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County plans to upgrade West Maui Recycled Water System

By Staff | Mar 12, 2021

HONOKOWAI — The Maui County Department of Environmental Management is proposing a $26 million project to upgrade the West Maui Recycled Water System.

The Draft Environmental Assessment (Anticipated Finding of No Significant Impact) for the West Maui Recycled Water System project is included in the Feb. 23, 2021 issue of The Environmental Notice published by the state Office of Environmental Quality Control.

A link to the environmental study and details on how to submit comments before the March 25 deadline are available via www.health.hawaii.gov.

The project’s summary explains, “The County of Maui, Department of Environmental Management, Wastewater Reclamation Division operates the Lahaina WWRF (Wastewater Reclamation Facility) which produces R-1 recycled water, the highest grade of recycled water for non-potable use, and distributes this valuable water resource through the West Maui Recycled Water System. The purpose of this project is to upgrade the West Maui Recycled Water System. The proposed action includes renovating the existing Honokowai Reservoir to improve its function as elevated recycled water storage, replacing an aging 20-inch recycled waterline (RW) with a new 24-inch RW, and constructing a new reuse pump station and recycled water storage basin at the Lahaina WWRF.

“The improvements will provide a more reliable recycled water supply to users and will facilitate connecting additional users to the system. Overall, the proposed improvements will help to decrease demand on potable water resources and decrease the use of injection wells for effluent disposal.”

Proposed actions include:

1) Renovating the Honokowai Reservoir — The reservoir and property are presently owned by Maui Land and Pineapple Company (MLP). The county is negotiating with MLP to acquire the reservoir and property. The water in the reservoir was used by MLP for irrigation, and an existing recycled waterline connection supplied recycled water from the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility to the reservoir. Improvements will enhance the reservoir’s function as elevated storage of recycled water for irrigation.

2) Replacing the existing 20-inch recycled waterline (RW) from the Lahaina WWRF to Honokowai Reservoir with a 24-inch RW. The new 24-inch RW will be aligned roughly parallel to the existing 20-inch RW and traverse through parcels owned by Kaanapali Development Corp., Pioneer Mill Company LLC, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), respectively. A 12-foot wide access road is proposed over the 24-inch RW.

3) Replacing the existing reuse pump station located at the Lahaina WWRF — Improvements will include installation of new pumps and pump discharge piping to replace the existing reuse pump station and electrical system improvements to support the new pumps. Other improvements for the West Maui Recycled Water Expansion project at the Lahaina WWRF will include construction of a new enclosed recycled water storage basin and improvements to the interconnection of the recycled water transmission system.

4) Providing a control valve on the existing 16-inch RW at the Kaanapali Golf Course in an existing vault. Plans also show a conceptual alignment for a future 16-inch RW that would extend the recycled water distribution system into the Kaanapali Resort area. This future RW is proposed by the county as part of the Kaanapali Resort R-1 Water Distribution System Expansion Project. The conceptual alignment would connect to the existing RW in Honoapiilani Highway and continue through the Kaanapali Golf Course along Kaanapali Parkway and Nohea Kai Drive, terminating at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa.

It is estimated that the project will be bid in phases, with the initial phase bid in late 2021.

The Kaanapali Resort R-1 Water Distribution System Expansion Project will be designed and constructed after the West Maui Recycled Water Expansion Project.