Take 2...container building

[gastropod]

Thanks for the info Wao nahele kane!

[Youser]

In lower HPP a septic tank must be installed and must be designed by qualified engineer. The old days of blowing a great big hole in the ground for a cesspit and putting a lid on it are over.

Also many new builds in lower HPP are going with wells and not catchment systems. Some of these wells don't go down too far either. I think this is a dangerous way to get water as it is not clear how much of the waste from old cesspits runs down to the ocean, potentially contaminating newly sunk wells.

[Wao nahele kane]

Heya Youser, we agree on the wells with regard to waste water contamination... what I wrote about the location of the wells is what is recommended by the water and health district for safety factors. Going to close and shallow to the shoreline has many potential natural hazards (salts, natural aerobic bacteria and debris, etc) without even considering the cesspool issue the locations further inland and or at greater elevations provide greater hydrostatic pressures above sea level and naturally flush salts when near the shoreline and other potential natural infiltrating ocean contaminates, such basic well locations provide basic elemental safeguards for water quality as well as the water volume potentials. Certainly one can get water near the shore from a well, but... it isn't really a wise idea unless you’re going to use it for agricultural watering. I certainly wouldn't drill for water near the shore unless I was perhaps in Kau and or dry on the west side and I certainly would have it filtered and wouldn't allow even a sip of it for human or livestock/pet consumption.

As per the cesspools, have they made that an island wide ban or is it just now recently applicable to HPP with the new growth spurt as it has been with a select few other subdivisions? Full septic systems have nearly always been required in a few particular areas as some of the denser subdivisions but on the “whole” - cesspool are/ were far greater with regard to areas approved in. So my question is this; is this now a county wide mandate or simply that HPP recently got nailed with the full septic system requirement because of the recent higher density growth spurt?
Unless it’s a new county wide ban I would assume that the 3 acre Ag and above developments may still be only subject to cesspools.




E ho'a'o no i pau kuhihewa.

[Kapohocat]

Cesspools are allowed on an acre of more (typically) although there are upper parts of Sea View that cesspools are allowed on less than one acre. Cesspools are not allowed below I think 5th in HPP because of the proximity to the ocean. it is not related yet to the population density in HPP. Septic systems are required close to the shoreline, or in some cases in such as Kapoho in some areas aerobic systems are required.

You can call the DOH in Hilo and ask if you have any specific questions or talk to your civil engineer.

And I am with you on the wells and cesspools. Daniel Diamond says its safe if you follow the proper location specs but I personally cant get my head around drinking possible poo-water.

[Wao nahele kane]

Kapohocat,
Thanks for clearing that up.
I checked that info a few months back on our parcel, I doubt anything has changed since so it's still cesspool then. I just asked because it sounded as if there had possibly been a new county wide ban on them and I couldn't find any such ban on-line.


E ho'a'o no i pau kuhihewa.

[Chuysmom]

ROFLOL Cat, is "poo-water" official builder-speak? Haa haa...[xx(]

Carrie


"The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it." Galadriel - LOTR