WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
NOTICE OF
VARIANCE APPLICATION NO. W W 228
DOCKET NO. 06 – V W W – 17
Pursuant to H.R.S. §342D-7(i), Hawaii Revised Statutes, the State Department of Health (DOH) seeks written comments from interested persons regarding the following. David Knittle & Carol Gibson of Honaunau, Hawaii, has applied for a five (5) year variance from Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Section 11-62\u0010-03 Definitions which states Individual wastewater system means a facility which is designed to receive and dispose of no more than 1000 gallons per day of domestic wastewater. Individual wastewater systems may involve treatment processes and include, but are not limited to, septic tanks and household aerobic units with disposal system and cesspools. Each individual wastewater system shall be an independent system and shall have all of its plumbing, treatment (if any), and disposal components separate from any other wastewater system, and Section 11-62-31.1(a)(2)(D) which states The total wastewater flow into each individual wastewater system shall not exceed 1,000 gallons per day.
Mr. Peter Dahlberg, Civil Engineer, is the authorized individual to act for the applicant. The applicant states that the existing cesspools have failed. A new septic system is proposed to serve all residences. A new 1500 gallon septic tank and 12 x 28 absorption bed is proposed as the most feasible solution, given the small property size, and location of existing structures. Flow into proposed IWS exceeds five (5) bedroom/1000 gallons per day. The three (3) dwellings have a total of six (6) bedrooms. Estimated design flow is 1,200 gallons per day. Existing cesspools servicing three (3) dwellings are to be abandoned. The dwellings are located at 82-6167 Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook, Hawaii and the property is identified as TMK: (3) 8-2-015:017. The property is 24,132 square feet in size.
The applicant has made the following comments.
1. The area of the (usable) lot (area) is 24,132 square feet. This is insufficient to meet the minimum land area requirements for IWS utilization which is one IWS per 10,000 square feet of lot area.
2. The large capacity septic system proposed to serve the facility would not comply with HAR Section 11-62-03 because the IWS would receive more than 1,000 gallons per day of wastewater. The estimated flow into the system would be 1200 gallons per day.
3. The existing large capacity cesspool(s) must be closed and replaced with a new treatment individual wastewater system by April 5, 2005 in order to comply with federal requirements.
4. The current State requirement of a wastewater treatment plant would significantly add to the construction cost as well as require a much greater ongoing maintenance cost.
5. Existing cesspools have failed. A new septic system is proposed to serve all residences. A new 1500 gallon septic tank and 12 x 28 absorption bed is proposed as the most feasible solution, given the small property size and location of existing structures.
6. The applicant believes this variance request is in the public interest because the LCC will be upgraded to an IWS (septic system). The IWS plans will be designed by an engineer and will be submitted to DOH for review and approval. The new IWS will provide a better wastewater treatment system compared to the existing LCC. Therefore minimizes impact to the environment.
7. The existing LCC will be upgraded to an IWS (septic system). The IWS will provide a better treatment system prior to effluent disposal. The IWS will be designed and constructed to meet the Department of Health standards. The impact to the environment will be minimized compared to the current wastewater disposal.
8. The proposed treatment individual wastewater systems will provide greater protection than the large capacity cesspools. The proposed IWS is an improvement to the existing cesspool in terms of wastewater treatment. The septic tank will provide pretreatment and sludge removal prior to effluent disposal.
9. The owner of the facility simply cannot afford to build and operate wastewater systems meeting all the requirements of HAR Chapter 11-62 such as small aerobic wastewater treatment plants.
10.The variance is requested for the maximum of five (5) years.
If you would like to review the full application, please call or write to the Wastewater Branch, 919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 309, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814-4920, telephone (808) 586-4294 or fax (808) 586-4300 to obtain a copy or facsimile.
DOH will consider all written comments received within thirty days of this notice. If warranted, DOH may hold a public hearing on the variance application, after a separate thirty-day written comments and the public hearing, if any.
CHIYOME L. FUKINO, M.D.
Director of Health (SB03510081 9/9/06)
