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Home My WebLink About2024-10 EMC Meeting_Presentation SlidesEnvironmental Management Commission Briefing County of Hawaii, Department of Environmental Management Wastewater Facilities and Cesspool Conversion Plans October 30, 2024 C A R O L L O / 2 updatefooter0323.pptx/2updatefooter0323.pptx/2Objectives •Provide an overview of the components of the Wastewater Facilities and the Cesspool Conversion Plans. •Summarize public outreach efforts completed to date and feedback received. •Present an update of cesspool conversion planning activities. C A R O L L O / 3 updatefooter0323.pptx/3updatefooter0323.pptx/3Discussion Topics •Wastewater Facilities and Cesspool Conversion Plan Overview •Public Outreach Completed to Date •Cesspool Conversion Plan Status Update »Conversion categories »Criteria for draft sewer extension projects »Criteria for potential decentralized projects »Summary of potential cesspool conversions by method •Anticipated Schedule 1 Wastewater Facilities and Cesspool Conversion Plan Overview C A R O L L O / 5 updatefooter0323.pptx/5updatefooter0323.pptx/5The Wastewater Facilities and Cesspool Conversion Plans are Key Elements of the Integrated Wastewater Master Plan Cesspool Conversion Plan Wastewater Facilities Plan Integrated Wastewater Master Plan Organizational Chart Operations and Maintenance Manuals Regional Plans C A R O L L O / 6 updatefooter0323.pptx/6updatefooter0323.pptx/6Wastewater Facilities Plan •Incorporates recommendations for extending sewer service areas •Identification of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and sewage pump station (SPS) improvements to address: » Condition deficiencies » Capacity for cesspool conversions » Potential future regulations • Development of a wastewater capital improvement plan (CIP) »Existing CIP »New capital projects Existing Hilo Sewer Service Area Wastewater Facilities Plan C A R O L L O / 7 updatefooter0323.pptx/7updatefooter0323.pptx/7Cesspool Conversion Plan •Findings and recommendations for: » Extension of existing County sewer service areas » Potential new decentralized system (with a new “package” WWTP or connection to existing non-County WWTP) » Conversions to upgraded individual wastewater systems (IWS) https://www.epa.gov/septic/types-septic-systems https://twri.tamu.edu/publications/txh2o/2022/winter-2022/bigger-is-not-always-better-decentralizing-texas-wastewater-infrastructure/ Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System Cesspool Conversion PlanSeptic Tank and Leachfield 2 Public Outreach Completed to Date C A R O L L O / 9 updatefooter0323.pptx/9updatefooter0323.pptx/9Attendance and Participation Date Region Location Sign Ins1 Comment Cards2 Survey Responses3 2/13/2024 West Old Kona Airport Pavilion 56 9 19 2/15/2024 East Aunty Sally Kaleohano's Luʻau Hale 100 11 43 2/27/2024 South Naalehu Community Center 8 1 1 2/28/2024 North Kohala Intergenerational Center 24 7 13 Notes: 1 Some groups of 2 or more signed in under one name. 2 For general comments. 3 In response to following questions: • Which community do you live in? •What are your top 3 concerns about cesspool conversions? •Is there anything else you would like to learn regarding cesspool conversions? C A R O L L O / 10 updatefooter0323.pptx/10updatefooter0323.pptx/10Common Questions/Comments •Costs •Concern about the costs of cesspool conversions and requests for funding support •Concern for the risk of paying twice: present conversion to upgraded IWS and future sewer connection C A R O L L O / 11 updatefooter0323.pptx/11updatefooter0323.pptx/11Common Questions/Comments (cont’d) •IWS •Requests for more information on conversion technologies •Concern that the effluent quality from septic tanks is not significantly improved over cesspools •Concerns about site constraints (e.g., space) and restoration for onsite conversions •Concern about adequacy of workforce availability •General requests for homeowner resources (e.g., where to find contractors, engineers, how to maintain IWSs) •Questions on regulations related to composting toilets and gray water for residential reuse C A R O L L O / 12 updatefooter0323.pptx/12updatefooter0323.pptx/12Common Questions/Comments (cont’d) •Centralized/decentralized options •Questions if there are recycled water opportunities •Questions on the possibility of connecting to decentralized/non-County WWTPs •Questions on the County’s timeframe and plans for sewering •Provide more public information and education on the improved water quality C A R O L L O / 13 updatefooter0323.pptx/13updatefooter0323.pptx/13Tally: Which aspects of cesspool conversion are most important to you and your community? Construction Cost Annual Operation and Maintenance Cost Compliance with Legislative Requirement Utilization and Availability of Land Environmental ConcernsResponsibility for Operation and Maintenance Kona Hilo Naalehu Kohala 31 55 12 25 Kona Hilo Naalehu Kohala 11 22 1 7 Kona Hilo Naalehu Kohala 15 24 1 8 Kona Hilo Naalehu Kohala 9 10 0 9 Kona Hilo Naalehu Kohala 19 11 3 7 Kona Hilo Naalehu Kohala 29 40 4 7 Highest 2nd Highest 3rd Highest •Boxes were used to represent each aspect of cesspool conversion •Participants were given three tickets to vote by placing a ticket in their preferred boxes. 