😮 Di Big Wahala Wit Hawaii Cesspools: Rich Man Area No Dey Safe Too!

⬇️ Pidgin ⬇️ ⬇️ Black American Slang ⬇️ English

Wetin person go fit think na say Hawaii get over 80,000 cesspools wey mostly dey inside rural area. But dis thing no be so as e still dey some of di top top area for Oahu, like Black Point, where big big houses dey, plus places wey near beach for Kailua and all side for North Shore wey dem take dey do ogbonge surfing. 🏡🌊

Di new Hawaii Cesspool Prioritization Tool wey University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program launch wit support from state Health Department, na so so interactive map e be. E dey show where di important cesspools dey for state wey need plan to change am. As e dey for Act 125 wey dem sign for 2017, all di cesspools for Hawaii must upgrade, change or connect to sewer before 2050 reach. 🗺️🧾

Cesspools na just like shallow hole wey dey underground wey dem dey use throway human waste wey no treat. Dis thing fit cause big big sickness and nitrates enter ocean, streams and groundwater, na wetin U.S. Environmental Protection Agency talk. Dis na very bad thing as na groundwater di state dey use get like 90% of dem drinking water. 🚰💧

Inside di map, dem list di cesspools by di wahala wey dem fit cause. Red na for Priority 1 wey mean say di wahala wey e fit cause na ogbonge one. Priority 2 na still bad but no reach 1, while Priority 3 own no too bad. Priority 1 cesspools fit cause big big wahala for human health and nature, especially those ones wey dey near where coral reefs dey or where people dey get drinking water. 🎴💦

Most of di Priority 1 cesspools dey inside single-family houses wey dey near coastline, like Oahu’s Windward side from Kahaluu, plus from Hauula go reach Kahuku, but e still dey all side for North Shore wey better surfing dey, from Sunset Beach Park reach Haleiwa. 🏝️🏄

Some Priority 1 cesspools sef dey inside Kailua, Waimanalo, Ewa Beach, Makaha, Mokuleia and Waialua. Dis one no surprise Arleen Velasco, wey be co-coordinator for Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force. Na volunteer water quality monitoring program dem be. 🏞️💪

From 2018 reach now, volunteers dey test ocean waters wey near beach, surfing spots and where river dey enter ocean for enterococci. Na dis thing dey show whether fecal matter dey water, to show people say pollution wahala dey. Dem dey do dis testing for areas wey di state Department of Health no dey cover, and even when brown-water advice dey, to fit cover all di gap for data. 🌊🔍

Di places wey volunteers dey test reach 25, like Black Point East and Cromwell’s Beach wey near Doris Duke Shangri La estate. Velasco talk say, na so so enterococci dey Oahu sites wey dem test, especially those ones wey near cesspool, and Black Point no dey different. “Area wey plenty cesspool dey like Black Point, I no know why dem no put am for high priority”. 🏖️🧪

Inside di Blue Water Task Force 2022 water quality report, Surfrider Foundation find out say na for seven sites dem get bacteria level pass. Some of di sites na Heeia Stream, Kaupuni Stream for Waianae, Hakipuu Boat Ramp, “Chocolates” for Haleiwa Beach Park, Waiahole Beach Park, Kuliouou Stream and Kahaluu. Most of dis places na top places wey wahala dey for 2021 and dis year, e be like say e still dey so, na wetin Velasco talk. 📘🌴

Di task force pick some places like Kahaluu wey plenty coastal cesspools dey, because dem know say Oahu get up to 11,000 cesspools wey dey throway about 7.5 million gallons of untreated shit water every day. But dem just add Pokai Bay for Leeward side because people for community dey complain say dem dey sick after dem swim for there. 🌅🤒

Surfrider find out say 75% of samples from where Kaupuni Stream, wey dey feed enter Pokai Bay and plenty cesspools dey around am, don pass state health standard. Stuart Coleman, wey be executive director for the nonprofit Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations, or WAI, talk say plenty houses for Diamond Head Road near popular Makalei Beach Park dey use cesspool, while others just upgrade am for di past ten years. 🏞️⚠️

Di houses na big big houses wey cost plenty money, he talk, and you go think say di people wey get di houses fit afford to change their cesspools. But e no dey always be like that. Coleman talk say di wahala na to make people know say e dey very important to change cesspools for Hawaii. 🏘️💰

