LIHUE — All is well with Kauai’s drinking water, according to David Craddick, manager of the Kauai County Department of Water. “The water here is as good as anywhere,” he said. “All the water in Hawaii is pretty good.” The
LIHUE — All is well with Kauai’s drinking water, according to David Craddick, manager of the Kauai County Department of Water.
“The water here is as good as anywhere,” he said. “All the water in Hawaii is pretty good.”
The Kauai DOW announced its 2013 water quality report is available online. It covers from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2012 and describes the quality of Kauai’s drinking water, as well as where it comes from.
Craddick said the water in each of the island’s water systems meets or exceeds state and federal standards.
“It’s very good,” he said. “A lot safer than bottled water.”
Craddick said he does not have concerns about any of Kauai’s systems. However, if the state decided to reduce maximum contamination levels below those set by the federal government, the Lihue system “could require some treatment,” he said.
During 2012, water in the Lihue system tested positive for three inorganic contaminants and three organic contaminants. All were below the EPA’s maximum contamination level.
The DOW operates 11 separate, unconnected water systems, spread out from Kekaha to Waimea. It monitors, operates and maintains 50 deepwell pumping stations, 19 booster pumping stations, four tunnel sources, 58 storage tanks, 75 control valve stations and over 400 miles of pipeline to 20,000 consumer water service connections and meters.
Each year, the DOW spends more than $400,000 in chemical and microbial testing to ensure the safety of the island’s drinking water, according to the release.
Craddick said the most recent issue with a Kauai water system occurred in 2004, when mercury from a pump got into the well in Wailua. That issue was resolved by installing a carbon filter on the well, he said.
The federal Safe Water Drinking Act requires water utilities to provide water quality information to its customers every year.
“Your drinking water is tested regularly through our certified laboratories and the State Department of Health,” states the release. “Providing safe drinking water is a complex business, but you have a right to know the results of our water quality and its monitoring.”
A full report for each of Kauai’s water systems can be accessed on the DOW’s website at www.kauaiwater.org.
• Chris D’Angelo, environment writer, can be reached at 245-0441 or cdangelo@thegardenisland.com.
