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<br />contracted out to private entities. He would encourage the EMC to look at those types of <br />solutions, given the hiring problems on the Big Island. With modern technology, fairly <br />small sensor systems could be put in key places to actively monitor flows and provide an <br />idea of infiltration and inflow. The director could explore those technologies with the <br />Honolulu people and then lobby the council for the needed funds. <br /> <br /> Director Kucharski said he would check on TDS (total dissolved solids) monitoring <br />systems that might be useful and report back on it. Mr. Holmes said they generally are a <br />good investment, and focusing a lot of effort on the collection system is very cost-effective. <br /> <br /> Chair Bennett said he was not comfortable with just looking at TDS, and Director <br />Kucharski said he was not certain he could afford to get effective TDS monitors, let alone <br />high level analyses. Chair Bennett said they could both check into simple conductivity. He <br />has been an advocate for reclaimed water use for many years and is concerned that if the <br />Kealakehe reclaimed water is used on plants, the chloride in it will kill them and create a <br />hard-to-heal scar in peoples’ minds about reclaimed water. <br /> <br /> Vice Chair Olson said he could not miss pointing out that the county may be <br />throwing a lot of money into a system that will be inundated with the rise in sea level. <br />Chair Bennett said that issue will need to go into the planning horizon at some point. He <br />has been looking into having Josh Stanbro and some of his staff hold some public meetings <br />in Hilo and Kona to raise awareness on this. <br /> <br />b. Continued discussion on the options and procedure to update the <br />Commission’s scope in order to be more aligned with the Department of <br />Environmental Management’s functions in the foreseeable future. <br />Includes the status of Chair Bennett taking this matter to <br />Councilmember Tim Richards. <br /> <br /> Chair Bennett said the first step on this is to send a letter to Councilmember Tim <br />Richards and meet with him to see what input he would like from the EMC, and also to <br />specifically address the issue of encouraging the county to adopt the new Uniform <br />Plumbing Code and Green Supplement. From his point of view, there is nothing to stop the <br />county from doing so, as the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes say the counties can adopt the rules <br />they see fit. The commissioners were provided with a draft letter to Councilmember <br />Richards for review. <br /> <br /> Motion and second: Commissioner Gaffney moved to accept and send the letter, and <br />Commissioner Fulton seconded the motion. <br /> <br /> Discussion: The commissioners discussed the appropriate title for Councilmember <br />Richards and decided to use “Dr.” instead of “D.V.M.” Chair Bennett said he and <br />Commissioner Gaffney would follow up on the letter with an invitation to meet with <br />Councilmember Richards to discuss this and other things he may like from the EMC, and <br />that it is possible through this relationship that the EMC’s scope may change and shift a <br />little. <br />5 <br /> <br />