Uses and Abuses of Wastewater Injection Wells in Hawaii

Abstract

During the past two decades in Hawaii, more than 500 injection wells for the disposal of domestic sewage wastewater have been constructed and operated. Thus far, contamination of potable groundwater supplies has not been a problem. Many of the injection wells, however, have not performed as designed , and aquifer clogging and reduced injection capacity have produced numerous well failures resulting in public health, legal, and financial problems. Factors most commonly responsible for the well problems have been unfavorable hydrogeology, underdesign of injection well capacity, poor effluent quality, and lack of injection well maintenance. Detailed study of clogging mechanisms in the immediate vicinity of injection wells suggests that binding of pore spaces by nitrogen gas is the most important cause of aquifer clogging. Other clogging mechanisms also operating are filtration of solid particles and growth of microorganisms