Hawaii long has been acclaimed as the paradise of the Pacific, but only after discovery by Captain James Cooke in 1778 was her beauty exposed to the outside world. At first a place for replenishing provisions and water for whaling ships, Honolulu has experienced a rapid economic growth which has made her the center of trade in the Pacific region. Her rise to prominence has not been free of problems. Like many large cities, Honolulu, the capitol of the state, is suffering from the strains imposed by an ever increasing population. The relentless demand for an adequate supply of water and an environmentally acceptable sewage disposal system are just two of the many crises facing Honolulu today.

Honolulu-city and county-encompasses the whole island of Oahu and contains about 82% of the state's population. This concentration imposes a heavy burden on the available groundwater supply. The developable water supply has been estimated to be about 525 mgd. With a present groundwater draft of 440 mgd, only 85 mgd is available for future use making alternative sources imperative. Desalting and wastewater recycling and impoundment of surface waters for trade-off with agriculture are possible alternatives.

Waste-disposal systems play a critical role in protecting groundwater supplies. Although sewage systems have not kept pace with the city's development, preventing the widespread indiscriminate disposal of sewage by cesspools, septic tanks, and other similar facilities has not been an easy task. Rules and regulations by governmental agencies have been implemented to control waste-disposal facilities and protect the groundwater supplies. The uncertainty associated with viral detection and destruction is one of the major reasons for the conservative measures applied to waste-disposal facilities.

Despite the problems, we are confident that through research, cooperative effort, constant vigilance, and sound long-range planning, we will overcome the problems brought about by economic developments.

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