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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, April 8, 2001



O'ahu water use debated

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

With potential water shortages projected for O'ahu's future, Windward residents met yesterday to discuss how patterns of use on the island will affect them.

About 25 people attended a workshop on the issue yesterday at the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center in Punalu'u.

The objective was to discuss how increasing water use will affect the island supply, particularly on the Windward side, which collects much of the island's rainfall, said Creighton Mattoon, vice president of the Punalu'u Community Association.

"We have a Punalu'u watershed up here that we're concerned about," Mattoon said. "This is not an endless supply, and many feel we are cashing checks when we're not sure exactly how much is in the account."

Also debated was the actual availability of water, based on projected future residential and commercial development.

Board of Water Supply civil engineer George Kuo said government projections show a sufficient fresh-water supply to last another 20 to 40 years.

"We are now looking at desalinization and reclaimed water as other options to help stretch out the groundwater supply," Kuo said.

Jim Anthony, executive director of the Hawai'i-La'ieikawai Association, believes that the island may face water shortages in as little as 15 years.

Anthony suggested that municipal and commercial water users be charged an extra cent for each 1,000 gallons of water used, providing more money to better measure the water supply.

Additional money could also be used to help with watershed and stream restoration, Anthony said.

"You have alien plant species in these watersheds that can suck up the rainfall before it can enter the aquifer," he said. "The natural environment needs to be preserved."

Mattoon said the community association will come up with a resolution listing concerns and suggestions for government agencies on the issue.