The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) has released guidance for the use of existing cesspools in residential Kula, Maui. This initiative aims to assist residents affected by wildfires as they work towards rebuilding and reoccupying their homes.
The new guidelines are based on a framework similar to that used for the Wahikuli Houselots Subdivision in Lahaina. However, there are notable differences because neither the County of Maui nor private wastewater collection systems have plans to build wastewater treatment facilities in the Kula area.
Key differences include:
- Cesspools must be lined and certified as structurally sound by a licensed civil engineer in Hawaiʻi.
- The number of bedrooms in rebuilt dwellings cannot exceed those recorded for previous dwellings by the County of Maui.
- Rebuilt homes may not have more than five bedrooms, even if the original structure had more, according to Hawai‘i Administrative Rules, Chapter 11-62.
The County of Maui has collaborated with DOH in developing and implementing this guidance. It allows homeowners impacted by wildfires to rebuild and reoccupy their homes while maintaining the integrity of existing cesspools without creating new ones.