LIHUE – The Department of Water has canceled a series of community meetings on the Kahili Horizontal Directional-Drilled Well and Energy Savings Project that were scheduled over the next two weeks. “Officials plan to continue to evaluate the project before
LIHUE – The Department of Water has canceled a series of community meetings on the Kahili Horizontal Directional-Drilled Well and Energy Savings Project that were scheduled over the next two weeks.
“Officials plan to continue to evaluate the project before taking further action,” according to a brief press release.
The county Department of Water previously announced it would try again to present accurate information to the public about its proposal for an estimated $50 million high-elevation horizontal well on Kauai.
“(The goal) is to get community input on the alternatives and get a better understanding of the energy saving project as a whole,” said DOW Manager David Craddick.
Earlier this month, Craddick told The Garden Island that Oceanit Laboratories Inc. — the consulting firm hired by the DOW to conduct its Environmental Impact Statement — presented false information about potential locations for the two-mile well during an April 11 scoping meeting.
Despite a map showing otherwise, the DOW now says it is not planning to drill near Mount Waialeale’s culturally significant Blue Hole. Rather, the four proposed locations for the well are in the upper elevations of the south fork of the Wailua Watershed, near Mount Kahili.
DOW planned to host a series of meetings around the island beginning Tuesday to further discuss the Kahili Horizontal Directional-Drilled Well and Energy Savings Project.
Friday, it canceled those meetings.
Craddick said the DOW’s contract with the Mears Group, which leads the project team, is currently “on hold.”
Concerns voiced during the April meeting included disturbing the island’s central mountains, considered to be “wao akua” — or the realm of the gods — in Hawaiian culture.
Others said the DOW should promote alternative methods to reduce energy costs, including conservation, reuse of rainwater and greywater, and developing solar panels to run the water system.
The electricity used by DOW for pumping and overall water treatment amounts to roughly $2.5 million annually in the
Lihue-Kapaa system.
The DOW proposal would remove a maximum 8 million gallons of water per day to supply Lihue and Kapaa. This represents less than 10 percent of the estimated sustainable yield, according to DOW.
“A high-level well would not only eliminate the need for pumping, and therefore reduce our energy costs, but would also provide water that will not require the extensive treatment we now pay for,” Craddick said.
“The DOW believes this project reflects our mission to provide safe, affordable and sufficient drinking water to our customers.”
In the Friday release, the DOW said it would like to thank the public for its feedback and invites community groups interested in discussing water issues to call them at 245-5461 to arrange a meeting.
Info: www.kauaiwater.org
