EPA Protects Kauai Water with Closures of Eight Illegal Large-Capacity Cesspools in Lihue

EPA Protects Kauai Water with Closures of Eight Illegal Large-Capacity Cesspools in Lihue

EPA settlements will also close additional smaller cesspools in Kauai

September 26, 2025

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced settlements with Grove Farm Company, Inc. and The Gas Company, LLC (doing business as Hawaii Gas) to close a total of eight illegal large-capacity cesspools and other cesspools in Lihue, Kauai. EPA banned large-capacity cesspools nationally in 2005 as these systems can contaminate drinking water sources and threaten public health.

Grove Farm will close seven large-capacity cesspools by connecting two properties to the sewer system and installing individual wastewater systems at a third property. The company will also pay a $58,716 penalty and close six additional smaller cesspools. Hawaii Gas has closed one large-capacity cesspool and will close two additional smaller cesspools, installing approved septic systems in their place. In addition, Hawaii Gas will pay a $45,840 penalty.

"EPA will continue to take enforcement actions to close all illegal large-capacity cesspools in Hawai'i," said EPA Pacific Southwest Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Director Amy Miller. "Every cesspool closed represents progress toward cleaner groundwater, coastal waters, and beaches for Hawai'i."

Grove Farm Settlement

Grove Farm owns three properties in Lihue, Kauai, which have bathrooms that are served by unlawful large-capacity cesspools. The locations are:

• Four cesspools that serve the Hanamaulu Shops, located at 3-4051 Kuhio Highway, Lihue.
• Two cesspools that serve a motorsports dealership, located at 3-1878 Kaumualii Highway, Lihue.
• One cesspool that serves the Puhi Building, located at 3-1866 Kaumualii Highway, Lihue.

In addition to the cesspool closures, as part of the settlement Grove Farm will perform a Compliance Audit of all its landholdings in the State of Hawai'i to identify and close all large-capacity cesspools. Grove Farm will also connect six small capacity cesspools associated with single-family homes adjacent to the Puhi Building to the sewer line at a minimum cost of $96,000. Connecting these residences to sewer will allow for the treatment of sanitary wastewater and mitigate the environmental risk posed by cesspools.

Hawaii Gas

Hawaii Gas owns and leases a commercial gas products storage and showroom/sales area at 3990 Rice Street, Lihue, which was served by one large-capacity cesspool.

As part of this settlement, Hawaii Gas has closed the large-capacity cesspool at the Rice Street building. Hawaii Gas will alsoreplace two small capacity cesspools associated with homes in Waialua with approved septic systems, at a cost of no less than $115,000.

Background on Cesspools in Hawai'i

On December 7, 1999, EPA issued a nationwide ban on large-capacity cesspools under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Large-capacity cesspools serve multiple residential units or have the capacity to serve 20 or more persons per day. The deadline for closure of these illegal large-capacity cesspools was April 5, 2005.

In the 20 years since the federal ban, EPA has ordered the closure of over 3,900 illegal cesspools in Hawai'i and assessed approximately $5.6 million in penalties. Currently, there are over 1,000 large capacity cesspools still remaining in Hawai'i. These illegal cesspools collect and release untreated raw sewage into the ground, where disease-causing pathogens and harmful chemicals and pharmaceuticals can contaminate groundwater, streams, and the ocean.

The settlement agreements for Grove Farmand Hawaii Gas, and information on how to self-disclose potential large-capacity cesspool violationsare available on EPA websites.

Learn more about EPA's work to close large-capacity cesspools in Hawai'i and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

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