The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined the Grove Farm Company Inc. and The Gas Company more than $104,500 for operating illegal large-capacity cesspools in Lihue, Kauai.
Such cesspools were banned nationally in April 2005 as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA said, because they collect and release untreated raw sewage into the ground, where disease-causing pathogens, harmful chemicals and pharmaceuticals can contaminate groundwater, streams and the ocean.
As part of a settlement agreement, Grove Farm has agreed to pay a $58,716 penalty and to close seven large-capacity cesspools either through connections to a sewer system or by installing individual wastewater systems.
The seven large capacity cesspools to be closed in Lihue include:
• One cesspool that serves bathrooms in the Puhi Building on Kuhio Highway;
• Two cesspools that serve bathrooms at Kauai Motorsports at Kaumualii Highway;
• Four cesspools that serve bathrooms at the Hanamaulu Shops at Kaumualii Highway.
Grove Farm has also agreed to connect six small-capacity cesspools associated with single-family homes next to the Puhi Building to the sewer line at a minimum cost of $96,000.
Additionally, Grove Farm will perform a compliance audit of all its landholdings in the state to identify and close all large-capacity cesspools on its properties.
EPA also fined the Gas Company, which does business as Hawaii Gas, a $45,840 penalty for a large-capacity cesspool serving bathrooms at a commercial gas products storage and showroom on Rice Street in Lihue.
Hawaii Gas has closed the cesspool at the building and has agreed to replace two small-capacity cesspools associated with homes in Waialua with approved septic systems at a cost of at least $115,000.
“EPA will continue to take enforcement actions to close all illegal large-capacity cesspools in Hawaii,” said Pacific Southwest Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Director Amy Miller in a news release. “Every cesspool closed represents progress toward cleaner groundwater, coastal waters, and beaches for Hawaii.”
In the 20 years since the federal ban, EPA said it has ordered the closure of over 3,900 illegal cesspools in Hawaii, and assessed about $5.6 million in penalties. More than 1,000 still remain.
Source: The Garden Island
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