WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
PUBLIC NOTICE OF
VARIANCE APPLICATION NO. W W 220
DOCKET NO. 06 – V W W – 09

Pursuant to H.R.S. §342-D7(i), Hawaii Revised Statutes, the State Department of Health (DOH) seeks written comments from interested persons regarding the following. The CBM Group of Pearl City, Oahu has applied for a five (5) year variance from Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Section 11-62-03Definitions 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(b)(1) which states “Whenever an individual wastewater system is allowed under subsection (a) the following shall apply: The director may allow an individual wastewater system other than a cesspool to be used for two dwelling units which may or may not be located within the same building provided (A) Both of the dwelling units are located on the same single family residential lot, and (B) The individual wastewater system used shall meet the current requirements of this chapter.”
Mr. Craig Y. Oyadomari of Hida, Okamoto & Associates, Honolulu, Oahu is the individual authorized to act for the applicant. The applicant is requesting the connection of more than two (2) dwelling units to a single individual wastewater system at the Hale Ohana Apartments at 3322 Waoke Street, Koloa, Kauai, TMK: (4) 2-8-003: 036 & 038.
The applicant has made the following comments.
a. The proposed septic tank will service 10 bedrooms per building and associated sludge. The existing cesspools will be converted to serve as the disposal system. The estimated wastewater flow is 2,000 gpd per building.
b. 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 2,012 gallons per day.
c. 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.
d. The current State requirement of wastewater treatment plant would significantly add to the construction cost as well as require a much greater ongoing maintenance cost.
e. 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.
f. 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.
g. 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.
h. 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 public notice. The final decision will be made on the basis of the application, related documents, written comments and the public hearing, if any.

CHIYOME L. FUKINO, M.D.
Director of Health (SB05523456 6/17/06)