Move would cut costs, officials say As a way to promote the best use of resources and cut costs, the Kaua’i County Board of Water Supply is looking to merge the Water Department and the wastewater division of the county’s
Move would cut costs, officials say
As a way to promote the best use of resources and cut costs, the Kaua’i County Board of Water Supply is looking to merge the Water Department and the wastewater division of the county’s Public Works Department.
R.W. Beck, a utilities consultant company based in Seattle, conducted a study on that proposition but made no recommendations as yet, department officials reported during a board meeting in Lihu’e yesterday.
Initial findings are inconclusive and more work must be done, the board was told. No action was taken on the initiative.
The board also approved, deferred or reviewed these issues:
l Due to a discrepancy in costs, the board deferred action on a proposal to replace a main water line on Rice Street in conjunction with the county’s future planned improvements for the county road.
A consultant for the Water Department estimated the work would cost about $1.5 million. A contractor for the county’s work on the street estimated the job would cost $3.6 million.
l East Kaua’i Water Users’ Cooperative wants to obtain state permission to take over the plantation irrigation systems and set up agreements with farmers to allow them to use the water, rather than use potable drinking water for farming activities. The group contends it would be more cost-effective to use the irrigation water.
As part of the proposal, the group has asked Water Department manager Ernest Lau to become a member.
l The board approved a $43,000 contract with Mark M. Siah & Associates, a consultant to the Water Department, to study ways to make the Waimea Shaft water source useable again. The source, which provided water to consumers in Waimea, was shut down after surface water seeped into the system, making the water unfit to drink.
l The board approved a $359,000 contract with Valley Well Drilling Inc. to conduct exploratory drilling for another well in Hanama’ulu to bolster service in the area.
l The board approved another $32,000 to cover additional costs related to the refurbishment of two 1 million-gallon storage tanks in Hanama’ulu and Puhi to service those communities. The initial cost for the work was $49,150.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 226) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
