How will waste water be handled to support the expansion?
Some residents have expressed concern that the commercial expansion will contaminate the groundwater or the water in the “Old Hamakua Ditch.” Right now, and much the same as other long-established properties in the area, the store has a cesspool. This has been there for decades and of course is less than desirable. The new buildings and expanding the store will automatically require that a new septic system be installed and the cesspool abandoned. This new system must meet all of the Department of Health and EPA rules and regulations. A new, modern system that meets all standards will be a great improvement over the cesspool. New septic systems are regulated by the State Department of Health (DOH) via Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 62, “Wastewater Systems.” The 115 pages of rules define terms, regulate different types of systems, and has enforcement provisions; they meet or exceed EPA regulations. The new system will be designed by an engineer licensed in the State of H
