Letters | 9-28-15

ATUs are better for coral reef health

The Hawaii cesspool and coral reef health situation must be addressed and the case for Aerobic Treatment Units (ATUs) made for cesspool replacements.

If your child is diagnosed with diabetes, you don’t change his diet in four to eight years. Coral reefs are adversely affected by our untreated cesspool wastewater. We must act now, and ATUs are the “now” answer, for Puako and for Hawaii.

There are errors in the Puako sewage plant promotion, including timeframe to build a plant, ATU operation cost, initial build cost, ATU treatment capability, ATU effluent re-use capability, and ATU suitability for all properties.

ATUs are tested, proven residential wastewater treatment. They treat 40 times better than a septic system since they can remove 70 percent of the nitrogen. New models last for decades with little required maintenance. They have little sludge build-up (aerated water grows microbes, which process the solids and clean the waste). They can have a disinfection stage ($500) and the effluent can be re-used, reducing water bills.

A homeowner can hire an engineer, apply for a permit to replace their cesspool and have it replaced in a month or two. Cost is between $15,000 to $30,000. Homeowner equity loans can pay for this improvement at low interest. Coastal owners have a $10,000 potential tax write-off.

In the 20 months of this Puako “feasibility study” to promote a sewage plant, we could have replaced all Puako cesspools.

Brian Lamb, a certified local wastewater technician, monitors and maintains more than 15 ATUs in Puako already. A special improvement district would ensure monitoring and maintenance of all Puako ATUs at a low cost, allow bulk ATU purchasing and ensure 100 percent cesspool replacements.

ATUs are clearly the better answer to an overdue wastewater problem, for Puako, for Hawaii, for the coral reef ecosystem.

Phil Hayward

Biologist and Puako resident