Comm No 0007.04.2 - Aton - Testimony - EMC input

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Testimony Respectfully Submitted to the Charter Commission On October 12, 2018 Regarding Comm. No. 7.4: Response to request for proposed amendments/recommendations – Environmental Management Commission This is a testimony in opposition to Communication No. 7.4 from Environmental Management Commission Chair Bennett that seeks to amend the County Charter by proposing to dismantle the Department of Water Supply and create a Department of Water Sustainability. As a long-standing DWS customer of over 30 years, I testify that my water service has always been and continues to be regular, high-quality, and reliable. All domestic water needs for myself and my family have been met without interruption—even in times of area power outages because I know the Water Department plans for and is mindful of its responsibility to me, their customer. For their careful vigilance, I am grateful because water service is critical to my daily hygienic, cooking, and most of all—my personal need to drink water straight from the tap unfiltered. From 2007 to 2016 I served DWS Administration Division as Public Information and Education Specialist. In that time, my layperson understanding of Water Supply grew to a higher level of awareness because I needed to work closely with co-workers from all areas of the Department to field specific and unique inquiries from the media, customers, and concerned citizens and associations. I learned so much while working with my administrators to respond to letters that didn't quite fit the usual and ordinary workflow of the Department. These communications from county, state and federal partners, commissioners, auditors and legislators oftentimes had to do with water environmental concerns, governance and planning that either was outside of or needed information from the 20 Year Water Master Plan. For example, the HOVE water system was successfully built at the request of Mayor Kim's previous administration in order to mitigate the potential of thousands becoming isolated without drinking water access in the event of an emergency. Another example was working for many, many years to intelligently respond to the National Park Service's Keauhou Aquifer Designation application in a way that supported and listened to as many community stakeholders as possible. The state Commission on Water Resource Management ultimately decided not to approve the application because area water use continues well within the sustainable yield allowed. And, as a result of the application to designate, excellent custom -fit outcomes were achieved for all sides of the issue with closer monitoring and reporting that ultimately empowers the community to steward their water resources in a more sustainable and comprehensive way. So, for sustainable water resource management, a commission already exists and watches closely the water resources of our state. There are many, many other examples of how DWS works to plan, engineer, operate, manage, educate and inform our vast public sector about responsible and sustainable drinking water use in these changing times. I know of the good work that goes on in the drinking water world, and I must disclose, I miss working with this awesome community. Dismantling the Department of Water Supply would be unwise and irresponsible. DWS has established a long record of upholding its mission and maintaining a high-quality service of the most precious resource to the residents of Hawaii Island. The current governance structure has met the potable water needs of Hawaii residents and does not need to be changed. Sustainability of water as a precious resource is addressed daily by our island community as a whole and a change of that governance is ill-advised. Mahalo, Kanani Aton, Hawaii Island resident. Comm. No. 7.4.2