WaterMaui proposes $44 million for water infrastructure projects

Alan Arakawa, the mayor of Maui County, has proposed spending nearly $44 million on water infrastructure projects in 2012, a sharp increase of $20 million from current spending levels.

The budget increases would go to the Department of Water Supply which has requested funding to undertake several critical infrastructure investments.

In particular, Dave Taylor, the director of the Department of Water Supply has targeted the dilapidated Waikamoi flume, which is a critical source of water for Upcountry residents.

Taylor says that the aging, wooden flume resembles “1930s, Gilligan’s island technology.”

His plan would allocate $10 million to rehabilitate the flume.

He explained, “We have no idea how much water we’re losing from this. It may be very significant.”

Taylor also wants to spend $200,000 to improve water pipelines in Paia-Haiuku.

According to Taylor, the aging water lines frequently break.

“When we have these breaks, everybody loses service, and Hana Highway gets backed up while our repair trucks are out there,” he said.

Other notable projects include $2.3 million for Wailuku-Kahului water source improvements. Taylor wants to complete the replacement for the county’s aging “Shaft 33” well, which supplies Central Maui with five million gallons of water every day.

Currently, the 647 foot deep well is sixty-five years old and relies on a single pump to deliver water.

“We need to get this shaft out of service as soon as possible,” Taylor said.

“Because if it goes down it will be very difficult and expensive to fix, and we’re going to be out of water while it’s being fixed.”

Taylor hopes to drill three new wells that would tap into the same water source to replace Shaft 33.

Maui’s Budget and Finance Committee members have balked at the large budget increases needed to pay for these projects.

Riki Hokama, a council member, worried that the proposed projects could double the Department of Water Supply’s borrowing in 2012.

At a recent council meeting, Hokama asked Taylor, “Tell me why I should not be concerned right now.”

Taylor responded by saying the projects, which will last for at least twenty years, could be financed with long-term debt.

Underscoring the importance of the projects, Taylor said, “I feel pretty confident these projects have to be done.”

“It’s just a question of are we going to do them this year, next year or three years from now. There’s just no way we can continue to operate this system for the next 10 years without taking care of this,” he said.

Taylor will have a tough time convincing council members who are skeptical of his department’s ability to complete these projects, citing the department’s history of mismanagement and inability to follow through on infrastructure projects.

Budget Chairman Joe Pontanilla said, “You’ve got a long way to go. We’ve allowed the department millions and millions of dollars, but we don’t see the projects being done on a timely basis.”

While Taylor may face an uphill battle, some members believe that the projects are necessary.

Council Member Mike Victorino joked, “I like where you’re going,” but “if you don’t accomplish it, we’ll probably take you out to Waikamoi and hang you upside-down from the flume.”

“All joking aside, I really believe what you’re doing will be beneficial for the county,” Victorino said.