For 2023 state Legislature, Coleman and some other volunteers bring out report wey show say na like 83,000 cesspools dey discharge about 50 million gallons of raw shit water enter groundwater and surface waters for state every day. Di place wey Priority 1 cesspools plenty pass na Hawaii island, after am na Oahu, then Kauai and Maui. 📚💩

From wetin di report recommend, he talk say, dem introduce at least 10 bills to address cesspool wahala dis past session. But no one even pass. One of them na Senate Bill 426, wey for make dem move quick quick change Priority 1 cesspools before 2035 and Priority 2 cesspools before 2040 reach. But di bill no reach conference committee. 🗣️📜

To meet up with 2050 deadline, Coleman think say state suppose change more than 3,200 cesspools every year. “Right now we dey probably change maybe 200 to 250 max,” he talk. 💼⏳

Another bill, House Bill 180, wey plenty agency support, talk say dem go create cesspool conversion section inside DOH’s wastewater branch, with money for four new full-time workers. But dem no agree for committee. House Bill 1396 wey go start county cesspool pilot program and other initiatives also die. 😞💼

“The state don dey push this thing go front for many many years,” Coleman talk. “We get the highest number of cesspools per person for di whole country, and we be di last

people to ban am by 3-1/2 decades.” But as e be now, dem go need to do am sharp sharp because data dey show say bacteria levels still dey for recreational waters near cesspools, he talk. Plus climate change go make the wahala big as sea levels dey rise. 🌍🌡️

Rain wey too much and storms fit pull sewage enter sea, and na so dem go give brown-water advice for local beaches. The higher the water table, the more likely say cesspool water go mix with am and flow enter ocean. The shit matter wey end up for ocean water, e dey very harmful not only for people health, but also for coral reefs, wey dey protect us when big storm dey. 🌧️🌊

The big wahala for most homeowners, Coleman talk, na the upfront cost to change cesspools, wey dey mostly in the $30,000 to $40,000 range. Di costs dey high for Hawaii because dem go need to bring parts come from far place. Based on affordability analysis for di final report, 97% of homeowners go get financial wahala if dem want change their cesspool. 💰💔

For March, DOH start pilot cesspool grant program as result of bill wey pass for 2022 wey WAI dey push for. The program get total of $5 million and e go give up to $20,000 to help low and moderate-income property owners change their Priority 1 or 2 cesspools or connect to available sewage system. Di program start on March 15, according to DOH, and e finish within three days of accepting applications. DOH get waitlist, and for now e don get 142 applicants for am. 💸📑

Di final report to the state Legislature talk say to do dis kind big project wey go cover more than 80,000 cesspools, go need plenty planning with different stakeholders and government institutions. Dem need more financial incentives for cesspool conversions, the report talk, including grants, tax credits and loans. 📋👥

Federal funding opportunities dey now to help with wastewater systems for specific time, Coleman talk, but e go need more people to apply for them. “If we no take advantage of am, we go lose out,” he talk. 🇺🇸💰

Hawaii Cesspools Facts

Hawaii get approximately 83,000 cesspools wey dey discharge about 50 million gallons of raw shit water enter groundwater and surface waters every day (as of 2022).
Total cost to change all di cesspools go pass $2 billion.
About 37% of Priority 1 cesspools dey for Hawaii island, 35% for Oahu, 21% for Kauai, 7% for Maui.

Make una go check interactive map and other resources for cesspool conversion for hawaiicesspooltool.org. If you get house and you want know more about cesspool, you fit check waicleanwater.org/pottyportal. 🖥️🔍

NOW IN BLACK AMERICAN SLANG

😮 Hawaii’s Cesspools Ain’t No Joke: Even High-End Hoods ain’t Safe!

You’d reckon Hawaii, with over 80,000 cesspools, would be mainly up in rural digs. But it ain’t like that, fam. They’re in some of the poshest hoods in Oahu, like Black Point, known for its swanky cribs, as well as beach locales in Kailua and all along North Shore’s killer surf spots. 🏡🌊

The University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, backed by the state Health Department, dropped this thing called the Hawaii Cesspool Prioritization Tool. It’s a map that shows the state’s most critical cesspools that need a game plan. According to Act 125, signed in 2017, all cesspools in Hawaii gotta get upgraded, converted, or hooked up to a sewer by 2050. 🗺️🧾

Cesspools, which are pretty much shallow, underground holes for dumping untreated human waste, could potentially release harmful germs and nitrates into oceans, streams, and groundwater, says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This ain’t cool, especially since the state uses groundwater for over 90% of its drinking water. 🚰💧

