Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Thursday, February 20, 2014
VA Mortgages Again Available as DoH Reverses Catchment Tank Rules
By News Release @ 1:35 AM :: 6027 Views :: Hawaii County , Military

Clarification of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Acceptance of Water Catchment Systems in the State of Hawaii

Department of Veterans Affairs, Circular 26-14-4, February 19, 2014

1. Purpose. The purpose of this Circular is to provide clarification of VA policy for individual properties with rainwater catchment systems that serve as collateral for a VA home loan in the State of Hawaii.

2. Background. For properties on individual water systems, water quality must meet the requirements of the local health authority having jurisdiction to be eligible for VA home loan purposes. If the local health authority does not have specific requirements, the maximum contaminant levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would apply. In the State of Hawaii, water catchment systems are not regulated by the Department of Health (DOH). DOH had a policy that water catchment systems were not safe for domestic use. After discussions with VA, DOH has determined that water catchment systems may be made safe for domestic use if certain guidelines are followed.

3. Action. Effective immediately, VA will process home loans for guaranty by participating VA lenders on properties with rainwater catchment systems as the source of domestic water with the following actions being taken:

a. Lenders must provide the Veteran purchaser a printed copy of the publication: Guidelines on Rainwater Catchment Systems for Hawaii by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Lenders may find these guidelines at: www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawaiirain/guidelines.html.

b. The VA Notice of Value (NOV) issued in conjunction with the VA appraisal process must be conditioned in Block 20 of the NOV with: The Veteran purchaser must sign a written acknowledgement that they have received the publication cited in 3a. The written acknowledgement must state: “I have been provided a copy of the publication, Guidelines on Rainwater Catchment Systems for Hawaii, which includes information on the potential hazards of use of, and suggested maintenance procedures for rainwater catchment systems, as a source of domestic water.”

c. The NOV must be conditioned in Block 5. WATER/SEWAGE SYSTEM ACCEPTABILITY: Evidence from the local health authority or other source authorized by VA that the individual __X__ water supply, _____ sewage disposal system(s) is/are acceptable.

d. Lenders are responsible to order water testing by a laboratory acceptable to the DOH. The sampling for this test may not be delegated to any party of interest to the transaction. For minimum water quality standards and listing of laboratories, see http://health.hawaii.gov/sdwb/raincatchment/.

e. The payment of the fee for this testing may be negotiable between the parties of interest to the transaction. The Veteran may pay the testing fee and pursuant to 38 CFR 36.4313 (d)(1)(ix), a regional variance will be submitted and approved by VA to allow this testing fee in the State of Hawaii. The fees may also be rolled into the loan as long as the total of principal, fees, and charges does not exceed the reasonable value of the property.

4. Rescission: This Circular is rescinded January 1, 2016.

By Direction of the Under Secretary for Benefits

Michael J. Frueh

Director Loan Guaranty Service

---30---

Background:

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii