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• • • A good example of this growth is in Kona. In 1949, Kona did not 'hove a public water system. Today, there are 4,276 services with meter sizes ranging from 5/8 to 6 inches. Water consumption in Kona for fiscal year 197.7-78 was 1 . 24 billion gallons , and revenues from water sales for this same period amounted to $981 ,771 in this district alone. Several projects for expansion of • services are either in their design or construction stages. The department has even decentralized its operations to better service rural customers. Field personnel are now able. to respond to problems with much more efficiency and expediency. Base yards and .offices are now located in Honokaa, Waimea, Kapaau, Captain Cook, and Naalehu. The newest of these • is the Naalehu office which previously operated under the grandstand of the ball park and the police station where telephone messages were received. Twenty-four hour standby service is also provided islandwide. The total consumption of water for all systems during fiscal year 1977-78 was ' 4.23 billion gallons generating revenues of $3,409,000. Operating expenses, excluding depreciation, amounted to $2,347,000. The department presently operates and maintains 22 separate water systems with a. total of 21 deep wells , . 4 surface water sources, 13 springs and tunnels, 41 booster pump stations , and the many concrete and steel reservoirs ranging in capacities from 50,000 to 60,000,000 gallons. Nearly operational is the Kahaluu Shaft in Kona with the initial capability of producing 6.0 million gallons a day. The total plant investment has grown from $1,105,560 in 1949 to $45,472,294 today. _ Much of these plant investments was obtained through federal and state funds. Although criticisms have focused on the department's dependency. of federal and state funds, is it bad management to seek outside funding in order to keep water rates at a reasonable level ? • • -3-