LIHU‘E — A sewer rate increase of 11 percent is scheduled to go into effect on Kaua‘i on July 1.
The increase marks the first time since 2014 that wastewater rates on the island have been adjusted.
The rate hike, which is one of a number scheduled through the next five years, was approved by the Kaua‘i County Council on Sept. 7, 2022, via Bill 2874, and subsequently signed by Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami on Sept. 12, 2022.
“Increasing 11 percent per year over a five-year period, funds from this increase will go into much-needed repairs of facilities that are over four decades old,” said county Department of Public Works County Engineer Troy Tanigawa in a statement.
“Repairs will avoid costly emergency repairs and will increase the overall efficiency of wastewater operations. We thank the Kaua‘i County Council for their assistance in implementing this change, which will greatly benefit wastewater infrastructure for the island.”
The flat-rate monthly charge for
single-family-residential users is slotted at $66.50 for the 2024 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2023, before increasing to $73.75 for the 2025 fiscal year and $82 for the 2026 fiscal year, according to Bill 2874. The flat rate charge rises to $91 in the 2027 fiscal and $101 in the 2028 fiscal year.
The rate structure was developed using a cost-of-service analysis from American Water Works Association’s M1 Manual, Principles of Water Rates, Fees and Charges (7th edition), and the Water Environment Federation’s Manual of Practice No. 27, Financing and Charges for Wastewater Systems.
“The county uses Wastewater Treatment Capacity Assessment revenues and Sewer Connection Charge revenues to pay for wastewater capital facilities, including debt service payments,” said Tanigawa in a statement.
For more information and to view a copy of Bill 284, contact Donald Fujimoto at 808-241-4084 or dfujimoto@kauai.gov.
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Wyatt Haupt Jr., editor, can be reached at 808-245-0457 or whaupt@thegardenisland.com.
