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ELEMENT 5. PUBLIC UTILITIES. <br />Article 1. General. <br />Section 5-1-1. Findings and purpose. <br />Reliable public utilities are essential to the health, safety, economic well-being, and daily <br />functioning of Hawaii Island's communities. Water supply, wastewater treatment, stormwater <br />management, energy, and telecommunications systems support homes, businesses, agriculture, <br />public services, and emergency response across the island. <br />Land use patterns and development decisions directly influence the demand, cost, and <br />performance of utility infrastructure. The location, scale, intensity, and timing of growth affect <br />system capacity, long-term maintenance obligations, and the County's ability to provide reliable <br />service in a fiscally responsible manner. Coordinating land use planning with infrastructure <br />investment is critical to protecting quality of life and public resources. <br />Hawaii Island's size, geography, and settlement patterns require flexible, context - <br />sensitive infrastructure solutions. In some areas, centralized systems are appropriate and cost- <br />effective. In others, decentralized or on -site systems may provide a better fit. Uniform, <br />islandwide approaches are not always practical or efficient, and infrastructure solutions should <br />be evaluated and right -sized based on local conditions, risks, and long-term service needs. <br />Public utility systems are interdependent. Reliable water service depends on electricity. <br />Emergency response relies on telecommunications. Failures in one system can disrupt others. <br />Planning, investment, and operations must account for these interconnections, particularly during <br />emergencies, natural hazards, and service disruptions. <br />Utility infrastructure requires substantial long-term investment. Decisions about <br />expansion, upgrades, and service levels directly affect affordability for residents, businesses, and <br />ratepayers. Balancing system reliability, environmental protection, and long-term cost impacts is <br />essential to sustaining public trust and ensuring that basic services remain accessible over time. <br />This element establishes policies and actions to guide the planning, operation, and <br />investment of public utilities in a manner that supports existing communities, aligns with planned <br />growth, protects environmental resources, and ensures responsible stewardship of public <br />infrastructure. <br />35 <br />