Honolulu secures $109 million for seawater desalination
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has secured a $109 million loan through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program to advance the Kalaeloa Seawater Desalination Facility on Oahu. The planned reverse-osmosis facility is expected to produce between 1.7 million and 2.55 million gallons of drinking water per day, helping reduce the island’s reliance on central Oahu groundwater aquifers.
The project will also include recycled-water infrastructure and transmission system improvements designed to diversify Honolulu’s water supply and strengthen resilience against drought and other environmental challenges. By expanding access to alternative water sources, the investment aims to improve long-term water availability and support the island’s growing infrastructure needs.
The EPA estimates that the broader project will support approximately 710 jobs, providing an economic boost alongside improvements to regional water security. The investment represents a significant step toward modernizing Hawaii’s water infrastructure, increasing supply reliability and ensuring a more sustainable drinking water system for future generations.