On the map, cesspools are ranked by 15 risk factors. Red marks Priority 1 cesspools, which are the biggest contamination risk. Priority 2 is serious too, while Priority 3 is still a significant risk. Priority 1 cesspools can seriously impact human health and the environment, particularly those close to sensitive natural resources like coral reefs or drinking water sources. 🎴💦

Most of the Priority 1 cesspools are in single-family homes along the coastline, like the rural stretch of Oahu’s Windward side from Kahaluu to Hauula, and all along North Shore’s killer surf spots, from Sunset Beach Park to Haleiwa. 🏝️🏄

There are also pockets of Priority 1 cesspools in Kailua, Waimanalo, Ewa Beach, Makaha, Mokuleia, and Waialua. This ain’t no shocker to Arleen Velasco, co-coordinator of the Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer water quality monitoring program. 🏞️💪

Since 2018, volunteers been testing ocean waters near popular beaches, surf spots, and river mouths for enterococci, a fecal indicator, to raise awareness of local pollution problems. They test in areas that the state Department of Health might not cover, and during brown-water advisories, filling up data gaps. 🌊🔍

The approx 25 sites tested by volunteers include Black Point East and Cromwell’s Beach near the Doris Duke Shangri La estate. Velasco says these Oahu sites consistently show high levels of enterococci, often near cesspools, and Black Point ain’t no different. “It’s an area with a lot of cesspools,” she said. “I can’t figure why it ain’t higher up the list.” 🏖️🧪

In the Blue Water Task Force’s 2022 water quality report, the Surfrider Foundation identified seven sites, including Heeia Stream, Kaupuni Stream in Waianae, Hakipuu Boat Ramp, “Chocolates” at Haleiwa Beach Park, Waiahole Beach Park, Kuliouou Stream, and Kahaluu, with the highest percentage of bacteria levels. Most of these were among the top worries in 2021, and so far this year, they seem to remain as such, according to Velasco. 📘🌴

The task force picked sites like Kahaluu, characterized by high concentrations of coastal cesspools, noting that Oahu has about 11,000 cesspools discharging roughly 7.5 million gallons of untreated sewage every day. They recently added sites in Pokai Bay on the Leeward side due to community complaints about getting sick after swimming there. 🌅🤒

Surfrider found that 75% of samples from the mouth of Kaupuni Stream, which feeds into Pokai Bay and is surrounded by cesspools, exceeded state health standards. Stuart Coleman, the head honcho of the nonprofit Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations (WAI), said a lot of homes on Diamond Head Road near the popular Makalei Beach Park use cesspools, while some have only upgraded in the past ten years. 🏞️⚠️

These are some big-bucks houses, he said, where you’d think the owners could afford to convert their cesspools. But it ain’t necessarily so. Coleman highlighted the urgent need for more homeowners to understand the importance of cesspool conversion in Hawaii. 🏘️💰

For the 2023 state legislature session, Coleman and other volunteers put together a report indicating that about 83,000 cesspools discharge roughly 50 million gallons of raw sewage into groundwater and surface waters across the state daily. The highest number of Priority 1 cesspools are on Hawaii island, followed by Oahu, Kauai, and Maui. 📚💩

Based on the report’s recommendations, he said, at least ten bills addressing cesspool issues were introduced this past session. But none of them made it through. Senate Bill 426, for instance, would have sped up the upgrade, conversion, or connection of Priority 1 cesspools by 2035 and Priority 2 cesspools by 2040. However, the bill never got to the conference committee. 🗣️📜

To meet the 2050 deadline, Coleman estimates the state needs to convert more than 3,200 cesspools a year. “Currently, we’re probably only converting maybe 200 to 250 at best,” he said. 💼⏳

House Bill 180, which had broad backing from various agencies, proposed creating a cesspool conversion section within DOH’s wastewater branch, with funding for four new full-time gigs. But it was held up in the committee. House Bill 1396, which would have established a county cesspool pilot program and other initiatives, also didn’t make it. 😞💼

“The state has been dragging its feet on this for decades,” Coleman said. “We have the highest number of cesspools per person in the country, and we were the last to ban them by 3-1/2 decades.” But the urgency is mounting, as data shows that bacteria levels continue to persist in recreational waters near cesspools, he said. Plus, climate change is gonna worsen the problem as sea levels rise. 🌍🌡️

