11-09-2006, 05:37 AM
The aerobic waste water treatment system is the next step up from a regular septic system. On Maui any septic field within 1000 feet of a water well is required to have one of these. While an aerobic system has the usual leach field, its tank has an extra compartment that holds a powerful aerator that blows air bubbles through the fluid. The bubbler runs about 12 hours every day so it is electrically demanding. In principle it is similar to a municipal waste treatment plant.
The aerobic system we that Maui County required us to install for a 3Br/2Ba single family residence cost $17,000, but it did come with one year's paid inspection and maintenance.This is obviously a ridiculous price for a single family septic system but could probably be added into a mortgage for most people. If you are just scraping together a down payment it would be a burden.
I feel divided about this as price is only one issue. Puna soils, when there are any, percolate remarkably quickly, often into cracked and loosely piled rock such as you see exposed on the makai end of the Kapoho Road. You know the leach liquid goes straight down, eventually into the Puna acquifer, the largest acquifer on the island. On Maui we had heavy clay (old pineapple field) but the county still required the aerobic system due to our proximity to the subdivision's well.
The aerobic system we that Maui County required us to install for a 3Br/2Ba single family residence cost $17,000, but it did come with one year's paid inspection and maintenance.This is obviously a ridiculous price for a single family septic system but could probably be added into a mortgage for most people. If you are just scraping together a down payment it would be a burden.
I feel divided about this as price is only one issue. Puna soils, when there are any, percolate remarkably quickly, often into cracked and loosely piled rock such as you see exposed on the makai end of the Kapoho Road. You know the leach liquid goes straight down, eventually into the Puna acquifer, the largest acquifer on the island. On Maui we had heavy clay (old pineapple field) but the county still required the aerobic system due to our proximity to the subdivision's well.