2 Cesspool Conversion Plan Status Update C A R O L L O / 15 updatefooter0323.pptx/15updatefooter0323.pptx/15The Cesspool Conversion Plan will Identify Potential Methods for Conversion for the County’s ~48,600 Cesspools Individual Wastewater System ≈70% Existing Service Areas ≈20% C A R O L L O / 16 updatefooter0323.pptx/16updatefooter0323.pptx/16Cesspool Conversion Categories for Existing Service Areas •Sphere 1 »Within the initial sewer extension service area boundary. »Must connect to the sewer system and treatment plant. »Increased flows are within existing collection system and treatment plant capacities. •Sphere 2 »Outside the initial sewer extension service area boundary. »May connect to the sewer system and treatment plant but may require system expansion. »Decentralized sewer system potential. »IWS potential. •Sphere 3 »Outside the initial extension sewer service area boundary. »IWS is the primary potential conversion method. C A R O L L O / 17 updatefooter0323.pptx/17updatefooter0323.pptx/17WWTP Existing sewer system and WWTP Conceptual Cesspool Conversion Categories – Existing C A R O L L O / 18 updatefooter0323.pptx/18updatefooter0323.pptx/18WWTP Conceptual Cesspool Conversion Categories – Sphere 1 Sewer system extension Sewer system extension C A R O L L O / 19 updatefooter0323.pptx/19updatefooter0323.pptx/19WWTP WWTP Conceptual Cesspool Conversion Categories – Sphere 2 Decentralized system Sewer system extension IWS WWTP expansion & sewer system upgrades Sewer system extension C A R O L L O / 20 updatefooter0323.pptx/20updatefooter0323.pptx/20WWTP WWTP Conceptual Cesspool Conversion Categories – Sphere 3 IWS IWS IWS C A R O L L O / 21 updatefooter0323.pptx/21updatefooter0323.pptx/21Criteria for Selection of Potential Sphere 1 Sewer Conversion Priority Areas/Projects •Selection Criteria »Prior EPA grant commitments (Hilo service area) »Lot size »Proximity to an existing sewer »Available WWTP capacity »Department of Health (DOH) cesspool priority »Cesspool density »Logical neighborhood boundaries and contiguous areas »Affordable housing »DHHL and federal entities »Commercial and Industrial entities high pollutants and under the pretreatment AOC »Residential homes and small businesses C A R O L L O / 22 updatefooter0323.pptx/22updatefooter0323.pptx/22Hilo Example - Existing C A R O L L O / 23 updatefooter0323.pptx/23updatefooter0323.pptx/23Hilo Example – Sphere 1 Sewer system extension C A R O L L O / 24 updatefooter0323.pptx/24updatefooter0323.pptx/24Hilo Example – Sphere 2 Sewer system extension/ Decentralized WWTP expansion C A R O L L O / 25 updatefooter0323.pptx/25updatefooter0323.pptx/25Hilo Example – Sphere 3 IWS IWS C A R O L L O / 26 updatefooter0323.pptx/26updatefooter0323.pptx/26Draft Sphere 1 Sewer Extension Project Summary Service Area No. of Projects No. of Cesspools Hilo 14 4,320 Kealakehe 10 3,343 Honokaa 5 326 Papaikou 5 235 Kulaimano 3 31 Kapehu 0 0 Pahala 1 300 Naalehu 1 94 Total 39 8,649 C A R O L L O / 27 updatefooter0323.pptx/27updatefooter0323.pptx/27Criteria for Selection of Potential New Decentralized Systems •Identified areas with 50 cesspools within a 1/8 mile radius »66 areas, 17,390 cesspools •Removed areas within proposed extension of existing service area boundaries •Reviewed each potential area; grouped if within 2 miles »Cost of package WWTP vs. 2 miles of pipe •Added the Puako community •Resulted in 26 potential decentralized opportunities C A R O L L O / 28 updatefooter0323.pptx/28updatefooter0323.pptx/28Potential Decentralized Project Opportunities Location No. of Cesspools Puna 123 Puna 230 Puna 88 Puna 190 Hilo 3,079 Hilo 156 Hilo 92 Honomu 135 Laupahoehoe 86 Paauilo 136 Honokaa/Paauhau 126 Honokaa 335 Hawi 181 Hawi 180 Location No. of Cesspools Waimea 822 Waimea 445 Waikoloa Village 371 Kealekehe 1,609 South of Kealekehe/Honalo 273 South of Kealekehe/Kealakekua 56 South of Kealekehe/Captain Cook 191 South Captain Cook/Pebbles Beach 127 Ninole Cove 76 Puako 196 Hawi 281 Hawi 196 TOTAL 9,723 C A R O L L O / 29 updatefooter0323.pptx/29updatefooter0323.pptx/29Preliminary Summary of Potential Cesspool Conversions by Method Cesspool Conversion Method No. of Projects No. of Cesspools Percent of Total County-Led Sewer Extension to Existing County WWTP 39 8,649 17.8% Potential Community-Led New Decentralized System/Extension to Existing Non-County WWTP 26 9,723 20.0% Property Owner-Led IWS 30,224 62.2% Total 48,596 100% 3 Anticipated Schedule C A R O L L O / 31 updatefooter0323.pptx/31updatefooter0323.pptx/31Anticipated Schedule (pending County Management confirmation) •Draft Cesspool Conversion Plan – Q2, 2025 •Draft Facilities Plan – Q3, 2025 •Draft Integrated Wastewater Management Plan – Q3, 2025 C A R O L L O . C O M Mahalo!