State of Hawai'i County 2005 Year in Review/2006 Looking Forward

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State of the County 2005 - The Year in Review 2006 - Looking Forward: Projects and Issues Water Supply Milton Pavao, Manager The Department's priorities during 2005, as in previous years, were to develop additional water supply sources and develop ways to transmit the water to where it's needed. In addition, our efforts were aimed at supplementing the water supply source from our Kahalu`u Shaft in efforts to reduce the chloride content of this source. Projects that were on going in 2005 included Waiaha Production Well and 2.0 MG Reservoir, Mamalahoa Highway Waterline Improvements, Pua Puaa 2.0 MG Reservoir and Kuakini Highway 16-inch Waterline Improvements. Projects currently in the design phase include Hina Lani Transmission Line and Reservoir, Keei No. 3 1.0 MG Reservoir, Palani Road Waterline Replacement, Mamalahoa Highway Waterline Improvements, Phase 2, and Keopu-Puuhonua Production Well and 0.5 MG Reservoir. Also in 2005 the Department was active in developing partnerships in similar efforts to bring water to where it's needed. These included mauka to makai waterline corridors near Keahole Airport, Hina Lani Drive, above Kailua and above Keauhou. We are also in negotiations to develop water sources above Keauhou and transmit it down to our Kahaluu Shaft 1.0 MG Reservoir. 2006 will see the construction activities of both the projects currently in design and hopefully the results of our partnerships. The water system of Kona 15 years ago relied of mid-level wells to provide water at lower elevations and to boost the water up to higher elevations. Due to the limited rainfall in Kona, the wells could not produce a large volume of water without affecting the chloride levels. However, approximately 15 years ago high level water was discovered at the higher elevations of Kona, namely above elevation 1700 ft. This discovery changed the way water system were designed and operated. No longer was it a makai to mauka delivery. It has become a mauka to makai delivery. This change however has caused operational concerns because of the high horsepower motors necessary to lift the water up 1700 ft. Motors and pumps operating at these conditions do not have a very long run life. The attractiveness of Kona, the prosperous economy and the high demand for housing and other developments will continue to challenge our department in 2006. Equitable policies will have to be implemented to balance the increasing developmental need for water while maintaining the level of service the residents of Kona deserve. We will continue to implement source and transmission improvements as fast as we possibly can while also maintaining our replacement and repair programs. The year 2006 will definitely be an interesting year; we also hope it will be a very productive year.