HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0131.022 2020-2022 P/Council
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C OFOAL REEF ALLIANCE
Dear, Councilmen&Councilwomen,
Re: Bill 025 Relating to Public Improvements and Financing COUNTY CLERK
Reference: Comm. 131 COUNTY ,OF HAWAivi
Tuesday,March 2,2021 RECEIVED
Time
From: Erica Perez-Sr.Program Manager(Hawai'i Island) Q
epercz@a corai.or Date 1
Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL)
Subject: I am testifying in Support of Bill 025 for a Puakb Facilities Plan
Attachment: Puakd,Hawaii.,Community Feasibility Study and Preliminary Engineering Report
includingAmendment#1; The Synthesis of Water qualityand Coral Reefs in Relation
to Sewage Contamination:Importance to the Puakd Region ofsouth Kohala;&Spatial
distribution and effects ofsewage on Puakd's(Hawal i)coral reefs
I am testifying in Support of Bill 025,on behalf of the Coral Reef Alliance (or CORAL)and myself,a
concerned Hawaii County resident.CORAL is an international coral reef conservation organization
that works with communities,businesses,and governments to save coral reefs.We use a science-
based approach to help coral reefs adapt to climate change.Our programs mitigate land-based
sources of pollution,such as,wastewater discharge and stormwater runoff.Untreated sewage
leaching from residential cesspools is one such source of land-based pollution negatively impacting
Hawai'i's nearshore environment.
I have been working with the Puakb community in South Kohala since 2014 to address coral health
decline linked directly to cesspools.Over the last 40 years Puakb has lost approximately 5010 of its
coral population and has been identified as one of 14 communities listed as a priority area for
cesspool conversion by the State Hawaii Dept of Health.Puako's unique geology,proximity to shore,
and high groundwater table render this location unsuitable for cesspools and other Individual
Wastewater Systems (IWS). In a dye tracer study conducted by PhD.Steven Colbert,Chair of the
University of Hawaii-Hilo Marine Science Department,found that connectivity from cesspool to reef
happens between 5hrs and 10 days,leaving no time for additional cleaning. Based on the
Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)guidelines for proper installation of IWS',IWS'do require
a functional soil-based leach field for final treatment of effluent,which Hawai'i shorelines lack,
leading raw sewage quickly flowing into the groundwater and other waterways.This sewage
pollution contains disease-causing pathogens and nutrients,such as nitrates and phosphorus.It is a
direct threat to coral and marine ecosystem health in Hawai'i and to the health of the public who
swim in these waters.
Councilmen&Councilwomen,prioritizing clean water to support coral reef health is,therefore,
critical to securing the health of Hawai'i's people.Hawai'i's land-based sources of pollution Local
351 CALIFORNIA ST STE.650,SAN FRANCISCO.CALIFORNIA 94104 415.634.0900 �'415.834.0999 '= 4,
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CORAL REEF ALLIANCE
Action Strategies (LAS) document identified cesspools as a significant source of nutrients that
impact the health of coral reefs,and the Division of Aquatic Resources identified that eliminating
wastewater impacts as a priority for promoting the recovery of HawaiTs coral reefs under,the
2017 Coral Bleaching Recovery Plan.
In 2015,CORAL'contracted AQUA Engineering to conduct The Puako,Hawaii: Community
Feasibility Study and Preliminary Engineering Report(or PER),that evaluated several treatment
options and recommended the community install an onsite treatment facility to safeguard the
health of community members and protect the nearshore marine environment(please see attached
PER).The onsite treatment facility is a long-term solution and the only option to address
environmental and human-health concerns by eliminating nearly all residential sewage pollution
and disposing of it away from the shoreline.
By replacing outdated cesspools and septic tanks,we are securing the health of the reef for future
generations.The Puako community's initiative and efforts to identify the best-localized solution are
an example that can be followed throughout the state and can help inform the Department of Health
(DOH) in developing a statewide transition for shoreline properties.
We understand there are significant costs associated with replacing residential cesspools with the
recommended onsite treatment facility.We urge the state and its counties to work together and
identify a fair and equitable means to transition homes away from cesspools to appropriate
wastewater treatment technology,while doing everything possible to lessen the financial burden
on the individual homeowner.
Supporting Bill 025,begins the process to implement the best wastewater treatment system for
Puako reef and the South Kohala community.I am enthusiastic to share lessons learned through
this multi-year collaborative effort and to be a part of identifying a sustainable and cost effective
solution for wastewater treatment and discharge across the state which prioritizes both coral and
human health.
In closing,CORAL Supports Bill 025. Mahalo,for the opportunity to provide this testimony.
Sincerely,
Erica Perez,Sr.Program Manager(Hawai'i Island)
eperez@coral.org
Coral Reef Alliance
351 CALIFORNIA ST. STE.650,SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA 94-,04 415.834.0906 r 415.834,0999