Posted on: Thursday, July 12, 2001
Waimanalo may get water main project
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward Bureau
WAIMANALO — The Board of Water Supply wants to install a 36-inch transmission line through Waimanalo from Olomana Golf Links to Nonokio Street to assure that the area maintains the proper water capacity.
Under the proposal, the two-mile segment would connect two existing 36-inch transmission lines and run from the golf course along Kalaniana'ole Highway to Po'alima Street, and from Po'alima to Hihimanu Street, ending at the Nonokio intersection.
"The project will increase capacity and reliability of the transmission from Pohakupu to Waimanalo," said Gregory Lee, BWS engineer.
The area is now being served by a 20-inch water main that is 30 years old and headed for eventual abandonment, Lee said.
"It's getting close to (the end of) its service life," he said.
The project could be done at the same time the state Department of Transportation begins its road improvements in Waimanalo, Lee said.
Wilson Ho, chairman of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board, said the road project is a year and a half away but any improvement to the water system would be welcomed.
The road project includes building six left-turn lanes along Kalaniana'ole Highway to improve traffic flow, and installing sidewalks. The project was presented to the community last month.
BWS has filed a draft environmental assessment with the state Office of Environmental Quality Control and is seeking comment on the water line project, which must cross Waimanalo and Kahawai streams.
The preferred crossing method is to bury the pipeline beneath the streambed using the open-cut method, Lee said.
To mitigate adverse impacts on water quality or aquatic species, in-stream work will be scheduled during the dry season.
Barriers also will be used to isolate the construction area, and only half of the stream will be blocked at any time, he said.
Dewatering discharge will be treated and filtered and a monitoring plan will be established.
The proposed pipeline is approximately 10,400 feet. The expected construction will take place in two phases, with each expected to last 12 to 18 months.
The construction phases may overlap, and Phase 2 may start before Phase 1.
The project will require various permits, including national pollutant discharge elimination system, coastal zone management, water quality certification, stream crossing alteration permit and special management area.
Address copies of the comments to Board of Water Supply, 630 S. Beretania St., Honolulu HI 96843; Kimura International, Inc., 1600 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite 1610, Honolulu, HI 96814; and to Office of Environmental Quality Control, State Office Tower, 235 S. Beretania St., Suite 702, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Deadline for comment is Aug. 7.