Heavy rain and storms can pull sewage out to sea, often leading to brown-water advisories for local beaches. The higher the water table, the more likely cesspool effluent is to mix with it and flow into the ocean. The fecal matter that ends up in ocean waters is harmful not only to human health but also to coral reefs, which provide protection during major storm events. 🌧️🌊

The biggest hurdle for most homeowners, according to Coleman, is the upfront cost of converting cesspools, typically in the $30,000 to $40,000 range. The costs are higher in Hawaii due to the need to ship parts to the islands. Based on an affordability analysis in the final report, 97% of homeowners would be financially burdened by cesspool conversion costs. 💰💔

In March, DOH launched a pilot cesspool grant program as a result of a bill passed in 2022, which WAI advocated for. The program had a total of $5 million and offered up to $20,000 in reimbursements to assist low- and moderate-income property owners in converting their Priority 1 or 2 cesspools or connecting to an available sewage system. The program was initiated on March 15, according to DOH, and was exhausted within three days of accepting applications. DOH has a waiting list, which currently has 142 applicants. 💸📑

The final report to the state legislature noted that undertaking a massive infrastructure project covering more than 80,000 cesspools would require planning across numerous stakeholders and governmental institutions. More financial incentives for cesspool conversions are needed, the report said, including grants, tax credits, and loans. 📋👥

Federal funding opportunities are currently available to address wastewater systems for a specific period, according to Coleman, but additional personnel are required to apply for them. “If we don’t seize this opportunity, we’re gonna miss out,” he said. 🇺🇸💰

Facts about Hawaii Cesspools

Hawaii has approximately 83,000 cesspools that discharge an estimated 50 million gallons of raw sewage into groundwater and surface waters every day (as of 2022).
The total cost of converting all cesspools is estimated to exceed $2 billion.
About 37% of Priority 1 cesspools are on Hawaii island, 35% on Oahu, 21% on Kauai, 7% on Maui.

For an interactive map and other resources on cesspool conversion, hit up hawaiicesspooltool.org. For homeowner resources on cesspools, check out waicleanwater.org/pottyportal. 🖥️🔍

NOW IN ENGLISH

😮 The Big Problem with Hawaii Cesspools: Upscale Neighborhoods are not Safe either!

One might assume that Hawaii, with over 80,000 cesspools, is largely confined to rural areas. However, this is not the case, as they are also present in some of the most upscale neighborhoods in Oahu, such as Black Point, renowned for its luxurious houses, as well as beachside areas in Kailua and all along North Shore’s prime surfing spots. 🏡🌊

The new Hawaii Cesspool Prioritization Tool, launched by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program in collaboration with the state Health Department, is an interactive map that displays the state’s high-priority cesspools requiring action plans. According to Act 125 passed in 2017, all cesspools in Hawaii must be upgraded, converted, or connected to a sewer system before 2050. 🗺️🧾

Cesspools, essentially shallow, underground holes used for the disposal of untreated human waste, can potentially release disease-causing pathogens and nitrates into oceans, streams, and groundwater, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is particularly alarming as the state relies on groundwater for more than 90% of its drinking water. 🚰💧

On the map, cesspools are ranked according to 15 risk factors. Red represents Priority 1 cesspools, which pose the greatest contamination risk. Priority 2 cesspools pose a significant risk, while Priority 3 poses a pronounced risk. Priority 1 cesspools have the highest potential to affect human health and the environment, especially those in close proximity to sensitive natural resources like coral reefs or drinking water aquifers. 🎴💦

Most of the Priority 1 cesspools are located in single-family homes along the coastline, including the rural stretch of Oahu’s Windward side from Kahaluu to Hauula, and all along North Shore’s prime surfing spots, from Sunset Beach Park to Haleiwa. 🏝️🏄

There are also pockets of Priority 1 cesspools in Kailua, Waimanalo, Ewa Beach, Makaha, Mokuleia, and Waialua. This doesn’t surprise Arleen Velasco, co-coordinator of the Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer water quality monitoring program. 🏞️💪

Since 2018, volunteers have been testing ocean waters near popular beaches, surf spots, and river mouths for enterococci, a fecal indicator, to raise awareness of local pollution problems. They test in areas that are not necessarily covered by the state Department of Health and during brown-water advisories, in an effort to fill data gaps. 🌊🔍

Approximately 25 sites tested by volunteers include Black Point East and Cromwell’s Beach near the Doris Duke Shangri La estate. Velasco mentions these Oahu sites consistently show high levels of enterococci, often near cesspools, and Black Point is no exception. “It’s an area with many cesspools,” she said. “I don’t understand why it’s not given higher priority.” 🏖️🧪

