Honolulu is upgrading how it cleans sewage before it reaches the ocean, good news for Oahu's coastal waters.

• A new membrane bioreactor at the Sand Island wastewater plant just came online, filtering solids out of water more effectively than older methods.
• Cleaned water is also disinfected with UV light before release, aiming to better protect Oahu's ocean and beaches.
• The first phase handles 20 million gallons a day.
• A second phase adding 70 million gallons a day of capacity is 60% designed.

Outlook: The larger second phase is expected to be up and running by 2035.