County of Maui Department of Water Supply

County of Maui Department of Water Supply
Name	County of Maui Department of Water Supply
Formed	1925
Jurisdiction	County of Maui, Hawaii
Headquarters	Wailuku, Maui
Chief1 position	Director

County of Maui Department of Water Supply The County of Maui Department of Water Supply is the public water utility responsible for sourcing, treating, storing, and distributing potable water across the island of Maui, including communities such as Wailuku, Kahului, Lahaina, Kīhei, and Hana. It manages infrastructure that connects to regional features like Haleakalā, ʻĪao Valley, and upcountry Maui, and coordinates with state and federal entities including the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health, United States Environmental Protection Agency, and Federal Emergency Management Agency to meet regulatory, environmental, and emergency requirements.

History

The department's development reflects Maui's transformation from plantation-era irrigation networks tied to companies like Alexander & Baldwin and Castle & Cooke to a modern municipal utility that interacted with entities such as the Territorial Government of Hawaiʻi, Board of Water Supply precedents, and post-statehood administrations under the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. Early projects paralleled works by engineers influenced by mainland firms and Hawaiian irrigation pioneers; later milestones involved collaborations with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Pacific Islands Division for watershed studies, reservoir construction, and stream diversion permits. Significant events include upgrades driven by federal programs under the Public Works Administration era, regulatory shifts following the Safe Drinking Water Act, and responses to natural disasters that prompted new planning with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency.

Organization and Governance

The department operates within the County of Maui administrative framework alongside the County Council, Office of the Mayor, County Clerk, and Office of the Corporation Counsel. Its governance intersects with statutory authorities such as the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, Maui County Code, and oversight from the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health Drinking Water Branch and the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 9. Leadership roles collaborate with labor organizations, procurement processes that reference the Hawaiʻi Public Procurement Code, and intergovernmental agreements with agencies including the Department of Land and Natural Resources, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service when projects affect conservation lands or historic sites like ʻIao Valley State Monument and Haleakalā National Park.

Water Sources and Infrastructure

Primary sources include surface water from ʻĪao Stream and East Maui streams, groundwater from the Maui aquifer system, and rain-fed catchment zones on Haleakalā and West Maui Mountains. Infrastructure components encompass reservoirs, wells, transmission mains, booster pump stations, treatment plants, and storage tanks located across zones serving neighborhoods such as Lahaina, Kīhei, Makawao, and Haʻikū. Engineering and hydrology work has drawn expertise from firms and institutions like the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Hawaiʻi Institute of Geophysics, Brown and Caldwell, CH2M Hill, Black & Veatch, and the American Water Works Association. Projects often require permits and coordination with the Commission on Water Resource Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and National Marine Fisheries Service when affecting stream diversions, wetland habitats, or endangered species such as Hawaiian monk seal and native seabirds.

Water Treatment and Quality

Treatment facilities use conventional processes influenced by practices from the American Water Works Association, incorporating coagulation, filtration, disinfection (chlorination and UV), and corrosion control programs to meet standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health. Water quality monitoring includes testing for contaminants regulated by the EPA such as lead and copper, nitrates, volatile organic compounds, and microbial indicators; laboratories work with accredited providers and reference methods from ASTM International and the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference. Public health partnerships involve the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maui District Health Office, and community health clinics to address issues like boil water advisories, cyanotoxin monitoring, and compliance with Consumer Confidence Report requirements.

Services and Rates

The department provides metered potable water service, system development fees, fire protection connections, construction permitting, and customer assistance programs including low-income support and leak detection rebates. Rate structures reflect rate studies comparable to those conducted by utilities such as Honolulu Board of Water Supply and Kauaʻi Department of Water, integrating fixed charges, commodity rates, and tiered pricing to promote conservation while funding capital improvement programs. Billing, customer service, and payment systems coordinate with local banks, utilities software vendors, and consumer advocacy groups; contentious rate adjustments have involved testimony before the Maui County Council and community associations from Lahaina to Hana.

Conservation and Environmental Programs

Conservation initiatives mirror programs seen at agencies like the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources and local nonprofits such as The Nature Conservancy, Maui Land & Pineapple Company legacy efforts, and Hui o Koʻolaupoko partners. Programs include public education, high-efficiency fixture rebates, xeriscaping outreach consistent with University of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension guidance, watershed protection with partners like East Maui Irrigation and Native Hawaiian organizations, and aquifer recharge studies with the U.S. Geological Survey and Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative. Environmental compliance requires coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources when infrastructure affects marine ecosystems such as the coral reefs off West Maui and near Molokini.

Emergency Response and Planning

Emergency planning integrates hazard mitigation and response frameworks used by FEMA, Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, Maui Emergency Management Agency, National Weather Service, and the United States Geological Survey for tsunami, hurricane, wildfire, and earthquake scenarios. Mutual aid agreements and continuity-of-operations plans reference models from the American Water Works Association and WaterISAC; exercises involve County Civil Defense, Red Cross, local hospitals such as Maui Memorial Medical Center, and utility partners like Hawaiian Electric. Post-event recovery has mobilized state and federal funding streams including FEMA Public Assistance, U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans, and technical assistance from the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for infrastructure repair and resilience upgrades.

Category:Water supply in Hawaii Category:Public utilities in Maui County