The County of Hawai‘i’s Disaster Recovery Division and Department of Water Supply (DWS) will host a virtual public meeting from 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28 via Zoom to receive input on proposed water infrastructure projects for Kīlauea Eruption Recovery.

The 2018 Kīlauea eruption caused about $40 million in damage to water infrastructure, including the loss of about 14.5 miles of waterlines in lower Puna. DWS will receive about $30 million, or 75% of the damage assessment, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on a reimbursement basis to support water infrastructure improvements. A local match will be supported by State loans.

“The Department of Water Supply is committed to investing these funds to serve Puna residents in a way that’s aligned with Kīlauea Recovery and Resilience Plan and addresses housing and economic needs of the area,” said Keith Okamoto, DWS Manager-Chief Engineer. “We’ve identified about $55 million worth of projects for Puna, including restoration of the water line to Isaac Hale Beach Park, that could be supported by the FEMA funds, and we’d like to hear from the public to assist with finalizing these plans.”

To register for this Zoom meeting, visit https://bit.ly/punawaterprojects. 

Residents can also give feedback on County infrastructure investments for Kīlauea recovery at recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/revitalizepuna. 

Proposed Projects & Improvements

• Waterline replacement to Isaac Hale Beach Park/Pohoiki
  • Estimated cost: $6 million
  • Estimated construction duration: 24 months
  • The proposed waterline project hinges on the ability to install a waterline that won’t be impacted due to subsurface temperatures along the waterline alignment. 

• Service for boat wash, spigots
  • Estimated Cost: $100,000
  • Estimated construction duration: 1 month
  • Contingency for boat wash if waterline to Pohoiki can't be restored. 

• Kalapana waterline remediation
  • Estimated cost: $150,000
  • Estimated construction duration: 3 months
  • The proposed project will relocate a portion of the existing waterline that appears to be leaking out of the inundation area at the intersection of Highways 130 and 137. The proposed waterline improvements would decrease water losses within the system, increasing the efficiency of the water system as well as decreasing the electricity costs to run the wells in the system.

• Nānāwale waterline improvements
  • Estimated cost: $3 million
  • Estimated construction duration: 15 months
  • The proposed project includes the installation of new waterlines within the Nanawale Estates Subdivision to create a looped system that will improve circulation and resiliency of the existing water system. The installation of fire hydrants along the proposed waterline routes will improve fire protection for the community.

• Post Office Road waterline improvements
  • Estimated cost: $1 million
  • Estimated construction duration: 6 months
  • The proposed project includes the installation of a waterline along the Post Office Road from the Pahoa Village Road to the Pahoa By‑Pass Road Intersection where proposed improvements to the road are being considered. The installation of fire hydrants along the proposed waterline route will improve fire protection for the community.

• Pāhoa Village waterline improvements
  • Estimated cost: $3 million
  • Estimated construction duration: 15 months
  • The proposed project includes the installation of waterlines along the Pahoa Village Road from Apaa Street to the Pahoa By-Pass Road Intersection. The proposed project will supplement the existing waterline within Pahoa Village Road that was installed in 1961 providing redundancy and improving the resiliency and fire flow capacity along the improvements route.

• Hawaiian Paradise Park waterline improvement
  • Estimated cost: $6.5 million
  • Estimated construction duration: 18 months
  • The proposed project will add an interconnection between the Olaa-Mountain View water system with the Pahoa water system through the end of the existing waterline in the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Makuʻu Subdivision. The proposed improvements will also extend along Kaloli Drive and will be able to serve the County regional park project. These water system improvements will improve the redundancy and resiliency for both the Olaa-Mountain View and Pahoa water systems. The installation of fire hydrants along the proposed waterline routes will improve fire protection for the community.

• Kea‘au well, reservoir improvements
  • Estimated cost: $19.2 million
  • Estimated construction duration: 48 months
  • This proposed project includes a reservoir, transmission waterline and well above the existing Shipman Industrial Park that will connect an additional water source and storage to the existing Olaa-Mountain View Water System that also services water south to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Makuʻu Subdivision. The Olaa-Mountain View water system is able to provide emergency redundant water service to the Pahoa water system thus, this project will increase the resiliency to both water systems.

• Kea‘au Well B-Phase 2 improvements
  • Estimated cost: $6 million
  • Estimated construction duration: 15 months
  • This proposed project includes a reservoir, transmission waterline and well above the existing Shipman Industrial Park that will connect an additional water source and storage to the existing Olaa-Mountain View Water System that also services water south to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Makuʻu Subdivision.  

• Ola‘a No. 6 well generator purchase for emergency backup power and Ola‘a No. 3 well emergency transfer switch
  • Estimated cost: $500,000
  • The proposed project includes the installation of one portable emergency generator at the Olaa No. 6 well site and the installation of an emergency transfer switch to the existing Olaa No. 3 well. The improvements will improve resiliency for both the Olaa-Mountain View and Pahoa water systems during prolonged power outages.
    
    

• Ola‘a No. 3 Well B improvements for increased capacity and resilience
  • Estimated cost: $7 million
  • Estimated construction duration: 30 months
  • The proposed project includes an additional source and related improvements at the existing Olaa No. 3 well and reservoir site. The proposed project will provide additional capacity as well as improve resiliency and redundancy to the existing Olaa-Mountain View water system where there are currently two sources. These improvements will also improve the resiliency and redundancy for the Pahoa water system.
    
    

• Insertion valve tool and valves to increase system resilience
  • Estimated cost: $250,000
  • The proposed purchase includes the acquisition of an insertion valve tool and pairs of various sized valves. This tool will provide DWS the flexibility in emergency situations to install valves at strategic locations while the water system is active or for other waterline work while keeping the number of customers impacted to a minimum.

• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition equipment for Keonepoko Nui, Pāhoa, and Ola‘a wells.
  • Estimated cost: $1 million
  • Estimated construction duration: 9 months
  • The proposed project includes the installation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) equipment at existing DWS facilities in the Olaa-Mountain View water system as well as the Pahoa water system. The improvements improve resiliency by allowing monitoring of the wells and reservoirs remotely through one SCADA system at the Hilo Operations Center.