About Us
Mission
Mission: WAI empowers communities to advance wastewater solutions that reduce sewage pollution, protect water quality, and support healthy watersheds.
Vision
Clean Water for Hawaiʻi
Our Five Pillars
Innovative Technology Advancement
Make cesspool conversions more efficient and affordable by expanding options for improved treatment.
Financial & Community Resources
Provide technical assistance, financial resources and governance models to help homeowners, communities, counties and the state access funding for cesspool conversions and decentralized treatment systems.
Education & Advocacy
Increase awareness of the environmental and public health impacts of cesspools to support communities and inform policy in order to help facilitate cesspool conversions to meet the 2050 deadline.
Workforce Development
Expand training and workforce development to strengthen career pathways to fill needed positions in the water and wastewater sectors.
Water Quality Monitoring and Research
Address water quality data gaps through community-guided wastewater pollution research and monitoring.
History
WAI founders Stuart Coleman and John Anner are passionate about protecting our marine environment and joined forces in 2019 to help find solutions for Hawaiʻi’s cesspool and wastewater issues. Stuart is an avid surfer, and John is a dedicated free diver, and both spend a lot of time in and under the water. Gradually, it became evident that water quality was deteriorating due to sewage pollution from cesspools and failing septic systems. So they joined forces several years ago to find effective solutions for Hawaiʻi’s wastewater issues.
Mahalo to our Funders and Supporters
WAI is a Hawai'i registered 501(c)3 charitable organization, EIN 84-3324933.