Pāhala & Nāʻālehu Large Capacity Cesspool Closures

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2000 published a rule requiring the closure of all existing large capacity cesspools by April 5, 2005. 

In Ka‘ū, the sugar plantation company C. Brewer built and operated large capacity cesspools connected to properties in Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu. In 2003, C. Brewer requested assistance from the County of Hawai‘i to close the large capacity cesspools.  In 2010, the County of Hawai'i agreed to assume ownership of the existing collection system and large capacity cesspools with the goal of constructing a new and improved wastewater treatment system for Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu. In 2020, the County of Hawai'i decided to reevaluate the lagoon wastewater treatment system because of the discovery of a much more extensive lava tube system than previously anticipated in Pāhala.  This also led to reevaluating systems that would be a better fit for the communities of Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu and reduce environmental and fiscal concerns. The County of Hawai‘i remains committed to finding the best wastewater system for Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu.

In furtherance of those goals the County of Hawai‘i, under the Administrative Order on Consent issued in 2017, revised in 2022 and again in 2024, is closing the large capacity cesspools in Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu, and is reviewing more suitable alternative wastewater treatment options.

This web page will be updated at least monthly and will serve as a central repository to provide updates.

As of November 6, 2024:

Both communities

The County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management held its most recent semi-annual community informational meeting August 22, 2024, at the Nā‘ālehu Community Center. Click here to view the recording. The next semi-annual meeting will be held February 2025 in Pāhala.

Click ­here to see the County’s most recent semi-annual compliance report, covering the period January 1 through June 30, 2024.

Pāhala

In compliance with the federal consent order, the EPA has approved the Cesspool Closure Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan describes the remaining planning, design, and construction schedule for the package wastewater treatment plant and new collection system, following EPA’s approval of the Final Environmental Information Document. The collection system construction project has been awarded to Goodfellow Brothers Inc. Construction is anticipated to be approximately 18 months.

The County is overseeing the design and engineering, and the acquisition of necessary land and easements, for the collection system, treatment plant, and disposal system.

The final deadline for the County to close the large capacity cesspools is January 22, 2027. 

Nā‘ālehu
The County released the Draft Environmental Information Document on September 8, 2024. The Draft EID identifies the preferred action as a new collection system and new package wastewater treatment plant (Alternative 1). A public meeting to solicit comment on this Draft EID was held October 10, 2024, at the Nā‘ālehu Community Center. See video recording here. The Final EID is due to EPA by April 24, 2025.

The County continues to engage in planning, design, and land acquisition efforts to meet deadlines. 

The final deadline for the County to close the large capacity cesspools is December 31, 2027.

Additional Information

Follow the links below for more information:

• Community Outreach
• Regulatory Updates
• EPA Administrative Order on Consent

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