Cesspool to Septic Conversion in West Hawaii

Replace a failing or soon-to-be-closed cesspool with a septic system sized for your lot, with the permit, the rock work, and the closure handled.

📞 Call or text (808) 470-5637 Get a Free Quote

Cesspool to Septic Conversion

Converting a cesspool means taking the pit out of service and putting in a real treatment system: a septic tank with a leach field or seepage pit, or an aerobic treatment unit where the lot is small or the rock is tight. The state has stopped permitting new cesspools and set a deadline for existing ones to be converted or closed, so every cesspool on the Kona side is going to need this work eventually, and a failing one needs it now. We handle cesspool-to-septic conversions across West Hawaii from the first site visit to the last inspection: we evaluate the lot and the rock, work out which system type fits, handle the state wastewater permit, excavate in lava, set the tank and field, connect the house, and pump and properly close the old cesspool. We quote the whole job up front, including the rock work, so the number you plan around is the number you pay.

Why convert, and why the timing matters

A cesspool puts untreated wastewater straight into the ground, which is why the state is phasing them out. Beyond the rule, there are practical reasons: a sealing cesspool is a backup waiting to happen, buyers and lenders increasingly ask about it at a sale, and a conversion done on your schedule costs less than one done in an emergency after a failure. The planning reason is the better reason. Convert when you choose to, not when the pit decides for you.

What a conversion involves on a lava lot

Most of the cost and most of the skill is in the rock. There is often little soil over the lava, so the tank and the leach field or seepage pit have to be hammered or excavated into it, and the design has to match how that particular rock takes water. On a tight lot, or where the rock is dense, an aerobic unit with a smaller footprint is the right call. We lay out the options for your lot, pull the wastewater permit, do the excavation and set the system, and handle the final inspection. Then the old cesspool is pumped, treated, and filled so it is closed for good.

A straight quote before anything is dug

Conversion is a five-figure job for most homes, and the fastest way to make it worse is a surprise once the rock is opened. We walk the lot, look at the existing pit, check the records, and quote the full scope, including the permit, the rock work, the system, the hookup, and the cesspool closure. If something about your lot makes one option cheaper or more durable than another, we say so before you commit.

What’s included

Site visit to evaluate the lot, the rock, and the old pit
System type chosen for the lot: septic with leach field or seepage pit, or an aerobic unit
State wastewater permit handled start to finish
Excavation in lava, tank and field set, house connected
Old cesspool pumped, treated, and properly closed
Full-scope quote up front, including the rock work

Get Help With Cesspool Conversion

Tell us where the lid is and what’s going on, and we’ll call you back with a quote.

Cesspool Conversion: Questions We Hear a Lot

Do I have to convert my cesspool?

The state has set a deadline for all cesspools to be converted or closed, so eventually, yes. You do not have to do it this year unless the pit is failing or a sale requires it. We can tell you how much life your cesspool has left and lay out the conversion so you can plan the timing.

What will a conversion cost on my lot?

It depends mostly on the rock, the system type, and access. A simple septic tank and seepage pit in porous lava with good truck access is the low end; an aerobic unit on a tight lot in dense rock is the high end. We give a real number after a site visit, not a range off the phone, and the quote covers the whole job.

Septic tank or aerobic unit, which should I get?

A conventional septic tank with a leach field or seepage pit is simpler, cheaper to run, and right for most lots with room and workable rock. An aerobic unit treats to a higher standard in a smaller footprint but has a pump, an aerator, and an alarm that need power and maintenance. We recommend based on your lot, not on what is easiest for us.

How long does a conversion take?

The permit is usually the long part. Once it is in hand, the excavation and installation on a typical Kona lot run from a few days to about two weeks depending on the rock. We sequence it so the house stays usable, and the old cesspool is closed as the last step.

Cesspool Conversion by Town

Local cesspool conversion pages for every community we serve.

Other Cesspool & Septic Work We Do Across West Hawaii

One local crew for the whole system. Explore the rest of what we do.

Need Cesspool Conversion in West Hawaii?

Call now for a fast quote. We come to your property, and backups and emergencies get priority.

📞 Call or text (808) 470-5637 Request a Quote