HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0349.004 2016-2018 P1Awc1
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comments on Communication 349.0: water update
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Agriculture,Water, and Energy Sustainability Committeeo:74w AN Wednesday, SeptonberG.
2017, Hilo chambers
from Cory Harden
First of all, kudos to Water Department staff for their tireless work to supply water to Kona.
I hope this emergency will lead to comprehensive changes in County water policy. That can start today
and more can happen in a few weeks through Bill 65 on the water use plan.
I'll be summarizing ideas from Steve Holmes. He's a former Honolulu City Council member,former board
member of Sierra Club Moku Loa group, and former Kona resident. But I'm not an expert—just relaying
ideas as best I can.
One reason pumps for deep-water wells are failing is that sucking through a really long straw is hard
work.
We need to change our focus from pumping more vvetor,to using less water. — -
We need water planning,drought planning, and water recycling.
WATER PLANNING
We could require that all Water Plan updates incorporate sustainable water planning.
The Environmental Protection Agency could do a workshop on sustainable water reforms, including
model ordinances and case studies.
Rural development grants could help hire experts.
DROUGHT PLANNING
Climate change may cause more droughtm.
Planning must begin long before the step of temporary water restrictions.
O'ahu has a drought plan we could study.
WATER RECYCLING
Models
Water recycling is already happening at the University of Hawai'i Palamanui campus and Kona Airport.
Organization
Department of Environmental Management and Department of Water Supply could plan together for
water recycling.
Maui County has a separate water reuse division.
Codes
Other counties have building codes that require low-flow water fixtures, and we could do that too.
Our plumbing code could be changed to facilitate irrigation with greywater recycling.
Other County actions
A reuse district could be created, somewhat like a sewer district.
All County facilities could install low-flow devices.
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New subdivisions could be required to build water recycling into their plans.
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Rebates could encourage large water users to use water eff|uo//u�1eohno| | .
Dry wells could be replaced by rain gardens and constructed wetlands to allow greywater recycling.
We could do sewer mining—you pipe into an existing sewer line, run the water through a package p|art,
then use it for irrigation. You save money by not pumping wate to the main sewer plant.
Funding
Funding sources for water and wastewater infrastructure include US Department of Agriculture Rural
Utility Service and the State Revolving Fund.
Capital improvement fundm, instead of limited operating funds, could be used to hire consulting engineers
to manage recycling construction projects.
The'Safe VVnter'.'hilnhingAct could fund
3 ����` ` retrofit toilets and showerheads to use less water
• leak-detection programs to reduce water line losses fo the County and homeowners
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Private funding
Kohala coast hotels contract out water recycling.
07ahu uses private/public partnerships.
Recycled water can be sold.
Recycled water can be kept in reservoirs or tanks to create water pressure.
Recycled water can store energy—by day, use solar energy to pump it uphill.At night, run it downhill to
generate electricity.
......
In short, there are a lot of ways to stop flushing away taxpayer money.