Rural, Small and Tribal Grant

Partner Interest Form

The goal of this project is to launch Hawaii's inaugural Decentralized Wastewater Responsible Management Entity (HDRME) program by fostering partnerships across industry, academia, and government sectors, aimed at revolutionizing decentralized wastewater management and achieving the replacement of all 83,000 cesspools by 2050 through targeted training, the establishment of RMEs in key counties, and comprehensive community outreach and education to address pressing financial, operational, and technical capacity needs for decentralized systems infrastructure and long-term management.

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Building Capacity for Decentralized Wastewater Solutions in Hawaiʻi

This project, supported through the EPA’s Rural, Small, and Tribal (RST) grant program, focuses on strengthening Hawaiʻi’s capacity to manage decentralized wastewater systems through workforce training, responsible management entities (RMEs), and community education particularly in rural and high cesspool density areas.

    1. HDRME Training Program

      • 12-week program on developing and managing decentralized wastewater systems.

    2. Establish Responsible Management Entities (RMEs)

      • Facilitate stakeholder engagement to help communities establish RMEs to improve decentralized wastewater system management, targeting rural areas with a high cesspool density.

    3. Community Outreach and Public Education

      • Educate the public on cesspool issues and decentralized wastewater management with community meetings & workshops.

    • Decentralized wastewater system fundamentals

    • Long-term operations and maintenance planning

    • Financial and administrative management

    • Regulatory and compliance considerations

    • Preparing communities to support Responsible Management Entities (RMEs)

    This program supports workforce development while creating a pipeline of trained professionals ready to manage decentralized systems across Hawaiʻi.

  • The beneficiaries of our wastewater introduction training program will primarily be high school students, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, dislocated workers, incumbent workers, and new entrants who require the skills necessary to comply with the pressing cesspool conversion mandate. As Hawaiʻi and Maui Counties are rural and remote, many of these communities have historically been underserved.

  • Community understanding and trust are essential to successful wastewater solutions. This project emphasizes public education and engagement through:

    • Community meetings and listening sessions

    • Educational workshops on cesspools and decentralized wastewater systems

    • Clear, accessible information on replacement pathways and management options

    These efforts empower residents, property owners, and local leaders to make informed decisions and actively participate in wastewater planning. As this project progresses, community outreach and public education activities will continue to evolve, responding to community needs, feedback, and emerging opportunities for engagement. Outreach strategies, materials, and events will be refined to ensure they remain relevant, culturally responsive, and impactful.

  • We are seeking industry stakeholders, community organizations, practitioners, and agencies interested in supporting this initiative.

    Partnership opportunities include:

    • Technical expertise and instruction

    • Community outreach and engagement support

    • RME collaboration

    • Workforce development and mentorship

    Interested in partnering with us?
    Please fill out our Interest Form to get involved and stay connected.