LIHU’E — A county program to utilize over $1 million in forgivable loans to covert or close existing cesspools is one step closer to becoming law.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund has $1.2 million to give to counties for cesspool conversion. At this time, it appears Kaua’i County is the only island interested in setting up a program for the 2023 fiscal year, meaning it would get the full amount.
To make this program a reality, members of the Kaua‘i County Council are seeking to pass Bill No. 2837, which would establish the program through the county’s Housing Agency.
“In January of this year, I was pretty excited because, (before) being approached by councilmembers Luke Evslin and Mason Chock, we never actually had interest because it is work for the county,” Sina Pruder with the Department of Health Wastewater Branch said during Wednesday’s Kaua‘i County Council meeting.
How to fund administrative costs is still under consideration.
The council has budgeted approximately $80,000 to cover administrative costs for the program and projects that the full cost will be between $100,000 to $150,000.
In one estimate, $1.2 million would be enough to fund between 30 and 40 conversions, which would need to be completed before the end of June 2023. Per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, cesspools must be converted by 2050.
And it’s more than just the county’s part, though, the program requires participation from interested homeowners, contractors and government agencies. The bill prioritizes properties that have an existing or approved building plan for additional dwelling unit (ADU), additional rental unit (ARU), or guest house.
Grants or a possible fee for homeowners were discussed as options to fund the additional cost which is not eligible for Clean Water State Revolving Fund money.
Evslin, the council’s Finance and Economic Development Committee chair, expressed some concern over a fee inhibiting some homeowners but did not rule out the possibility.
“Our main intention is to ensure that the program is sustainable and finding a steady source of funding to cover administrative costs is part of insurance to deliver the program,” said Evslin. “My own hope is that if there is some fee that would go towards administrative costs on the county’s end that it would still be relatively low.”
The bill and subsequent program has received support from nonprofits and residents alike.
“With the high cost of construction, parts and installation, most homeowners will need financial assistance in order to convert their cesspools,” Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations Executive Director Stuart Coleman said in written testimony. “When this program is implemented, Kaua‘i will become a model for other counties to follow in dealing with cesspool pollution and reducing the risks to public health and water quality contamination.”
The high cost of converting a cesspool can be a deterrent for some people, which resident Robert Zelkovsky noted in written testimony.
“There is no doubt in my mind that our waterways are challenged by bacterial pollution from cesspools and that by exchanging septic systems for those cesspools there would be a positive result,” Zelkovsky said. “Of course, the challenge for most homeowners is the ever-increasing cost and this bill would help with the financing and help solve another problem: the housing shortage.”
The bill will be brought up at the council’s next meeting, on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
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Laurel Smith, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0424 or lsmith@thegardenisland.com.
