# EPA backs Honolulu seawater desalination project with $109 million loan

> The EPA announced a $109 million loan for a planned Oahu desalination facility designed to add 1.7 million gallons of drinking water a day. The project would provide another source for central Oahu and reduce pressure on groundwater.

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- Publisher: Newsverum
- Section: Infrastructure
- Country: United States
- Published: 2026-10-21T19:51:52+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-21T19:51:52+00:00
- Event / data period: 2026-10-16
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $109 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply on October 16. The financing will support design and construction of the Kalaeloa Seawater Desalination Facility on Oahu, which EPA says is planned to produce 1.7 million gallons of drinking water per day.

The project also includes facilities to dispose of desalination byproducts, a recycled-water pipeline and transmission lines. EPA says the new supply is intended to improve reliability in central Oahu, particularly the more arid service area west of Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. The Board plans to defer principal payments during construction and use a subordinate lien loan; the announcement describes planned capacity, not water already being delivered.

## Data

### Announced project

Summary of project scope and planned capacity in the EPA announcement.

Methodology: The source states the loan amount, location and planned daily capacity; this does not imply the facility is operating.

| date | label | description | status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-16 | Announced service | WIFIA loan announced for Honolulu Board of Water Supply; the planned Kalaeloa facility is designed for 1.7 million gallons per day. | occurred |

Sources: <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USEPAAO/bulletins/42f7169> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/epa-honolulu-desalination-loan-2026/data/source-announcement?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/epa-honolulu-desalination-loan-2026/data/source-announcement?lang=en&format=csv)

## Sources

- [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency](<https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USEPAAO/bulletins/42f7169>) (Source checked: 2026-10-21; Published: 2026-10-16)

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