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<br /> <br />REPORT OF THE <br />POLICY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE <br />MANAGEMENT <br /> <br /> <br />DATE: May 6, 2025 Re: Comm. No. 233/Res. No. 137-25 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi <br />TIME: 10:00 a.m. <br /> <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawai‘i County Council <br />Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 <br /> <br />Your Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource Management, to which was referred <br />Resolution No. 137-25, reports as follows: <br /> <br />Resolution No. 137-25, transmitted by Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba via Communication <br />No. 233, dated April 9, 2025, requests the Department of Water Supply to develop and maintain an <br />online system that displays general water availability County-wide, including number of units, <br />active commitments, and developer agreements. <br /> <br />This resolution creates an online system hosted and maintained by the Department of Water Supply <br />that would provide access to reliable, transparent, and up-to-date information about water availability <br />for informed decision-making and to support the County’s long-term goals for sustainable <br />developments and water resource management. <br /> <br />Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba provided a brief summary of this measure. <br /> <br />Department of Water Supply Chief Engineer Keith Okamoto and Deputy Director Kawika Uehara were <br />present and expressed support for the resolution. <br /> <br />Committee Member Michelle Galimba asked how often the water department evaluates service and deep <br />water well yield. Mr. Okamoto stated ground water is straight forward and is the capacity of the pump <br />and motor, the factors of water availability and commitment are more art than science. He also stated <br />that the Department of Water Supply is responsible for honoring agreements with a water commitment <br />deposit. <br /> <br />Committee Members further discussed online data directory timeline, water source availability for island <br />regions, and climate change effects on water source. <br /> <br />Committee Chair Rebecca Villegas shared comments and requested the Department of Water Supply <br />keep the Council abreast of the water use development plan. <br /> <br /> <br />PCENRM Report No.: 1 <br /> <br />