Upcountry is one of 14 top priority areas in the state where cesspool upgrades are critically needed due to “significant risk” of drinking water and environmental contamination, a state Department of Health report to the state Legislature said.
“The report findings are troubling and show wastewater from cesspools is beginning to impact drinking water in some parts of Upcountry Maui,” said Dr. Virginia Pressler, the state health director.
There are five public drinking water wells in the area that are impacted by the cesspools, and there are three new drinking water wells in development, the report said.
This means that cesspools in these areas contribute to documented impacts to drinking water or human health and appear to impact sensitive streams or coastal waters.
Hawaii has more cesspools than any other state.
Prior to the ban, there were approximately 800 new cesspools per year.
The rules also provided a temporary income tax credit for the cost of upgrading or converting a qualified cesspool to a septic tank system or an aerobic treatment system or connecting to a sewer system.
A taxpayer may apply for a tax credit of up to $10,000 for cesspools upgraded to a sewer or septic system during the next five years.
The program is limited to a total of $5 million, or about 500 cesspool upgrades per year.
Under the law, owners of cesspools located within 500 feet of the ocean, streams or marsh areas or near drinking water sources can qualify for the tax credit.

TARKWA, Ghana, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) — "In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty", so says a song by legendary musician Bob Marley.
But for Regina Fabile, 29, a native of Bonsaso within the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Area in the Western Region, 301 km from the national capital, Accra, it is not easy to find fresh drinking water despite in the vicinity of a river.
She explained that the nature of the water had over the years deteriorated to the point that even washing with it had become a problem to many.
According to her, young people, including her own brothers who engage in a poorly regulated artisanal mining as well as poorly regulated mining by multinational firms, have led to heavy contamination of the previously fresh water source.
"From my childhood, this has been our source of water for everything we needed water for in the house, whether for cooking, drinking, washing, or bathing.
However, potable water is one of the down-sides in especially the rural communities outside the municipal capital, where irresponsible environmental practices by mining firms and illegal mining are killing fresh water bodies.
And beside the negative effect of the poorly regulated small-scale and large-scale mining along the river, Bonsaso refuse dumps, household toilets and bathrooms are also located along the banks of the river.
He appealed to the municipal authorities to come to their aid to repair the solar pump for them to alleviate the suffering women and children go through to access water.
The project seeks to mobilize local government authorities and the communities to develop their own roadmaps towards managing water resources sustainably.
The people of Mile 10.5 , Domeabra, Nyamebekyere and Israel have decided to mobilize resources through the tokens community members pay for the water to be used to maintain and/or repair the boreholes.

TARKWA, Ghana, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) — "In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty", so says a song by legendary musician Bob Marley.
But for Regina Fabile, 29, a native of Bonsaso within the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Area in the Western Region, 301 km from the national capital, Accra, it is not easy to find fresh drinking water despite in the vicinity of a river.
She explained that the nature of the water had over the years deteriorated to the point that even washing with it had become a problem to many.
According to her, young people, including her own brothers who engage in a poorly regulated artisanal mining as well as poorly regulated mining by multinational firms, have led to heavy contamination of the previously fresh water source.
"From my childhood, this has been our source of water for everything we needed water for in the house, whether for cooking, drinking, washing, or bathing.
However, potable water is one of the down-sides in especially the rural communities outside the municipal capital, where irresponsible environmental practices by mining firms and illegal mining are killing fresh water bodies.
And beside the negative effect of the poorly regulated small-scale and large-scale mining along the river, Bonsaso refuse dumps, household toilets and bathrooms are also located along the banks of the river.
He appealed to the municipal authorities to come to their aid to repair the solar pump for them to alleviate the suffering women and children go through to access water.
The project seeks to mobilize local government authorities and the communities to develop their own roadmaps towards managing water resources sustainably.
The people of Mile 10.5 , Domeabra, Nyamebekyere and Israel have decided to mobilize resources through the tokens community members pay for the water to be used to maintain and/or repair the boreholes.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii’s clean drinking and recreational waters could soon be impacted by aging cesspools, a new Department of Health report says.
According to the DOH, Hawaii has more cesspools than any other state, about 88,000.
Nearly half of those are located in areas that require urgent action.
“The report findings are troubling and show wastewater from cesspools is beginning to impact drinking water in some parts of upcountry Maui,” Health Director Dr. Virginia Pressler said.
“The water in these areas is still safe to drink, with no evidence of bacterial contamination; however, there are early warning signs that tell us we must act now to protect the future of our drinking water and the environment.” The DOH says cesspools allow untreated wastewater — about 53 million gallons a day — to infiltrate Hawaii’s groundwater supply, increasing the risk for the spread of diseases and contamination.
The DOH also says Hawaii gets over 90 percent of its drinking water from groundwater.
“All cesspools pose a serious threat to our natural environment, and the 14 priority areas are our greatest concern as we are seeing the start of potential impacts to Hawaii’s shoreline and drinking water resources,” Keith Kawaoka, DOH deputy director of the Environmental Health Administration said.
The priority areas focused in the report include Upcountry Maui; Kahaluu, Diamond Head, Waimanalo, Waialua and Ewa on Oahu; Kapoho, Keaau, Puako, Hilo Bay and Kailua/Kona coastal areas on Hawaii Island; and Kapaa/Wailua, Poipu/Koloa and Hanalei Bay on Kauai.
Copyright 2017 Hawaii News Now.
All rights reserved.

