03-27-2012, 04:05 PM
Aerobic septic vs. a cesspool would typically be two very different systems in most land regions of the Earth, however, that’s not the case here in Puna and it’s a rather unique situation relative to the rest of the world.
Typically and more often than not a cesspool dug in dirt would be considered an anaerobic system because the solids are trapped within an airless chamber (A chamber deprived of oxygen/air) and left to sit creating an anaerobic environment. Here in the Puna area (predominately speaking) there are no differences between the two systems of an aerobic septic and a cesspool chipped through basalt lava flows as such a cesspool will act no differently than an aerobic system would with regard to the soil leeching attributes and the aerobic attributes. The reason being; there is a vast network of lava tubes and connective minor passageways that supply air throughout the lava flows at any given depth to sea level. A cesspool in Puna is (relatively speaking) an aerobic chamber and not like the average cesspool on the mainland dug in dirt creating an anaerobic chamber.
The reason for the bans on them here thus far is due to 3 things, concentration (small lots), high volume output (multifamily and municipal) or shoreline proximity (systems too close to the ocean). Those 3 things may result in problems, so to be safe, they were banned, otherwise they could have banned them all and why not… there aren’t all that many large parcels. There’s a reason why they weren’t banned.
The aerobic cesspool works fine here in low volume non concentrated areas and may even be better than an aerobic septic system but in concentrated situations an aerobic septic system offers a greater margin of controls with regard to the effluent discharges into the soil and a collective of the anaerobic solids build up that can be pumped out into a truck from the septic tank and processed without getting into the ground system overloading it in such concentrated volumes. In the end, the discharges are pretty much the same thing but the ground can only handle so much at a time in a given area. Large parcel single family aerobic cesspools are not banned if on one acre parcels or greater and not near the ocean because the ground can easily handle the demand.
Cesspools were one of my concerns before moving out here but since then finding out a cesspool in lava is not the same as a cesspool in dirt, the issue is no longer on my bitch list. The EPA has already done what was necessary and there are no problems now as long as the current rules are adhered to. I can sleep well knowing our cesspool isn't harming anything.
E ho'a'o no i pau kuhihewa.
Typically and more often than not a cesspool dug in dirt would be considered an anaerobic system because the solids are trapped within an airless chamber (A chamber deprived of oxygen/air) and left to sit creating an anaerobic environment. Here in the Puna area (predominately speaking) there are no differences between the two systems of an aerobic septic and a cesspool chipped through basalt lava flows as such a cesspool will act no differently than an aerobic system would with regard to the soil leeching attributes and the aerobic attributes. The reason being; there is a vast network of lava tubes and connective minor passageways that supply air throughout the lava flows at any given depth to sea level. A cesspool in Puna is (relatively speaking) an aerobic chamber and not like the average cesspool on the mainland dug in dirt creating an anaerobic chamber.
The reason for the bans on them here thus far is due to 3 things, concentration (small lots), high volume output (multifamily and municipal) or shoreline proximity (systems too close to the ocean). Those 3 things may result in problems, so to be safe, they were banned, otherwise they could have banned them all and why not… there aren’t all that many large parcels. There’s a reason why they weren’t banned.
The aerobic cesspool works fine here in low volume non concentrated areas and may even be better than an aerobic septic system but in concentrated situations an aerobic septic system offers a greater margin of controls with regard to the effluent discharges into the soil and a collective of the anaerobic solids build up that can be pumped out into a truck from the septic tank and processed without getting into the ground system overloading it in such concentrated volumes. In the end, the discharges are pretty much the same thing but the ground can only handle so much at a time in a given area. Large parcel single family aerobic cesspools are not banned if on one acre parcels or greater and not near the ocean because the ground can easily handle the demand.
Cesspools were one of my concerns before moving out here but since then finding out a cesspool in lava is not the same as a cesspool in dirt, the issue is no longer on my bitch list. The EPA has already done what was necessary and there are no problems now as long as the current rules are adhered to. I can sleep well knowing our cesspool isn't harming anything.
E ho'a'o no i pau kuhihewa.
