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COUNTY COUNCIL
COUNTY OF HAWAII
HAWAII COUNTY BUILDING
HILO, HAWAII 96 720
October 9, 1979
N . Stephen P. Bowles
4988 Maunalani Circle
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816
Thank you for your letter regarding the Charter amendment that
proposes to remove the semi-autonomous status of our Department of
Water Supply.
This matter is now a ballot issue which the voters of this county
will make the ultimate decision at a Special Charter Election to be
held on November 3, 1979.
This concern is out of the Council's and the Department of Water Supply's
hands as we cannot at this time alter the recommendation of the Charter
Commission.
I suggest that since you feel strongly for retaining the status quo,
it would be more effective if you direct your views to the voters of
this county through our local papers (letters to the Editor) . In the
meantime as a matter of courtesy, I am remitting a copy of your letter
to the Charter Commission. Again, thank you for stating your views
and interest on this important. issue.
jr
en K. amashiro
,t CIL CHAIRMAN COMM. NO.
cc: v Charter Comrnis s ion
Akira Fujimoto, Manager-Engineer, Department of Water Supply
n �
STEPHEN P. BOWLES
CONSULTING HYDROLOGIST - GEOLOGIST
4988 MAUNALANI CIRCLE TELEPHONE
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96816 737-2961
October 2, 1979
Hon . Stephen Yamashiro
Council Chairman
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Dear Mr. Yamashiro :
For the past eighteen years , I have been intimately involved
in water development in Hawaii County as well as elsewhere in
the State . From 1969 , to date , I have been self employed as a
Consulting Hydrologist-Geologist, closely involved . in the development
and management of the water resources of our State .
I have become aware that efforts are being made within Hawaii
County to place the Department of Water Supply under the direct
administration of the Office of the Mayor. Over the course of the
past twenty years , the quasi-independent D .O .W.S . has been very
successful in consolidating and expanding systems on Hawaii and
'has an admirable record . Other Counties have been less successful
in their efforts in the past ten years , largely as a result of a
lack of foresight in system planning , development, and financing.
The latter cases are a result of political expediency .
I 'm urging you, in your role as Council Chairman , to be
cautious in handling the independence of . the D .O .W .S. In my
experience in water resource development and management , I have
found the case for independence to be very strong when considering
resource management and long range system planning and financing .
Neighbor island Counties have been lacking in thorough water
resource knowledge for as long as can be remembered . This fact ,
coupled with a constant limitation of financial and technical
resources , is the primary cause of water complaints . I don 't
believe that an administrative change will rectify the situation ,
rather it will compound the problem, as is the case on Oahu. The
manipulation of admistrative and financial independence of the
Honolulu BWS is at the root of the current problem.
Pressures to open lands to intense development without
appropriate water resource knowledge and development are the primary
villains leading to public dissatisfaction . Unfortunately, water
y _ . # _2_
resources are not always available where we would like them to be .
To provide for the development and transmission of water resources
to deficient areas , requires consistent and long range public
knowledge and policy. Such is not the case when administrations
change every four years .
Thank you for your kind attention .
Sincerely,
Stephen P . Bowles
cc : Akira Fujimoto
SPB :h