LIHU‘E — Federal and county officials announced that the Department of Water will be receiving $1.94 million in federal stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the Lihu‘e Town Pipeline Replacement Project. The appropriation was made by
LIHU‘E — Federal and county officials announced that the Department of Water will be receiving $1.94 million in federal stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the Lihu‘e Town Pipeline Replacement Project.
The appropriation was made by the Environmental Protection Agency and is being administered by the state Department of Health Safe Drinking Water Branch, a county news release says.
“The purpose of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is to put people back to work and invest in critical infrastructure,” said Sen. Daniel Inouye in the release. “The construction of the pipeline replacement for Lihu‘e Town will improve water delivery and continue to ensure water quality, as well as provide jobs for the people of Kaua‘i. This is a win-win project.”
Cushnie Construction Co., Inc. has been awarded the contract for the Lihu‘e project, which is scheduled to begin in mid-September.
“We are very pleased to receive stimulus funds for Kaua’i,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. “I want to acknowledge our Department of Water staff for working closely with the Department of Health to secure the money for a project that benefits the people of Kaua‘i.”
Noting that stimulus funding for safe drinking water projects has been very limited in Hawai‘i, David Craddick, DOW manager and chief engineer, said, “We are very happy that we were able to get a portion of it to fund the Lihu‘e Town Pipeline Replacement Project.”
Craddick said that the stimulus funding is making it possible for the water department to replace pipelines that are 50 to 70 years old, which will vastly improve the reliability of water service and ensure water quality in Lihu‘e town.
Aging pipelines will be replaced on Kalena, Kress, Ewalu, Halenani, Hoala, Malama, and Pala streets, as well as a portion of Umi Street.
The project is expected to be completed within eight months, with work in the business areas scheduled to take place at night.
“At a time when our local economy needs a boost, the Department of Water has made it a priority to get projects out of design and into construction,” said Dustin Moises, project engineer for the Lihu‘e Town Pipeline Replacement Project. “Over the past year, we’ve started or completed construction on various water tanks, wells, and pipelines that will upgrade the current water infrastructure and better serve our customers. The stimulus funding assists the Department in continuing our efforts as we work towards our goal of completing Water Plan 2020.”
For more information, call the Department of Water at 245-5455 during business hours, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
