For the first time, 29 lots on Fleming Road in Lahaina will have the opportunity to access County of Maui sewer service, and County Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Wastewater Reclamation Division is outlining the path for property owners to connect to the service.

The County sewer line connection is made possible by the federal emergency sewer project that’s part of the Kilohana Temporary Group Housing site. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and its contractors will start construction of a sewer line within Fleming Road and Malo Street this month, and completion is anticipated in December 2024.

Fleming Road property owners, who were previously on cesspool or septic systems, will be able to connect to County sewer service by obtaining proper permits from the County’s Department of Public Works Development Services Administration (DSA).

Due to restrictions of working on private property, USACE will install a sewer lateral in the right of way within 2 feet of the property owner’s front lot line with a clean-out on the surface. Owners are required to have their plumbing contractor relocate this clean-out to be on their property within 2 feet of the property line.

If relocation of the clean-out on a property is problematic, contact DEM’s Wastewater Reclamation Division at (808) 270-7417 to get approval for the final location.  

Additionally, property owners should be advised that they will need to properly abandon their septic system or cesspool to the satisfaction of the state Department of Health.

For assistance navigating the streamlined emergency permitting process, visit the County’s Recovery Permit Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the County of Maui Service Center, 110 Alaihi St., Suite 207, Kahului, where representatives from County contractor 4LEAF Inc. are on hand to answer questions. The Recovery Permit Center may also be reached by calling (808) 270-5724 or visiting https://mapps.mauicounty.gov/DSA-DRBP.  

Mayor Richard Bissen, Gov. Josh Green, Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 9 Administrator Bob Fenton and USACE Recovery Field Office Commander Col. Eric Swenson, along with contractors, attended a blessing on Aug. 9, 2024, at Wahikuli Park, which marked the start of the critical sewer line installation at the Kilohana Temporary Group Housing site in Lahaina.

This emergency sewer project not only provides much-needed temporary shelter for survivors of the August 2023 Maui wildfires but also allows for County sewer service for 29 impacted lots along Fleming Road that did not formerly have access to the service, ultimately reducing the number of cesspools in Lahaina.

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