County Faces 2050 Cesspool Conversion Deadline Without Clear Path
In Puakō, a coastal community on Hawai’i island, residents have spent more than a decade working to reduce the impact of their wastewater on nearby coral reefs. Their efforts have now produced a specific plan: a low-pressure liquid-only sewer system to replace the cesspools serving the area. The plan is led by Puakō For Reefs, a volunteer-run nonprofit that has drawn up the proposal as an alternative to cesspools and septic systems in low-lying coastal areas.
Hawaii has mandated the conversion of more than 49,000 cesspools on the island by 2050. Mayor Kimo Alameda has said the mandate is not feasible, leaving coastal communities in need of solutions, particularly in low-lying areas where traditional septic systems are not viable. The proposed sewer system aims to address that gap and serve as a model that could be extended to other communities facing similar wastewater challenges.