HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-08-22 EMC Testimony - Agenda Item V.1 (G. Adams) DeVera, Ashley
From: Georjean Adams <
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2026 6:21 AM
To: DEM (COH)
Cc:
Subject: EMC Meeting Aug 26, 2026 Agenda Item V.1. on Bill 183
These are the comments I submitted to the County Council Policy Committee on Environment and
Natural Resource Management:
I support the proposed fee increases and amendments in proposed BiII183.
1. As recommended to the County Council by the Environmental Management Commission May 14, 2021,
Council should support wastewater management(and solid waste management)as functions operated under
the Enterprise Fund model where long term financial planning to ensure adequate service and product fees to
provide revenue to operate and maintain (O&M)vital infrastructure that must perform 24/7 to keep Hawaii
Island's people and environment safe. Relying on the political vagaries of General Fund allocation has not and
cannot be sustainable. Continuing to underfund and defer O&M has led us to the crises we face today.
Lessons can be learned from Oahu's use of Enterprise Funding for their wastewater treatment.
2. Providing for differential fees, such as splitting out hotels and different sources of wastewaters makes
sense. DEM should continue to explore practical and fair ways to match O&M costs to users.
3. Reasonable accommodations need to be made for those users who cannot afford the fees entirely. But
everyone who puts something down the drain has kuleanato reduce adverse impacts, as they can.
4. It is fair to expect all persons living in or visiting Hawaii Island who benefit from clean water to help pay for
County wastewater treatment. Those of us who pay for private wastewater treatment, the state and the US as
a whole benefit from having pristine waters in Hawaii Island, so I have no qualms in asking for contributions
from the state and federal governments. But we can't rely on them for the majority of our expenses.
5. Integrated wastewater management planning is more than a chart on monthly sewer fees for the systems
managed by DEM. The department has been working diligently on putting together sustainable plans that
work for each area across the island. Sustainable funding for these plans is critical for execution.
Protection of health and the environment is not free. We need to have fair, efficient and economically
sustainable systems to support County wastewater management. Bill 183 is a step in the right direction.
Georjean Adams
Multi-unit Resident of Mauna Lani Resort(downstream from Puako and on private WW treatment) and former
EMC member
Kamuela, HI 96743