KULA, Maui — Customers on the Upper Kula water system may notice a slight chlorine taste or smell in their tap water later this week as the Department of Water Supply prepares for a filter change at the Olinda Water Treatment Facility. The facility serves more than 2,000 water meters in the Upper Kula and 'Ulupalakua and Kanaio areas.

The water department will begin disinfecting the water with chlorine today, and the changes may be noticeable by Friday as water flows through the system, spokeswoman Jacky Takakura said.

The filter-replacement project at the Olinda treatment facility is scheduled to begin Jan. 22, with new microfiltration units installed that are more efficient and use less electricity. The new units are expected to reduce pumping and save the water department about $8,500 per month in energy costs, Takakura said.

The Pi'iholo Water Treatment facility in Lower Kula will provide the water for the Upper Kula system while the Olinda plant is retrofitted. Both facilities filter surface water from the East Maui watershed; however, the Olinda facility uses microfiltration technology and chloramines for disinfection, while the Pi'iholo facility uses direct filtration and chlorine.

Consumers on the Upper Kula system will receive water disinfected with chlorine while the filter replacement is done. The project should be completed by the end of February, Takakura said.