Raw sewage and solid waste dumps in lava tube caves of Hawaii Island

Author:

Halliday, William R.

Title:

Raw sewage and solid waste dumps in lava tube caves of Hawaii Island

Periodical:

Journal of Cave and Karst Studies

Year:

2003

Volume:

65

Pages:

68-75

Subject:

Lava tubes Kaumana Cave Speleology

Summary:

This paper explores the interaction of water flow and solid waste dumps and sewage in lava tubes and lava tube caves of Hawaii Island and the potential threats to groundwater quality. Some of the solid waste dumps have been known to contain partially empty containers of toxic and/or hazardous substances such as pesticides, herbicides, and other agricultural and automotive chemicals as was found in Kaumana Cave in Hilo on the island of Hawaii. Stinking raw sewage speaks for itself and members of the Hawaii chapter of the National Speleological Society have witnessed the top of a septic tank or cesspool near Keaau that was said to consist of an unlined segment of lava tube cave. However, this subject is especially controversial since no known case of human death or illness has been traced to any of the Hawaiian cave sites, no one has attributed current ocean pollution and decimation of the island's marine fisheries to these sources, no toxic level of harmful chemical is known to have been identified in local drinking water sources, and present data indicate that the water drinking sources on Hawaii Island are not at risk from floodwater dissemination of lava tube contaminants. In spite of these points, it is felt that since the population is increasing rapidly on large cavernous pahoehoe lava flows, (such as in the Hawaiian Acres Subdivision that is located in the rainy Puna district), that additional subsurface water sources will be needed in the near future. Should this become a reality, one will need to ensure that the subsurface water sources are located away from plumes of groundwater contamination. As a result, the Hawaii Chapter of the National Speleological Society convened a Hawaiian Conference on Lava Tubes and Ground Water in August, 2000. In a followup meeting, the Safe Drinking Water Branch of the Hawaii State Department of Health began documenting cave dumps on Hawaii Island and started looking toward funding cleanup activities on all state lands.

Date:

April 2003

Collection:

Periodicals