Enhance Quality of Life

Improve Employment, Education & Investment Opportunities

Upgrade Infrastructure and Review Our Master Planning Process
:Land Transportation Improvements
:Cost Effective Energy Solultions
:Sustainable Water Availability

EMC Recommendations

Summary of Recommendations

2005 Final Report

WATER CONSUMPTION

BY COUNTY WATERWORKS: 1999 TO 2001

CHALLENGE: Healthy watersheds sustain the quality and quantity of our streams and groundwater supplies. We must care, protect and preserve these areas for future generations. Groundwater aquifers are our primary source of drinking water, provide some irrigation water, and are interrelated to streams.

Hawaii’s watersheds are susceptible to contamination by saltwater. The water table is composed of a top layer of fresh water that is recharged by rainfall. If the top layer of fresh water is depleted more rapidly than it is recharged, the underlying saltwater and brackish layers will increase. Recharging of the underground water resources is hindered by impervious surfaces covering such as asphalt and concrete which cause rainwater to be diverted to drains and ultimately into the ocean. In addition, more than 100 million gallons of treated wastewater are released into the ocean every day.[1] While we are currently reaping the benefits of past investments made almost 100 years ago, continued forest watershed management is needed to ensure recharging of Hawaii’s groundwater supply.

Available data indicate that Hawaii has sufficient water resources to meet our current and near term needs for our residents, visitors, natural and cultural needs, and projected economic development. However, there are a number of challenges associated with the management and long term issues related to water sustainability:

• Sustainability. As demand for water continues to increase, there is increasing concern about the long term sustainability of Hawaii’s water supply. More accurate data about the sustainable yield of Hawaii’s water supply are needed. Without accurate data to determine and monitor sustainable yield figures, we create and compound uncertainties that can prove costly and in some cases might cause irreversible damage to our precious water resources.  Accurate and reliable data will allow the better informed decision making and enable the development of comprehensive, long-range plans for the protection, conservation, development, and management of water resources. 
• Water management areas. The State Water Commission regulates the use of groundwater through the designation of water management areas where permits are required and all users must justify their uses.  Most of O`ahu and all of Moloka`i are designated water management areas, while only the I`ao aquifer system on Maui has been designated.  
• Jurisdictional overlap. The Federal, State and local governments are all involved in the planning and regulation of Hawaii’s water supply. State and local governments are engaged in Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) efforts and County Water Plans have been developed. To be more effective, cooperation between all government jurisdictions, the private sector and general public is needed.
• Alternate sources. Alternate sources of water (e.g., desalination, reclaimed water) are available and can supplement Hawaii’s groundwater supply to meet Hawaii’s long term needs.
• Future development. An adequate water supply is needed to support anticipated growth. Past development has been centered around where natural resources such as water are available. Future development is being directed to areas where water resources are less available. For example, full build out of O`ahu’s second city in Ewa is projected to require an additional 44 million gallons per day (most of the remaining sustainable yield of water that remains for allocation on O`ahu). Similar issues are being faced on Maui and Hawaii. 
• Demand management. As with most limited resources, there are opportunities for all parties to employ water-reduction strategies. Continued vigilance to increase Hawaii’s efficient use of water will ensure the long term availability of this critical natural resource.