2017-10-25 Environmental Management Commission Minutes

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Chair Fritz asked if the public had any questions. Question from a member of the public: A man asked whether, given the porous composition of our substrate, the percolation of sewage is an issue for leach fields, septic tanks, cesspools, and gang cesspools. Vice Chair Bennett said yes, that all water still flows downhill in Hawaiʻi, and under us is fresh water floating on sea water. The percolation will get there eventually, though it is faster in some areas. Question from a member of the public: A man stated that in 23 years our population will increase, and he asked if there is any consideration of what other countries—those with WWTPs—do in terms of treating the water and getting it out of cesspools and tanks. He said the county seems to be in the dark ages as far as water and planning. Ms. Morrison agreed there are more progressive implementation strategies throughout the world, but they have done their best to look at those best practices and incorporate what is feasible. They have inherited a lot of decisions made in the 1960s and 1970s, and it will take time to overcome some of those, whether it be about wastewater, road infrastructure, etc. The strategies are how they can start to make positive gains, but they can’t get there overnight. Ms. Surprenant said it is part of the policy work they are doing, to try to focus development around already developed areas in an effort to slow down the sprawl effect seen in many of our communities. Vice Chair Bennett asked whether Ms. Morrison was familiar with the Gates Foundation’s Reinvent the Toilet Initiative. They have been working on it since 2007, and institutions like MIT and Standard have developed a very unique stand-alone toilet system. The one that got the award turns the waste into energy. The application is for the lesser developed world, but the technology could be the way of the future. Each home has its own waste processing facility, creating high quality greywater to use at the home. There are no sewer pipes or cesspool pits. Planning Director Yee asked to comment. He said the General Plan does force us as an island to take a longer viewpoint. It slows us down long enough to not just look at the here and now, but at where we want to be 20-plus years from now. Though it is a laborious process, it is a good thing to document and memorialize where we want to go. DEM has been one of the better departments in terms of being forward looking. There are a lot of issues brewing down the road. He has been working with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at UH-Mānoa, where one of the professors is an expert in sewer and waste management systems. He has been cajoling them to work with certain county departments on more forward-looking ideas with transit, sewers, and housing. It might be possible to have master level students look over things. One professor, Daniele Spirandelli, was very excited about doing a project with the county. If focused energy is needed, there are resources at UH-Mānoa. Commissioner Neff said they had thought about that for quite some time, and it should be a qualification for students that in order to graduate from a university, they have to go back into the community and design something that supports the needs of that community. 9