In the Blue Water Task Force’s 2022 water quality report, the Surfrider Foundation identified seven sites, including Heeia Stream, Kaupuni Stream in Waianae, Hakipuu Boat Ramp, “Chocolates” at Haleiwa Beach Park, Waiahole Beach Park, Kuliouou Stream, and Kahaluu, with the highest percentage of bacteria levels. Most of these were among the top concerns in 2021, and so far this year, they seem to remain as such, according to Velasco. 📘🌴

The task force selected sites like Kahaluu, characterized by high concentrations of coastal cesspools, noting that Oahu has an estimated 11,000 cesspools discharging about 7.5 million gallons of untreated sewage daily. However, they recently added sites in Pokai Bay on the Leeward side due to community complaints about getting sick after swimming there. 🌅🤒

Surfrider found that 75% of samples from the mouth of Kaupuni Stream, which feeds into Pokai Bay and is surrounded by cesspools, exceeded state health standards. Stuart Coleman, the executive director of the nonprofit Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations (WAI), said many homes on Diamond Head Road near the popular Makalei Beach Park use cesspools, while others have upgraded only in the past decade. 🏞️⚠️

These are multimillion-dollar homes, he said, where you would expect homeowners to be able to afford cesspool conversions. Yet, this is not necessarily the case. Coleman stressed the urgent need for more homeowners to understand the importance of cesspool conversion in Hawaii. 🏘️💰

For the 2023 state legislature session, Coleman and other volunteers compiled a report indicating that about 83,000 cesspools discharge approximately 50 million gallons of raw sewage into groundwater and surface waters across the state daily. The highest number of Priority 1 cesspools are on Hawaii island, followed by Oahu, Kauai, and Maui. 📚💩

Based on the report’s recommendations, he said, at least ten bills addressing cesspool issues were introduced this past session. But none of them passed. Senate Bill 426, for instance, would have accelerated the upgrade, conversion, or connection of Priority 1 cesspools before 2035 and Priority 2 cesspools before 2040. However, the bill never reached the conference committee. 🗣️📜

To meet the 2050 deadline, Coleman estimates the state needs to convert more than 3,200 cesspools a year. “Currently, we are probably converting maybe 200 to 250 max,” he said. 💼⏳

House Bill 180, which received broad support from various agencies, proposed creating a cesspool conversion section within DOH’s wastewater branch, with funds for four additional full-time positions. But it was deferred in committee. House Bill 1396, which would have established a county cesspool pilot program and other initiatives, also failed to pass. 😞💼

“The state has been kicking this down the road for decades,” Coleman said. “We have the highest number of cesspools per capita in the country, and we were the last to ban them by 3-1/2 decades.” However, the urgency is growing, as data shows that bacteria levels continue to persist in recreational waters near cesspools, he said. In addition, climate change will only exacerbate the problem as sea levels rise. 🌍🌡️

The biggest hurdle for most homeowners, according to Coleman, is the upfront cost of converting cesspools

, typically in the $30,000 to $40,000 range. The costs are higher in Hawaii due to the need to ship parts to the islands. Based on an affordability analysis in the final report, 97% of homeowners would be financially burdened by cesspool conversion costs. 💰💔

In March, DOH launched a pilot cesspool grant program resulting from a bill passed in 2022, which WAI advocated for. The program had a total of $5 million and offered up to $20,000 in reimbursements to assist low- and moderate-income property owners in converting their Priority 1 or 2 cesspools or connecting to an available sewage system. The program was initiated on March 15, according to DOH, and was exhausted within three days of accepting applications. DOH has a waiting list, which currently has 142 applicants. 💸📑

Federal funding opportunities are currently available to address wastewater systems for a specific period, according to Coleman, but additional personnel are required to apply for them. “If we don’t take advantage of it, we will miss out,” he said. 🇺🇸💰

Facts about Hawaii Cesspools

Hawaii has approximately 83,000 cesspools that discharge an estimated 50 million gallons of raw sewage into groundwater and surface waters every day (as of 2022).
The total cost of converting all cesspools is estimated to exceed $2 billion.
About 37% of Priority 1 cesspools are on Hawaii island, 35% on Oahu, 21% on Kauai, 7% on Maui.

To find an interactive map and other resources for cesspool conversion, visit hawaiicesspooltool.org. For homeowner resources on cesspools, visit waicleanwater.org/pottyportal. 🖥️🔍