Two villages in Telangana will soon get access to safe drinking water with Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Project.
A contract was signed in Chennai on Tuesday to provide financial assistance to set up the two water purification plants.
The grant contract for the project was signed between Seiji Baba, Consul General of Japan, Chennai, and Pushyamitra Sharma, managing trustee, Safe Water Network India, a non-profit organisation.
Elaborating on the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects, Mr. Baba said the Japanese government provided financial assistance to development projects being implemented by voluntary organisations and educational/medical institutes.
In Tamil Nadu too, a school for children in need is being constructed at Tirunelveli by Hebron Educational and Charitable Trust with financial assistance from the Japanese government.
The Consulate General of Japan, Chennai, which covers Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Puducherry, has supported various such projects since 1990.
Nearly ₹31 lakh is being provided as agrant to set up two water purification plants at Podichenpalle and Shankarampet villages in Medak district, Telangana.
“We are focussing on creating clusters of treatment plants to ensure viability and supervision,” he said.
The initiative will benefit about 5,000 residents in each of these villages as the plant can treat 1,000 litres per hour.
The groundwater in these areas has high fluoride content and salinity, said Anil Sondhi, vice president-technical operations, Safe Water Network.

Wild weather Tuesday wreaked havoc on the region’s water systems but safety plans were set in place, officials say.
The day started with a downed tree cutting power to the Japan Gulch water treatment facility in Langford.
The facility treats all the drinking water in the capital region.
Having it out of commission could have led to alternative treatment options to UV such as chlorine and possibly a boil water advisory.
Luckily, a new backup generator purchased by the Capital Regional District this spring kicked in until B.C.
Hydro was able to restore power by midday.
Matthew McCrank, a senior manager in infrastructure operations, said the CRD issued a wastewater discharge notice for a number of beaches in an “abundance of caution” after heavy rains caused stormwater and wastewater to overflow.
Sensors at pump stations detected the overflows and warnings were issued for Macaulay Point in Esquimalt, Clover Point in Victoria, McMicking Point, Hood, Humber and Rutland in Oak Bay, Finnerty Cove in Saanich, and Saanichton Bay in Central Saanich.
“As a result of these discharges, residents are advised to avoid entering the waters along the affected shorelines, as the wastewater may pose a health risk,” said a CRD statement.
McCrank said the lab results would likely be complete by the end of the week.

A major water main break Sunday in the East End may have contaminated drinking water in eight Pittsburgh neighborhoods — and residents should boil their water as a precaution, according to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
The 20-inch water main break was reported around 7 a.m. and was pinpointed to the intersection of Centre and South Negley avenues around 10:30 a.m., said Will Pickering, communications manager at PWSA.
The boil advisory affects approximately 7,000 homes and is expected to last at least until Tuesday evening, Mr. Pickering said.
“When there is high pressure, there is no opportunity for pathogens to enter the pipe.” PWSA employees are testing the area’s water to ensure it is safe, Mr. Pickering said, and so far all of the tested water has been adequately disinfected.
The earliest that testing could conclude would be Tuesday evening, he said.
PWSA has placed water tanks at the intersections of Centre and South Negley avenues, as well as at Centre and Euclid avenues, he said.
Robert Weimar, PWSA’s interim executive director, apologized for the inconvenience to customers on Sunday and said in a statement that there was no sign of any contamination to the water supply.
"Though our regulations require the precautionary flush and boil water advisory, disinfectant levels in our system have remained stable, and we have not detected the presence of any contaminants," he said.
Those who want to check if they are in the water-outage area can use the interactive map below.
Shelly Bradbury: 412-263-1999, sbradbury@post-gazette.com or follow @ShellyBradbury.

