Molokai Irrigation System Water Level

CURRENT WATER LEVEL AS OF 11/19/2009:  13.50 feet

STATUS:  MANDATORY NON-HOMESTEAD WATER CONSERVATION - 20%

Previous water levels:

• 11/18/2009:  13.00 feet  
• 11/17/2009:  13.00 feet
• 11/16/2009:  13.00 feet
• 11/13/2009:  13.00 feet
• 11/12/2009:  13.00 feet
• 11/11/2009:  VETERAN'S DAY
• 11/10/2009:  13.00 ffet

 Consumers of Molokai Irrigation System:

MOLOKAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM UPGRADES CONSERVATION MEASURES

FROM PHASE I TO PHASE II, REQUIRING ALL NON-HOMESTEAD WATER USERS TO

CUTBACK WATER CONSUMPTION BY 20%

In accordance with §4-157-4, Hawaii Adminsitrative Rules, the administrator-cheif engineer has deemed that special conservation measures are necessary to forestall a water shortage and consequent emergency.  Therefore, effective Monday, August 3, 2009, the Molokai Irrigation System shall implement Phase II - Conservation Measures requiring a mandatory 20% cutback in the monthly consumption of irrigation water for all non-homestead customers. 

The Kualapuu Reservoir has declined to 15.5 feet as of July 30, 2009 as compared to 16.0 feet at the same time last year.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service have stated that rising sea temperatures along the equator indicates an El Nino condition which intensifies tropical cyclone activity in the east Pacific, however, for Hawaii, an El Nino typically brings below average rainfall to the islands during the usually wet winter months.

M.I.S. staff will continue to monitor non-homestead water meters for compliance with the 20% cutbacks.  Upon notification of non-compliance, the user shall have five (5) calendar days to comply with the Hawaii Administrative Rules Governing the State of Hawaii Irrigation Systems.  Non-compliance may result in addtional surcharges for overuse or discontinuance of service.

HAWAII ADMINISTRATIVE RULES:

Upon declaration and notification of emergency conditions by the M.I.S., mandatory conservation measures may be implemented to avoid shotage or interruption of service.

If the M.I.S. determines that a need for conservation exists, it will implement measures described in §4-157-4, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) below:

§4-157-4, HAR, Conservation measures and interruption of water supply.  (a) The department shall exercise reasonable diligence and care to deliver an adequate supply of water to the consumer and to avoid shotage or interruption of waterservice, whenever possible, but shall not be liable for any interruption, shortage, insufficiency of supply, or any loss or damage occasioned thereby.

   (j)   Upon declaration of emergency consitions and implementation of mandatory conservation measures (i.e. ten percent, twenty percent, or thirty percent cutbacks), consumers exceeding the level of mandatory cutbacks shall be assesses a suircharge as follows:

         (1)   Mandatory ten percent conservation - consumers shall be assessed a surcharge of ten cents per thousand gallons of water conusmed in excess of ninety percent of their average use as calculated by the administrator-cheif engineer;

         (2)   Mandatory twenty percent conservation - consumers shall be assessed a surcharge of twenty cents per thousand gallons of waer consumed in excess of eighty percent of thwir average use as calculated by the administrator-chief engineer; and

         (3)   Mandatory thirty percent conservation - consumers shall be assessed a surcharge of thirty cents per thousand gallons of water consumed in excess of seventy percent of their average use as calculated by the administrator-chief engineer.

NOTE:  Pursuant to §4-157-12, 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 or if the consumer fails to comply with any of the applicable rules.  However, acreage assessments shall continue in spite of the discontinuance of service.

Please contact us at 973-9473, if you have any questions.