The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached settlements with two major companies in Hawaii to shut down a total of eight illegal large-capacity cesspools in Lihue, part of a broader push to safeguard public health and protect the island’s water resources.

Grove Farm Company, Inc. and The Gas Company, LLC (doing business as Hawaii Gas) have agreed to close the cesspools, which were found in violation of federal law. The settlements will also result in the closure of several additional smaller cesspools across the island.

“EPA will continue to take enforcement actions to close all illegal large-capacity cesspools in Hawai‘i,” said Amy Miller, director of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance for EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “Every cesspool closed represents progress toward cleaner groundwater, coastal waters, and beaches for Hawai‘i.”

Illegal Cesspools Pose Environmental Risks

Large-capacity cesspools (LCCs)—defined as those that serve multiple residential units or can accommodate 20 or more people daily—were banned nationwide in 2005 under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA has long warned that these systems can leach raw sewage into the ground, contaminating drinking water sources and nearby marine environments with harmful pathogens and chemicals.

Despite the ban, more than 1,000 illegal LCCs are estimated to remain in Hawaii. Since the ban took effect, the EPA has enforced the closure of over 3,900 illegal cesspools statewide and collected approximately $5.6 million in penalties.

Under the terms of the settlement:

• Grove Farm will shut down seven LCCs on three properties:
• Four cesspools at the Hanamaulu Shops (3-4051 Kuhio Highway).
• Two cesspools at a motorsports dealership (3-1878 Kaumualii Highway).
• One cesspool at the Puhi Building (3-1866 Kaumualii Highway).

To comply, Grove Farm will connect the Hanamaulu and dealership properties to the municipal sewer system and install a new wastewater system at the Puhi Building. The company has also committed to a full compliance audit of its landholdings across Hawaii and will decommission six additional smaller cesspools serving homes adjacent to the Puhi Building. The latter effort alone is expected to cost at least $96,000.

Grove Farm will pay a $58,716 civil penalty as part of the settlement.

Hawaii Gas has already closed one LCC at its facility at 3990 Rice Street, which houses a commercial gas storage and showroom. The company will also replace two small residential cesspools in Waialua with modern septic systems, committing no less than $115,000 to the upgrades. Hawaii Gas will pay a $45,840 penalty.

The EPA's aggressive enforcement strategy in Hawaii reflects the urgency of addressing wastewater pollution in one of the nation’s most environmentally sensitive states.

“These cesspools were not only illegal, but they also posed a serious risk to Kauai’s groundwater and coastal ecosystems,” said Miller. “Closing them is essential to preserving Hawaii’s natural resources for future generations.”

Residents and property owners are urged to check whether their wastewater systems comply with federal and state regulations, especially as Hawaii moves toward stricter cesspool phase-outs over the next decade.