2014-05-27 Water Board Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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System, for which DWS has more current information available that warrants an update. The amendment will probably involve two sections of the WUDP. The Manager-Chief Engineer said that this amendment to the WUDP in no way changes DWS’s direction regarding its opposition to the NPS petition. The object is to have consistent information, he said. Chairperson Kaneshiro asked whether DWS coordinates with all of the nine other CDP Action Committees on the Big Island regarding water needs. This is very important because these CDPs are a grassroots effort that the community developed. The Manager-Chief Engineer said that DWS is definitely working closely with all of the CDP Action Committees. Chairperson Kaneshiro said that he was sure that the CDPs are looking at expanding their housing, etc., and that will require water. He asked if DWS was aware that having sufficient water was a priority for these CDPs. The Manager-Chief Engineer said that DWS provides to the CDPs and the Planning Department whatever information there is regarding DWS’s existing water system facilities, existing water systems, well capacities, etc., when additional improvements or infrastructure need to be built. ACTION: Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT - NORTH KONA HIGH LEVEL E. GROUNDWATER STUDY: The Department, in its efforts to better monitor the high level water in the North Kona deepwells, requests to hire a consultant to collect the necessary data (water level, drawdown and temperature). The study is intended to monitor the wells on a monthly basis for a 12-month period, and will provide the Department a tool in helping to determine the sustainability of the wells. It is anticipated that the study will cost approximately $100,000.00, and will be funded from the Department’s Capital Improvements (CIP) Budget. The Manager-Chief Engineer recommended that the Board approve the North Kona High Level Groundwater Study as a project to be added to the Department’s 2015 CIP Budget. MOTION: Mr. Robinson moved to approve; seconded by Mr. Greenwell. The Manager-Chief Engineer said that he recalled that several years ago, Mr. Greenwell had asked him about the water levels in DWS’s wells; the Manager-Chief Engineer could not answer him definitively at the time, and he had to go back to ask staff whether water levels were stable or fluctuating, etc. Staff provided some information to the effect that water levels were okay, but the information was not definitive. The current request is aimed at providing more consistent, continuous information on water levels in DWS’s wells. The reason that DWS has not been able to provide definitive information on water levels is because the monitoring equipment had deteriorated; DWS does not have water level monitoring equipment. Without that monitoring equipment, DWS would need to manually get water level measurements, which takes some effort to do. The Manager-Chief Engineers said that hopefully this project will provide better information regarding water levels. Mr. Greenwell asked whether the State helps with monitoring water levels, temperatures, etc., of wells. Page 11 of 27 Water Board Minutes 5-27-14 js