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i ' 4 In the coming weeks , more statements on the Water Commission and its department are forthcoming. The Water Commission itself is expected to take a stand on • whether it should exist or should its duties and responsibilities be turned over to the Mayor and the Council where politics will govern much of the affairs of the department. The Charter Commission has the more difficult task of sorting out these statements. With all, the statements made on abolishing the Water Commission, no one, individually or as a group, has been able to criticize the achievements of the Water Commission and ,the 'Water Department or .the lack thereof. No one has in his statement or presentation even considered improvements which can be made .on the Water Commission or the Water Department levels. Instead, they advocate abolishing the Water Commission, whatever their reasons may be. What are their reasons? Are they politically motivated? Are these statements • • coming from special interest groups? All of these questions should not ,be left unanswered. • • Rather than look at these statements, many of which are unsubstantiated, let us now look at the facts and the achievements of the Water Department under the direction of the Water Commission. A conclusion to the major issue on hand should also be made. Have the Water Commission and the Water Department failed to do their jobs in serving the needs of its customers? GROWTH OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT The growth of the Water Department, through its water systems, has been tremendous since the creation of the Water Board in 1949. Water systems , • since then, have. been constructed in areas where no public water systems • existed. Improvements , extensions , and new sources were added to existing systems to serve more residents of this island. This growth continues in areas of economic feasibility or where the demand for services is great. -2 • -