reprinted courtesy HIREC Bulletin October 2004
Large capacity cesspools must be upgraded or closed
On December 7, 1999, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated Underground
Injection Control (UIC) regulations that prohibited
construction of new large-capacity cesspools.
Existing large capacity cesspools must be upgraded or
closed by April 5, 2005.
Cesspool owners are required to find a waste disposal
alternative such as connection to a municipal sewer or
installation of an onsite wastewater treatment unit (such as
a septic system).
Large capacity cesspool owners must notify EPA and
the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) Underground
Injection Control (UIC) programs of the existence of these
cesspools and their intent to close them.
To obtain an inventory form, EPA Form 7520-16,
contact the ground Water Office at (415) 972-3540 or
download it from www.epa.gov/safewater.
If you have questions about the ban, contact Laura Tom
Bose or Shannon FitzGerald, toll-free at 1-866-EPA-WEST
(1-866-372-9378) or by email at bose.laura@epa.gov, or
fitzgerald.shannon@epa.gov. To register a cesspool with
DOH, contact the UIC program at (808) 586-4258.
Why is EPA banning large cesspools?
Cesspools allow untreated sewage to percolate directly
to soil and ground water. They are a public health and
environmental concern. They are banned because of their
likelihood of releasing disease-causing pathogens and other
contaminants, such as nitrate, to ground water. The sewage
moves through the ground and can contaminate ground
water, streams (sources of drinking water), and the ocean.
What is large-capacity? Single-family homes are not
subject to the Underground Injection Control (UIC)
regulations.
! Non-residential cesspools, septic systems, or similar
waste disposal systems are covered under the UIC program
if they are used for the disposal of sanitary waste and have
the capacity to serve 20 or more persons per day, such as a
cesspool at a visitor center, business, or school.
! Residential large-capacity cesspools are covered by this
regulation if they serve a multiple dwelling, community, or
regional system.
For example, multiple homes plumbed into a single
cesspool or a series of cesspools (gang cesspool(s)).
If cesspools are banned, how will we get rid of sewage?
If municipal sewer lines are accessible, sewage should
be disposed to the municipal sewer for treatment before its
release to the environment.
If a sewer line is not accessible, replacing or upgrading
cesspools so that they are part of a conventional septic
system or enhanced onsite wastewater treatment system) is
acceptable and can reduce the risk of contamination.
Cesspool owners should consult with the DOH Waste
Water Branch and the County Wastewater Program to learn
what alternatives are allowable and what regulations or
codes apply to their situation.
The type of waste treatment required may vary based
on an area’s vulnerability to contamination, soils, hydrogeology
and climate.
Failure to close or upgrade a large-capacity cesspool
by April 5, 2005 could result in enforcement by the EPA,
including a fine of $32,500 per day per large capacity
cesspool.
reprinted courtesy HIREC Bulletin October 2004
brought to you by Wailea Makena Real Estate Inc.
www.wailea-makena-real-estate.com
Peter Gelsey R (PB)
Wailea Makena Real Estate, Inc.
direct (808) 357-4552
Toll free 800-482-5089
fax (808) 442-0946
email pgelsey@aol.com