Residential Cesspool Conversion Grant Program
The application period is now closed.
The application period for the Residential Cesspool Conversion Grant Program closed on September 27, 2024, at 4:30 p.m.
Given the number of applicants, we anticipate it will take several weeks for review. All applicants will be notified by email, or by mail if no email was provided, on or before October 30, 2024.
There are 100 grants of $20,000 available. Once the initial 100 applicants are selected, the remaining applicants will be placed on a waitlist for potential funding if any of the initial awardees elect not to accept the available funding.
Program Information
The Residential Cesspool Conversion Grant Program for Kauai County will provide selected qualified homeowners with up to $20,000 to reimburse the cost of upgrading existing cesspools to individual wastewater systems (IWS) approved by the Hawaii State Department of Health-Wastewater Branch (WWB).
Applicants will be selected based upon the priorities discussed in more detail below.
However, if there are program funds remaining after selection of applicants based on the priorities below, applicants not meeting the priorities may be selected on a first come first served basis.
PRIORITY (i):
Properties located outside of the visitor destination area (VDA) with an existing building permit application for an Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU), Additional Rental Unit (ARU), or Guest House.
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PRIORITY (ii):
Priority Upgrade Areas identified in the October report “2022 Hawai‘i Cesspool Hazard Assessment & Prioritization Tool: 2022 Updated Report and Technical Appendices,” or future updated versions thereof, prepared for the State Department of Health Environmental Management Division.
Kauai Priority Upgrade Areas per 2022 Hawai‘i Cesspool Hazard Assessment & Prioritization Tool Document(PDF, 347KB)
In concurrence with the State-DOH Cesspool Pilot Grant Program, properties located in Priority Levels 1 & 2 will receive Priority preference.
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PRIORITY (iii):
Households earning no more than one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the Median Household Income (MHI) according to the U.S. Census Bureau 5-year 2019 American Community Survey data.
To find your income amount to enter on the application form, it is the Adjusted Gross Income on your Federal tax return.
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PRIORITY (iv):
Properties receiving a Homeowner's exemption.
Visit County of Kaua'i Real Property Tax Office (qpublic.net) and search your subject property to determine if you have a Homeowners' Exemption.
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PRIORITY (v):
Properties with a Residential real property tax classification
Visit County of Kaua'i Real Property Tax Office (qpublic.net) and search your subject property. A residential real property tax classification includes the following: Owner-Occupied, Non-Owner-Occupied Residential,or Owner-Occupied Mixed Use.
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PRIORITY (vi):
Properties located outside of the County’s sewer expansion area, as validated by the County Engineer or designated representative. Will be verified by the Housing Agency.
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PRIORITY (vii):
Properties with an existing cesspool that is failing. A failing cesspool is a cesspool that requires pumping at least once per month or has spilled more than once in a year.
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What is required to apply and included in the application?
Applicants will be asked to provide the following supporting documents in order to complete the application:
- If applicable, an existing Building Permit application number for any of the following: ARU, ADU, or Guest House Building Permit.
- Most recent federal tax return for all income earning household members
- Certification Letter from a licensed Hawaii civil engineer that existing cesspool is failing or invoices and receipts confirming cesspool pumping or spills.
- Proof of legal representation if other than homeowner applying.
What happens after I submit my application?
Applications will be reviewed, and applicants will be selected based upon a priority preferences point system. The submitted date of a complete application will be part in determining applicants' priority to receive the available funding.
If you are selected, you will receive the Residential Cesspool Conversion Grant Program Agreement (Grant Agreement) which outlines that your property is eligible to receive the grant, and the requirements needed in order to receive the $20,000 grant reimbursement. This agreement will be executed with the County of Kauai. Please be aware that the IWS must be installed for use prior to receiving the $20,000 grant reimbursement.
Once the Grant Agreement is executed, recipients will need to meet milestone deadlines in order to hold and retain the grant funding. Also, within nine (9) months, recipients will be required to submit the documents below to the Housing Agency.
- Design plans prepared by a licensed engineer (ENGINEER) must comply with HAR chapter 11-62 for IWS and be approved by the Director of Health.
- ENGINEER’s final construction inspection report (w/ photos, as-builts and certification) that the individual wastewater system was constructed in accordance with design plans approved by the Director of Health.
- A copy of an approval to use letter of the wastewater system issued by the Director of Health; and
- Receipts of payment made to the licensed engineer and licensed contractor.
More information:
- For list of licensed civil engineers for Kauai: Engineers List 2024(PDF, 117KB). For list of licensed civil engineers throughout the State of Hawaii: Engineer List (Hawaii.gov). For list of contractors who do installations of septic systems on Kauai: Plumbing Excavating Contractors List for Kauai(PDF, 124KB)
- Cesspools that have been upgraded or converted to an Individual Wastewater System (IWS) that has an Approval-To-Use date prior to June 15, 2024, are not eligible for reimbursement for this program.
- W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification will be required prior to receiving grant reimbursement. Note that funds received under the Cesspool Conversion Program will be considered taxable income. Please consult a tax professional for further information.
- If you previously participated in the State of Hawaii Department of Health Wastewater Branch Cesspool Conversion Program and is contracted to receive or have received funding from the state, you are ineligible for our program.
- If you own more than one (1) property, you can only apply for one (1) of them for this program. We will be verifying the owner's names listed on the TMK number that you must provide to check that only one property is submitted.
Click the link for FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions(PDF, 126KB)
We will contact you once verification of your application information is completed. If you have any questions, please email us at housing@kauai.gov. You may also contact us at 808-241-4444.