State efforts to phase out use of cesspools and encourage use of other wastewater systems are off to a slow start.
A statewide ban on new cesspool construction began in March, two months after a law providing tax credits to help homeowners upgrade cesspools to a septic system or an aerobic tank system went into effect.
Before the state ban was signed, about 800 new cesspools were approved annually in Hawaii, according to Department of Health numbers. There are 90,000 cesspools statewide, with more than half (50,000) on the Big Island.
In March, Gov. David Ige cited reduction in sewage pollution as the primary reason for signing the ban. Statewide, cesspools release about 55 million gallons of untreated sewage into the ground daily.
“When you discharge to a cesspool, most of the water is concentrated on the bottom and you don’t really have soil treatments (for the wastewater),” said Sina Pruder, Department of Health wastewater branch chief. “Because they’re dug deep, they discharge directly to groundwater.”
The potential for groundwater discharge is most likely in coastal locations. Act 120, which took effect Jan. 1, allows owners of cesspools located within 200 feet of the ocean, streams or a drinking water source to receive up to $10,000 in state tax credit for the cost of upgrading their system. The total amount provided by Act 120 is $5 million, and owners must apply by 2020.
So far, applications for the program are scarce. The DOH has received just 11 applications so far: four from the Big Island, four from Oahu and three from Kauai.
“There’s no requirement to upgrade,” said Amy Cook, wastewater engineer for the DOH’s Hawaii County district office. “As long as your cesspool functions, you can continue to use it.” Cook said a handful of residents had come to inquire about converting their systems, “mostly in conjunction with a significant improvement to the property.”
“What I’m hoping is that we’ll see more of those coastal properties (convert),” she said. “Coastal systems qualify for the upgrade.”
“It’s kind of hard to say who’s going to be coming in at what time,” Pruder said.
Septic and aerobic systems of wastewater management qualify for the tax credit. Septic systems use the combination of a settling tank and a soil absorption bed such as a leach field to treat water.
Aerobic systems are more costly but are more advanced in treatment capacity, Pruder said.
Before it was enacted, the cesspool ban drew criticism from several local legislators who objected to the higher cost of septic and aerobic systems, particularly for people not in coastal areas who would not qualify for the tax credit.
In February, state Reps. Richard Creagan, Cindy Evans, Mark Nakashima, Richard Onishi and Clift Tsuji, and state Sens. Lorraine Inouye and Russell Ruderman signed a letter to the governor pointing out the cost discrepancy between the different types of systems. According to the letter, septic systems are 10 times more expensive than cesspools and can be as much as $30,000.
For more information about Act 120, visit health.hawaii.gov/wastewater/.
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
