HONOKAA-PAAUILO IRRIGATION SYSTEM

CURRENT STATUS:  A CAUTIONARY LOW -VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION 10%CUTBACK IS RECOMMENDED

Repairs to the Honokaa-Paauilo Irrigation System are well underway.  Water has been restored to the Lower Hamakua Ditch and we have refilled the Paauilo Reservoir.  The Department of Agriculture expects this to be relatively constant; however, due to continued repair work in the valley and on the system, brief interruptions lasting no more than a few days may occur.  Before these interruptions take place, we will attempt to fill all of the system's reservoirs.

UPDATE:  (as of July 9, 2008)

• Due to the positive circumstances noted above, the Phase III, Mandatory Water Conservation Measure requiring a 30% reduction in water consumption will be lifted as of the date of this notice.
• The Honokaa-Paauilo Irrigation System requests all customers to voluntarily conserve and reduce average consumption by 10%.
• The Department would like to thank all users for their patience since the October 2006 earthquakes and hope the completed repairs, along with improvements undertaken over the past several years, will provde a dependable source of irrigation water to system users.
• We ask that you bear with us during the fina months of earthquake repairs.

Click here to view the notice to water users:
HONOKAA-PAAUILO IRRIGATION SYSTEM NOTICE

WAIMEA IRRIGATION SYSTEM

CURRENT WATER LEVEL AS OF 07/23/2008: 43.00 feet (41.5 MG)

ALTHOUGH NO WATER RESTRICTION IS IMPOSED, A CAUTIONARY LOW - VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION - 10% CUTBACK IS RECOMMENDED

• 07/22/2008:  38.25 feet (34.7 MG)
• 07/21/2008:  38.50 feet (35.4 MG)
• 07/18/2008:  41.50 feet (39.3 MG)
• 07/17/2008:  42.25 feet (40.3 MG)
• 07/16/2008:  43.25 feet (41.8 MG)
• 07/15/2008:  44.00 feet (43.0 MG)
• 07/14/2008:  44.90 feet (44.3 MG)

UPDATE:  (as of July 1, 2008)

• Flume #1 - Construction to replace Flume #1 has been completed.  Final inspection of the work to be conducted in July.
• Flumes #2 & #3 - Materials have been ordered for rockfall protection at Flume #2 and the pipe materials for Flume #3 replacement.  Anticipated completion date is by the end of September 2008.
• Lalamilo Distribution Pipeline Replacement - Contract to be awarded in July 2008.  Anticipated completion date is 270 days calendar days from the "Notice to Proceed".
• Access Trail to Koiawe Intake - Reconstruction of the access trail has been completed.  Final inspection to be conducted in July.
• Waimea - Deep Well Pump (Eathquake) - The Contractor has removed the pump and motor which has been sent out for evaluation.  The pump column pipes were removed and inspected (approx. 1,400 feet).  Video taping of the Well casing has been completed.  An estimated completion date is in 3-4 months.  The Contractor is awaiting the evaluation report on the pump and motor.
• Ditch (Lining) Improvements (Earthquake)- The Contractor delivered pipe material to the project site and installation will commence on or about May 30, 2008.  Completion is anticipated by the end of October 2008.
• Tunnel Debris Removal (Earthquake)- Debris removal has been completed.  Final inspectino to be conducted in July.
• Kawainui Intake - The contractor has mobilized and began clearing work at the toe of the diversion.  Work is anticipated to be completed by late summer 2008 as the Contractor will focus on completing the Access Trail project first.

Consumers of Waimea Irrigation System:

As a result of Sunday’s (October 15, 2006) earthquake, the Waimea Irrigation System had sustained considerable damage to the water intake structures and possibly the ditches and tunnels, which convey irrigation water to the Waimea 60 MG Reservoir for storage.  As a preemptive measure, we have implemented a cautionary 10% voluntary cutback of irrigation water use as reestablishing a consistent flow may take several months. 

This notice is provided to our customers so you may plan for water conservation measures.  Please consider your irrigation requirements for the upcoming months as the declining availability of water will require the implementation of further conservation measures.

Upon notification by the Waimea Irrigation System, the following restrictions will be implemented in phases as the reservoir approaches pre-determined levels.

PHASE I -     Cautionary Low – Mandatory Water Conservation – 10% Cutback

PHASE II -   Mandatory Water Conservation – 20% Cutback  

PHASE III - Critical Low – Mandatory Water Conservation – 30% Cutback

NOTE:    Pursuant to §4-157-4, Conservation Measures and interruption of service, upon declaration of emergency conditions and implementation of mandatory conservation measures, consumers exceeding the level of mandatory cutback will be assessed a surcharge of one-cent ($0.01) per thousand gallons of water consumed in excess of the stated mandatory conservation measure (i.e. 10%, 20% or 30%).  Further, pursuant to §4-157-12, Hawaii Administrative Rules, Discontinuance of service, water service may be refused or discontinued by the department if the water bill has not been paid within thirty days after the mailing or presentation thereof to the consumer.  However, acreage assessments shall continue in spite of the discontinuance of service.

The Department of Agriculture has established this website so you may track the irrigation system’s availability of irrigation water.  The link will provide the daily reservoir level, provide National Weather Service information and staff’s comments on the condition of the irrigation system. 

Please contact us, toll free, at 974-4140, extension 3-9473, if you have any questions.