Restoring Ecosystems in Hawai’i by Converting Cesspools to Green Infrastructure

We are excited to announce that we’ve been awarded an Impact Grant from the Woodard and Curran Foundation! During the next three years we will be working in Hawai’i to reverse ecosystem damage done by cesspools. We will be working to neutralize these sources of raw sewage with targeted green infrastructure. There are almost 90,000 cesspools remaining in Hawai’i that contribute more than 53 million gallons of untreated sewage to the environment - that’s a huge impact on ecosystem and public health! With the $100,000 Impact Grant from the Woodard and Curran Foundation, we will work with homeowners and local communities to turn these cesspools into proper treatment systems that protect the watersheds and communities. This project builds on concepts and green infrastructure designs that we successfully tested at a hotel septic overflow area in Guánica, Puerto Rico.

Biochar

Working with our partners at Wastewater Alternative Innovations (WAI), Dr. Roger Babcock with the University of Hawai'i Water Resources Research Center, and Albert McCullough with Sustainable Science LLC, we plan to design, test, and certify a green infrastructure wastewater treatment system. This system will use safe and effective natural methods to trap, absorb, and neutralize pollutants. These methods include planting vetiver grass beds, which grow deep roots and absorb high volumes of nutrients, and installing treatment areas with biochar, a type of charcoal product that retains carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen, as well as heavy metals and other contaminants. Biochar also increases water retention and enhances microorganism diversity, which improve soil fertility and supports the growth of plants and other beneficial organisms.

Vetiver Grass

This project will reduce the cost barrier for low- and middle-income homeowners to convert cesspools to effective green infrastructure solutions. Currently, there is a $10,000 tax incentive to support infrastructure conversion, but this doesn’t make conversion costs feasible for most homeowners. Our natural treatment system will be affordable enough to be accessible to more homeowners and communities. We also plan to work with local communities and entities to support proposed conversion legislation, streamlining the conversion of these cesspools to safe and natural systems. These infrastructure updates will significantly reduce pollution, improve environmental health, and support community health.

The Portland, Maine based Woodard & Curran Foundation created by Woodard and Curran Inc. supports non-profits like us that are addressing complex environmental problems. We are excited to partner with them on this high-impact project!

Work on the ground starts soon! Check back for updates as we make strides during the coming three years to protect Hawai’ian ecosystems and support community health.