A major water main break Sunday in the East End may have contaminated drinking water in eight Pittsburgh neighborhoods — and residents should boil their water as a precaution, according to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
The 20-inch water main break was reported around 7 a.m. and was pinpointed to the intersection of Centre and South Negley avenues around 10:30 a.m., said Will Pickering, communications manager at PWSA.
The boil advisory affects approximately 7,000 homes and is expected to last at least until Tuesday evening, Mr. Pickering said.
“The major concern is that when the pressure drops there is an opportunity for bacteria to enter the void in the pipe, should there be a hole in the pipe,” Mr. Pickering said.
“When there is high pressure, there is no opportunity for pathogens to enter the pipe.” PWSA employees are testing the area’s water to ensure it is safe, Mr. Pickering said, and so far all of the tested water has been adequately disinfected.
The earliest that testing could conclude would be Tuesday evening, he said.
Crews began to repair the water main break Sunday and will continue Monday, he said.
Some areas of Centre Avenue have no water, he said, including two large apartment buildings and several commercial facilities.
PWSA has placed water tanks at the intersections of Centre and South Negley avenues, as well as at Centre and Euclid avenues, he said.
Shelly Bradbury: 412-263-1999, sbradbury@post-gazette.com or follow @ShellyBradbury.

One of them is GenX, a man-made compound that manufacturing facilities have discharged into North Carolina’s Cape Fear River for decades.
Mike Watters: 6 September of this year.
He had no inkling that his water might be contaminated until the company tested his well and told him it had an unsafe level of an unregulated chemical known as GenX.
And he’s not alone: residents of 115 homes within a few miles of the plant have been told their water is not safe to consume.
Hari Sreenivasan: Detlef Knappe, a professor of environmental engineering at North Carolina State, was part of the team who found GenX in downstream samples.
Hari Sreenivasan: The DEQ confronted the company in June, and Chemours agreed to stop discharging GenX into the Cape Fear River.
Hari Sreenivasan: The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority’s Sweeney treatment plant is about 80 miles downstream the Chemours plant.
Jim Flechtner, Executive Director, Cape Fear Public Water Utility Authority: It wasn’t necessarily designed to filter some of these compounds out because they’re not regulated at the national and state level.
Hari Sreenivasan: Meanwhile, residents downstream from the Chemours plant are grappling with the news that gen x and other fluorochemicals are in their drinking water.
Hari Sreenivasan: Two months ago there was another scare for downstream residents: a spill at the Chemours plant caused levels of GenX to spike to almost five times the state’s health goal of 140 parts per trillion.

The Stage One Report was released on 8 May 2017 and identified what happened, the cause of the outbreak and provided an assessment of the people and agencies responsible for providing safe drinking water to Havelock North.
There must be multiple barriers protecting water against contamination.
Suppliers must take responsibility for the safety of drinking water.
Mandate the treatment of drinking water The Inquiry has found that the risks of untreated drinking water are too high to allow for untreated water throughout New Zealand.
Amend the RMA to expressly recognise drinking water source protection The Report recommends under the principle of protecting source water, that section 6 and section 30 of the RMA are urgently amended to protect the sources of drinking water.
These changes will likely provide further tools for regional councils in relation to managing water quality, but also in relation to the complex issues associated with managing land use impacts on sources of drinking water.
Improve the compliance and accountability of drinking water providers The current regulation for drinking water standards is the DWSNZ.
Introduce a drinking water regulator and joint working groups The Inquiry found that due to the involvement of multiple health and environmental agencies in the regulation of drinking water, there are issues of collaboration and cooperation in management that are compromising the safety of drinking water.
In response to this, the Report recommends a single drinking water regulator be established .
It will be interesting to see which of the recommendations are prioritised and how the Government proposes to address the inevitable issues associated with the multi-agency responsibilities for the provision of drinking water in New Zealand.