DLA - Defense Logistics Agency
08/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/09/2024 03:29
Pearl Harbor team facilitates emergency $600k Maui wastewater equipment donation
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -
The Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Pearl Harbor team recently played a pivotal role in assisting Maui County following the catastrophic failure of its Lahaina Wastewater Treatment Plant centrifuges.
A State of Hawaii heavy truck driver fastens a Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Wastewater Treatment Plant centrifuge atop a State of Hawaii delivery truck in the Wastewater Treatment Plant located on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, July 17, 2024. The centrifuge was donated to a Maui County Wastewater Treatment plant under the Defense Logistics Agency's used and excess military property donation authority.
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To maintain dewatering operations at Lahaina, county officials were forced to transfer an operational centrifuge from the nearby Kihei wastewater plant. That transfer prompted an urgent search to find a replacement for Kihei's centrifuge, including evaluating options for obtaining a used or new centrifuge or bowl assembly of the same model.
A State of Hawaii heavy truck driver fastens a Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Wastewater Treatment Plant centrifuge atop a State of Hawaii delivery truck in the Wastewater Treatment Plant located on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, July 17, 2024. The centrifuge was donated to a Maui County Wastewater Treatment plant under the Defense Logistics Agency's used and excess military property donation authority.
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The Lahaina WWTP reached out to Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where two surplus S3-01 centrifuge units of the same model - essential for separating water from digested sludge and originally valued at $300,000 apiece - were identified.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, DLA Disposition Services Pearl Harbor personnel began to provide immediate support. Property Disposal Specialists Aaron Pooloa and Gilbert Delagente swiftly coordinated with NAVFAC Wastewater Treatment Action Officer Lt. Joseph Gramegna to facilitate a receipt-in-place agreement process to transfer the excess items to DLA inventory. They also worked with Reutilization, Transfer and Donation Branch Chief Josey Kidd at the major sub-command's headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan, to expedite the donation process.
The DLA Disposition Services team then arranged a donation of the 7,300-pound centrifuges to the State of Hawaii Procurement Office, and finally to the Kihei WWTP. This proactive effort was crucial in preventing further operational disruptions at the Kihei WWTP and ensuring that Maui County had the necessary equipment to maintain their wastewater operations.
"DLA Disposition Services Pearl Harbor's swift action was instrumental in addressing Maui County's urgent needs," said Faron Cordrey, the director of DLA's property disposition efforts across the Indo-Pacific region. "Their support ensured that the local community could continue vital wastewater treatment operations without significant interruption."
"Upon learning of Maui County's need, the base immediately began looking for ways to assist. I am thrilled we were able to support their wastewater plant operations at no cost, benefiting the local community," said Navy Capt. Samuel White, the JBPHH installation commander.
"It worked out very well," said Wayne Salas, JBPHH Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager. "We're excited these centrifuge units will support Maui County until they can procure new ones. Not only are these parts expensive, but they can take months to years to manufacture due to unique specifications. In the long run, it benefits everyone because we are all in the same boat as taxpayers."
The successful donation coordination and expedited assistance provided by DLA Disposition Services Pearl Harbor underscores its critical role in regional infrastructure support and highlights a strong agency commitment to operational excellence and community welfare.