Dear Trojan,
For your information over 2 million dollars for this project came from the Federal Government (USDA-Rural Urban Development). The system MUST be built to code in order to get the funding. The code in Hawaii County is six inches of sand covering the pipe. They aren’t trying to cut us some slack as you stated but infact the building inspector (Joe Gary) said at the meeting to do what you want with your pipe. Unfortunately Joe’s BOSS in Hilo said “NO, this is not acceptable”. The lack of professional representation at the meeting sent the whole project into turmoil.
The Thousands of dollars you speak of is for Hammering down 12 inches, which was not necessary.
For your information I dug my own hole and layed my own pipe. I am now waiting for a licensed plumber to hook us up.
Running the pipe on top of the ground is not only unsightly but not allowed by the Federal Government standards. This system was to UP GRADE the water system and not recreate another spaghetti line system. We are not asking for something illegal or under the table. We just want straight answers from the County. A simple diagram at the meeting would have answered a lot of questions.
The System would have been accepted had the County properly informed the homeowners of the process and charges involved.
During the process Milton Pavao (The County Water Department Manager) always said (at every meeting) the pipe from the street to your property is your own responsibility. The FACT is he should have said: You will need to dig a hole and pull a permit and have a licensed plumber hook it up and here is the phone number to the building department. This lack of proper disclosure has created a huge problem for the plumbers that don’t want to risk their licenses. This lack of proper disclosure has also cost us far more money then ever disclosed.
Your snide letter is not appreciated due to the fact that we have worked so hard for so long to improve the water and roads. Coastview/ Wonderview is a cutting edge place to live. We have the new water, new roads and great location.
Run your pipe as you see fit, and hopefully you will get a licensed plumber to hook you up.
Good Luck!
Respectfully,
Mrs. McGeachy
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Dear Sue and Susan,
I'm running my line on top of the ground.I was told (can't say by who, but it was a person in government) that if we keep asking for them to "put it in writing", we are going to have to go with the same code as new construction. They are TRYING to cut us some slack and let us do it the sensible way, but if you keep bugging them for assurances, they are NOT going to put their own asses on the record telling us to break the code. They will look the other way if people just quit bugging them! I have this on pretty good authority from a person in a position to know. I don't know how you put the word out on this, but I feel confident that if it ends up on a web site we will all be spending THOUSANDS to bury our pipes in 18 inches of sand. They let us get away with spaghetti lines and all the other BS for 30 years--hell, they let Lillian walk off with 700 LARGE of our fees. You don't think they will cut us a break? Everyone will be happy to have this thing solved with a little black pipe running along the edge of the lots. They don't CARE but you can't get them to put it in writing that it's ok to bend the rules. They won't do it and if you keep asking, they are going to force us all to bury the pipes.I really hope people will stop demanding assurances they are never going to get and just run the damn pipe any way they want and shut UP. Once everything is in and working the inspectors are going to wink at it UNLESS it can jeopardize their jobs. Then they will have no choice and we will all be screwed. If people are worried and have the money, why don't they just bury the pipe according to the current code? If they're like me and are strapped, do it as cheaply as they can and keep quiet! The worst that can happen is at some point they'll tell you to burry the pipe! You will have to disconnect from your house and meter, bury the pipe and reconnect. Won't cost any more than doing it that way to begin with, but if you lay it on top and are left alone, you save thousands. And you know what? If you ever have a leak, it will be a heck of a lot easier to locate and repair!If I have to bury my pipe, I will not only have to borrow the money, it will damage or kill my fruit trees because I'll have to cut through their roots. I'm going to throw some dirt over the pipe near the meter as a courtesy to the inspectors, and be done with it.I don't blame people for wanting assurances, but this is Kona and we have a few people who remember how to help their neighbors. The inspectors know that most of us could never afford our homes at todays prices. They know we have 3 or 4 breadwinners per household. Let them help us by not putting their jobs on the line, OK?I've even been told by another neighbor that Isimoto told him that if he ran his pipe up to the meter, they would connect it for free. He said they are licensed plumbers and when he talked to them, they made no mention of a permit. Who knows on that one, but the point is, connect your water as cheaply as you can. Put in your back flow preventer if you have irrigation because that's a health concern to your neighbors and that will be that. Once you are using county water they are not going to turn it off because your pipe is on top of the ground! They MIGHT tell you to bury it, but only if people keep demanding assurances in writing that they don't have to.They are trying to help us out. Let them, ok? Bury your pipe if you want to, but for the sake of your un-rich neighbors, please don't ask them about this again.Thanks Trojan
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Aloha Shari and Milton,
Can you please address Sue’s questions? Joe Gary said at the meeting that the line can be run on top of the ground.
Please address this.
Thank you,
Susan McGeachy
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Aloha Susan,
Hopefully you can help answer this question because I cant seem to get through to the Water Dept.....
We have been gone on vacation and are trying to find out exactly how the water line issue ended up. Do we have to bury the line or not? If we do how deep, etc. because the last I heard at the meeting was that we just needed to cover it with sand.
Please let me know.
Thanks,
Sue Hams
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