Two West Hawaii large-capacity cesspools are slated to be closed by the beginning of the month according to action taken by the The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA has taken an enforcement action to close two illegal large-capacity cesspools (LCC) at the My Self Storage locations in Kailua-Kona and Kealakekua. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA banned such cesspools in 2005.
The EPA defines “large capacity cesspools” to include “multiple dwelling, community or regional cesspools, or other devices that receive sanitary wastes, containing human excreta, which have an open bottom and sometimes perforated sides.”
LCCs do not include single-family residential cesspools or non-residential cesspools which receive solely sanitary waste and have the capacity to serve fewer than 20 persons per day.
“Hawaii companies must protect our surface water and groundwater resources from the disease-causing pollution found in large-capacity cesspools,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “EPA will continue to find and require the closure of all remaining illegal cesspools throughout Hawaii.”
The self storage units, owned by SC Kona Self Storage LP out of Irvine, California are located at 73-5591 Maiau Street in the Kaloko Light Industrial Area and 81-934 Waenaoihana Loop in Kealakekua.
The EPA complaint states both locations are less than two miles from important fishing and recreation areas. In July 2021, EPA inspected both self-storage locations and found two unlawful cesspools serving the properties. SC Kona Self Storage LP settled the case, agreeing to close the illegal cesspools by April 1, 2023, and pay a $53,011 penalty.
These cesspools meet the regulatory criteria of unlawful non-residential large-capacity cesspools because they could serve 20 or more persons per day. EPA is authorized to issue compliance orders and/or assess penalties to violators of the Safe Drinking Water Act’s cesspool regulations.
Cesspools collect and release untreated raw sewage into the ground, where disease-causing pathogens and harmful chemicals can contaminate groundwater, streams, and the ocean.
Since the 2005 federal ban, more than 3,750 LCCs in Hawaii have been closed; however, hundreds remain in operation. Cesspools are used more widely in Hawaii than any other state and pose a unique challenge as groundwater provides 95 percent of all water supply for the islands.
Both locations were built before the federal ban took effect.