Updated at 1:31 p.m., Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Hawaii schools gets $5M for cesspool-replacement plan
Advertiser Staff
Gov. Linda Lingle has released $5 million for the ongoing removal and conversion of large-capacity cesspools at 60 public schools statewide."Replacing cesspools with more reliable wastewater treatment systems will protect the safety of students, faculty and staff, as well as the surrounding communities," Lingle said in a news release. "This is a comprehensive project we have a responsibility to complete."
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that all large-capacity cesspools be closed and converted. Since some schools have multiple cesspools, there are more than 300 cesspools statewide that need to be replaced with suitable alternatives, such as connecting lines with existing county sewer systems.
About $25.3 million was released for design and construction of the upgrades between 2003 and 2007. Construction at all of the schools is scheduled to be completed by September 2009.
