freed 3.6 MGD of potable water by supplying 2 MGD of industrial RO water, is projected to save $35 million over the contract term, shifts full project risk to Veolia North America, avoided costly new municipal treatment construction, and has earned industry recognition for sustainable water reuse.

Board of Water Supply