Armed with an in-place monitoring mechanism, leaders of the Hanalei Watershed Hui will share water-quality information about the Hanalei River and Hanalei Bay with anyone interested on April 20. Failing Hanalei cesspools have been literally “flushing” untreated sewage into the
Armed with an in-place monitoring mechanism, leaders of the Hanalei Watershed Hui will share water-quality information about the Hanalei River and Hanalei Bay with anyone interested on April 20.
Failing Hanalei cesspools have been literally “flushing” untreated sewage into the river and bay during the two months of recent rains, hui officials said in a press release.
After nearly two months of steady rain, the ground is saturated, and cesspools in Hanalei are unable to handle additional wastewater.
Over 200 cesspools are “flushing” their contents into the groundwater, which finds its way to the river and bay.
Some residents are experiencing complete malfunctions of their wastewater systems, and are replacing cesspools with septic systems.
The Hanalei Watershed Hui has been conducting water-quality sampling throughout this rain event, and will report its findings at the hui meeting, on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Hanalei courthouse.
Those who are concerned about septic systems in Hanalei or other areas of Kaua’i are invited to come and learn more about the problem, and discuss solutions.
For more information about this meeting or the Hanalei Watershed Hui, visit the Web site, www.hanaleiwatershedhui.org, or call 826-1985.
Hanalei Watershed Hui members implemented a Watershed Action Plan for the Hanalei Bay Watershed and the ahupua’a of Hanalei, Waioli, Waipa and Waikoko.
This plan includes projects to study the water quality of the Hanalei River and Hanalei Bay.
They have recently been awarded a contract by state Department of Health to conduct similar testing for their purposes, a first for a nonprofit in Hawai’i.
Hui members are all those who participate, and all hui meetings are open to members of the public.
This meeting will address the issue of failing cesspools in Hanalei and the implications for those swimming and surfing in Hanalei Bay.
Makaala Kaaumoana is the Hanalei Watershed Hui executive director, and may be reached at 826-1985, or hanaleiriver@hawaiian.net.
