WAILUKU - The dramatic downturn in the national economy and the state's tourism industry has another unanticipated casualty: a Maui County Council bill to restrict outdoor irrigation, The Maui News reported today.

Almost two dozen representatives of Maui's largest resorts, hotels and golf courses came out Friday to object to a bill up for first reading before the Maui County Council. The proposed ordinance would have restricted businesses and homeowners from watering their lawns with traditional sprinkler systems to three days a week.

But resort operators said the restrictions would turn their lush lawns brown and wilt the tropical plants and flowers that are part of the attraction for tourists and are indelibly associated with the island paradise.

Council Member Michelle Anderson had moved the water conservation bill forward through her Water Resources Committee after introducing it in July. It was recommended for approval by the committee unanimously Sept. 15.

Anderson, who is giving up her South Maui seat to care for an ailing relative, said she's studied scientific reports and consulted with experts. Maui is running out of water, and limiting outdoor irrigation is one of the easiest and most effective ways to mitigate the crisis, she said.

But after hearing the concerns of resort managers, council members Friday changed course and voted 6-1 to recommit the proposed ordinance for further compromises.

"This is not the time to do anything else that will hurt our economy," said Council Member Gladys Baisa, who prefaced her comments by saying that she supports water conservation.

Anderson, though, spoke with some reproach, saying that she hadn't heard any new concerns Friday that hadn't already been addressed in the Water Resources Committee. The bill before the County Council was already chock full of exemptions intended to prevent harm to the resorts' aesthetics, she said.

"If we put in any more exemptions, we will water it down to the point where we don't know if it will even be effective," Anderson said to her colleagues. "You tell me, what can we do to make this bill more palatable to the hotel industry?"

The proposed ordinance up for first reading was aimed at all water users. Provisions on outdoor water use included:

* Even numbered addresses could water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

* Odd numbered addresses could irrigate only on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays

* Restricting water irrigation to between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. three days a week

* Water runoff onto streets, sidewalks and gutters would be prohibited

* The Water Department would create a water-conservation education program

* Violations would result in cease-and-desist orders, a requirement to correct the issue and a fine of up to $500 a day for each day that the violation persists

The bill also has a number of exemptions, including:

* People with extraordinary irrigation circumstances could get an exemption from the water director

* Golf courses could irrigate every day, as long as it's between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.

* Hand-held hose watering would be allowed every day and anywhere

* Drip irrigation systems, which are low-volume, low-pressure hoses applied at ground level to minimize runoff and evaporation, could be used every day

* Irrigation by commercial nurseries and farms

* For personal food gardens

* Irrigation that uses 100 percent reclaimed water

* Newly installed landscaping and grass

* Athletic fields could water four days a week

* Water flows due to equipment malfunctions would not be penalized.

Anderson said she had reached out to the hoteliers during the committee process but received no response.

She said that 50 percent of the county's water resources are used for outdoor irrigation, and half of that is wasted in evaporation or runoff. As for the resorts, as much as 80 percent of the water they use is for irrigation, she said.

When she formulated the bill, Anderson said, she took into consideration the ongoing drought, diminishing water levels in Central Maui wells and an increase in salt water within the aquifers.

"The testimony we heard today, I believe, is a knee-jerk reaction to change," Anderson said.

Council Member Danny Mateo, who holds the Molokai residency seat, said council members had met on the issue numerous times and received plenty of media coverage. He wondered why these "strangers" didn't come forward sooner.

But Mateo said he supports more discussion.

"The parade of people who came through here all have special interests," Anderson said. "There isn't anything in this bill that would provide an economic hardship to anybody."

Anderson bordered on accusing other councilors of placing their re-election campaigns ahead of Maui's water shortage.

Baisa, who is on the Water Resources Committee, said she would rather see the group follow through on an all-encompassing water-conservation bill that has been in the works for two years now. That bill includes provisions for installing low-flow water fixtures and using native plants that require less water.

However, Anderson said that Friday's outdoor irrigation bill would provide much-needed immediate relief while the larger plan is still in development. She also noted that the irrigation ordinance would be reevaluated in a year to measure its effectiveness.

County Water Director Jeffrey Eng warned that if the county does not reduce outdoor watering, something more restrictive will need to be done. That could include a moratorium on issuing new water meters, he said.

Jeff Halpin, of the Kaanapali Homeowners Association, called the bill another impediment to the already-struggling guest industry when it affects the quality of the landscaping.

"I don't think our visitors want to see the Arizona desert," Halpin said.

Arborist and retired agriculture professor Ernest Rezents said nighttime watering is fine but some plants need more water than others. He also said he worried that the restrictions would lead to people squealing on each other and to threats of violence, which he's seen in the past. Developing more water sources is the way to go, he said.

Managers from the Fairmont Kea Lani, Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa, Westin Maui Resort and Spa, Wailea Beach Marriot Resort and Spa, Maui Prince Hotel, Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Royal Lahaina Resort, Old Lahaina Luau also said they are equally concerned about preserving Maui's natural resources but felt that the measure was flawed, unfair and prone to abuse.

Council Chairman Riki Hokama called on his colleagues to remember that Friday's testifiers represent the top-10 property taxpayers on the island.

Tom Bell, vice president of Hawaiian Hotels and Resorts, said the resorts have no interest in poorly managing water.

"Wasted water is wasted money, and that is not acceptable in our businesses," Bell said.

But the restrictions will make it even more difficult for Maui to compete in attracting visitors, he said.

Wailea Golf Course Manager Barry Helle the time restrictions would cause hardship for the industry.

"Yeah, we use a lot of water, but we use it wisely. Every drop," Helle said.

Lisa Schattenburg-Raymond, a horticulturist for Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, testified that plants can be trained to adapt to drier conditions. With the proper soil conditions, watering plants twice a week is still adequate, she said.

Chip Bahouth, president of the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association, said that the restrictions imposed under the bill would result in landscape that appear neglected.

Carol Reimann, executive director of the association, reminded County Council members that they employ 10,000 Maui residents, collectively.

"It won't be long before South Maui turns brown," said Fairmont Kea Lani General Manager Scott Ingwers. "We are in a crisis situation, and how many people would return here after being surrounded by brown lawns and dying flowers?"

* Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com.