All upcountry residents are welcome at the Kula Community Association’s 7pm meeting this Wednesday, February 21 at the Kula Community Center. Three issues that greatly affect upcountry life will be discussed: Cesspools, Glycine Weed, and County Manager.
CESSPOOLS: The State Department of Health has designated Upcountry Maui’s 7,400 cesspools as a #1 Priority Area. Priority #1 means: “Where cesspools present a Significant Risk of Human Impacts, Drinking Water Impacts, or Draining to Sensitive Waters.” The #1 designation follows their “Draft Upcountry Maui Groundwater Nitrate Investigation Report”.
Web-link to Power-Point Presentation
Web-links to Department of Health Upcountry Maui Cesspools Documents
#1 September 2014 Report on Cesspool Problems on the Neighbor Islands Human Health and Environmental Risk Ranking of On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems for the Hawaiian Islands of Kauai, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii. NOTE: Oahu’s problems were reported in 2009
#2 December 2017 Report to the 2018 State of Hawai‘i Legislature (36 Pages) Relating to Cesspools and Prioritization for Replacement. This report lists the statewide prioritization of cesspool problems.
#3 February 2018 DRAFT Report on Upcountry Maui Water Wells and the Nitrate Problem. Upcountry Maui Groundwater Nitrate Investigation Report. Appendices to the report.
State Dept. of Health presenters: Sina Pruder, Chief, Wastewater Branch, Joanna Seto, Chief, Safe Drinking Water Branch, and Robert Whittier, Wastewater, Hydrogeologist will describe their health concerns, discuss possible solutions, and answer audience questions.
They will use a PowerPoint presentation to describe federal EPA requirements; highlighting their specific Upcountry concerns; contrasting private vs. public water sources; and discussing potential alternative solutions and a timeline. Almost all Upcountry property owners may be affected by this potentially costly issue.
GLYCINE: Barbara Fernandez from Green and Beautiful will discuss glycine weed which is spreading rapidly throughout our Upcountry community. What can residents, landowners, and public agencies do to control this weed?
COUNTY MANAGER: Mark Hyde will discuss a revised ballot initiative which would allow residents to vote on whether they wish to have a County government structure that retains our present “Elected Strong Mayoral” form, or have a “Professional County Manager plus Strong Mayor” form.
Useful links for County Manager topic:
Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee (minutes)
The Wednesday meeting will be both an educational and pleasant evening with your neighbors! The usual great refreshments will be served from 6:30pm. Phone 283-4376 for information.