Eric Takamura Quotations

We're going to continue the patching of the pipes where there are cracks. Where we can, we're going to put a sleeve around it. Then, we're going to pour the concrete jacket.

We heard rumors on the street that we're going to get hit. Yeah, we were a little surprise.

More bang for your buck. So we could potentially remove 80- to 100-thousand tons from our waste stream, versus mixed recyclable is only estimated at 24,000 tons.

Now we're starting to question whether this pipe will hold up three more years.

Right now it's only if the current changes, and in the last four days the current has only gone out to sea.

Nobody on my staff ever told me it was going to break any day. We just don't want to take another chance that the existing force main would rupture and break, and run into the same circumstance we had on March 24.

From where I am sitting now, 2008 is not realistic.

I think we're all in the same ballpark; we all have aging systems. It's a big financial burden.

We need to expose the main before repair can begin.

We haven't gotten to that period where we can stop the pumps from going on, and the water from coming through the force main and do the repair. I know we need to do a more thorough inspection and maintenance program also, not just replace pipe.

They already know we are under the gun. There is no way we can close Waimanalo Gulch Landfill by 2008 and select a new landfill.

This is not as simple as flicking a light switch.

This is one of the most challenging main breaks our department has faced in many years.

Once the concrete goes in, we need to let the concrete set and harden for another 24 hours.

Their contention is any spill is a violation.

I don't think there was ever a situation that occurred, even though we over-filled certain areas, that there was a threat to public health and safety.

For that pipe itself, I don't think it was caused by age. It was caused more because the pipe actually settled.