Kaua‘i homeowners may receive up to $20K for cesspool conversion; grant program opens Aug. 28

The application period for the Residential Cesspool Conversion Grant Program, according to county of Kaua‘i officials, will open on Aug. 28 at 7:45 a.m. and will close on Sept. 27 at 4:30 p.m.

The Residential Cesspool Conversion Grant Program will provide selected qualified homeowners with up to $20,000 to reimburse the cost of upgrading existing cesspools to individual wastewater systems approved by the Hawai‘i State Department of Health-Wastewater Branch.

Funding for this program is provided by the Hawai‘i State – DOH Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund. The total funding for the program is $2 million, which can accordingly support 100 homeowners on Kaua‘i.

Grant enrollment is limited. Applicants will be selected based upon the priority preferences set in County Ordinance 1104. After priority selection, if there are program funds remaining, then applicants who did not meet priority criteria may be selected on a first come first served basis. Cesspools that have been converted to an individual wastewater system with an Approval-To-Use date prior to June 15, 2024, are not eligible for reimbursement through this program.

The online application and more information on the program, including details describing the priority preferences, are available on the County’s website www.kauai.gov/housing (click on “Residential Cesspool Conversion Grant Program”) or by visiting the direct link here.

Officials encourage the public to apply using the online application to expedite the upload of required supportive documentation and in order to submit timely and complete applications.

Paper applications are also available for pick up at the Housing Agency during office hours at 4444 Rice Street, Suite 330, in Līhu‘e. Office hours are Monday to Friday, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on holidays.