cesspools

A Consul General of France meets with military and state officials in Hawaiʻi; Peace Corps braces for the possibility of cuts after DOGE visit

The Big Island takes in roughly $937 million in revenue, the majority of which comes from property taxes. On top of routine expenses, the county is facing significant costs for repairs to its aging wastewater infrastructure.

The recent partial collapse of an Oʻahu home into the ocean at Kammies Beach has raised a number of environmental concerns, including what's to be done with the property's cesspools.

Kauaʻi homeowners with cesspools can receive up to $20,000 in federal money to convert them. HPR talked to Stuart Coleman, the founder of Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations, to learn more about the importance of converting cesspools.

Under the proposed terms, the county will close the cesspools by June 30. Maui County will also pay a penalty of over $190,000 for violating the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached a consent decree with Hawai’i County on its aging sewage system, including the Hilo treatment plant. We sat down with EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman to talk about the dismal state of the facility.

A new study by University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo researcher Maria Steadmon looks at bacteria levels at six of Hilo's popular swimming and surfing spots.

Martha Guzman heads up the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 9, covering the southwestern states as well as Pacific islands like Hawaiʻi and Guam. The Conversation talked with Guzman about this particular phase of assessing the infrastructure critical to building Maui back better.

Surfrider Foundation Hawaiʻi released its new Blue Water Task Force Water Quality Report this week. The Conversation talked with the foundation’s Hawaiʻi Regional Manager Lauren Blickley about the most polluted beaches in our state and other results of the 2023 report.

The Conversation spoke with Stuart Coleman, the head of WAI, or Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations. He said Hawaiʻi's wastewater system needs an overhaul.