2011-09-27 Water Board Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Lindsey asked what degree of liability DWS bears now, as opposed to what this agreement proposes. The Manager-Chief Engineer said the liability that DWS bears would be similar to that at any other fill station that DWS has on the island. The only difference is that this fill station is really first class; two trucks can fill up at this fill station, whereby at other locations, only one truck can fill up at a time. He noted that the spigots for the general public are separated from the trucks. DWS did agree to increase the radius, which enhances safety. The road is nice and wide for one truck; it was never made for two trucks to be side-by-side. Under this agreement, DWS would bear liability, as it does at any other site, he said. Mr. Greenwell asked who is responsible for maintenance of the facility if this arrangement goes on for years and years with no changes made by the County. He asked who, for example, is responsible if the spigots break, or if someone does graffiti or runs through the chain-link fence or tears down the gate. The Manager-Chief Engineer said there are various degrees of responsibility, like at any other spigot site. The Department of Public Works (DPW) helps DWS maintain the site, keep it clean and take away the rubbish, etc. If somebody breaks the fence, it would be DWS’s liability, although technically, the County owns it. Therefore, if any damage occurs, DWS would seek assistance from the County. He noted that the land is in the name of the County, and the monies to build the facility were given to the County – not to DWS. Mr. Taniguchi noted that this site will serve both the water haulers and the general public, and asked whether DWS would have the right to assess a water charge in the future. The Manager-Chief Engineer said yes, definitely, it would have such a right. Mr. Taniguchi asked whether DWS would have control over that. The Manager-Chief Engineer said yes. Currently, because the matter was never brought to the Board, the prices are going to be the same as every place else – until such time as the Board decides to levy a special rate. Mr. Taniguchi asked about rates for private individuals. The Manager-Chief Engineer said that currently, it is free for individuals. DWS will read the meters, and send the bill for water use by the general public to DPW. Mr. Taniguchi asked if the Board wanted to charge the general public for spigot use, could the Board do so. The Manager-Chief Engineer said that would apply island-wide. Mr. Meierdiercks said that DWS ought to keep track of the specific cost for this facility, and see where it stands after six months or a year. This would enable DWS to determine that it is costing DWS more to run the facility, and enable DWS to have special pricing for the HOVE facility. The Manager-Chief Engineer said that for the Board’s information, the typical well in Hilo is about 205 feet deep, while the typical well in Kona is 1,800 feet. The HOVE well is 2,200 feet deep. Chairperson Mukai asked whether the scenario at HOVE would be the same as the arrangement with the standpipe systems, whereby DPW takes care of the charges for the private usage (i.e., DPW pays DWS for the general public’s water usage). The Manager-Chief Engineer said yes. Page 13 of 29 9-27-11 ~ Water Board Minutes js