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January 20, 2010 <br />To: Chair and members of Hawai`i County Council <br />1 have just reviewed the proposed changes to Chapter 7, Article 2, Section 7- <br />8 of the Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 edition, as amended, relating to <br />Civil Defense, Disaster Control and have the following comments and <br />concerns: <br />1. It discriminates against the low- income, including the disabled <br />and senior citizens, by increasing the rate for water hauling to <br />their residences by the County to twice what it was before. <br />Those impacted are the very members of our community who <br />cannot afford the standard commercial hauling charges. If they <br />did, they would not have to ask the County to do it. These are <br />people who are unable to haul water themselves. Are we <br />prepared to let them do without this vital life requirement? Will <br />we take the responsibility if someone suffers (or dies) from <br />dehydration because they cannot afford the fees? How would <br />we be able to live with ourselves if we show no aloha? <br />7, <br />TESTIMONY ON BILL 189 <br />There is no parity: a limit of 55 gallons per day no matter the <br />size of the household. A single person living alone would be <br />entitled to 55 gallons. A household of 2 adults and 3 children <br />would still be entitled to 55 gallons — but that translates to 11 <br />gallons per person. And if this 5- person household cannot <br />afford a daily trip to fill up, the amount of water per person is <br />considerably less. <br />3. Furthermore, we are a rural community, and most people have <br />dogs (who drink water) and many have livestock (a lactating <br />cow will drink 10 to 15 gallons per day, a horse 5 to 10, even <br />ducks are heavy water drinkers). Are we now prepared to <br />engage in widespread animal abuse and cruelty by not allowing <br />