CURRENT WATER LEVEL AS OF 07/08/2008:  15.50 feet

STATUS:  VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION - 10%

Previous water levels

• 07/07/2008:  15.50 feet
• 07/03/2008:  15.50 feet
• 07/02/2008:  15.50 feet
• 07/01/2008:  15.50 feet
• 06/30/2008:  15.50 feet
• 06/27/2008:  15.50 feet
• 06/26/2008:  15.50 feet

 Consumers of Molokai Irrigation System:

MOLOKAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM REQUIRES ALL NON-HOMESTEAD WATER USERS TO CUTBACK WATER CONSUMPTION BY 20%

As of May 28, 2008, the Kualapuu Reservoir level was 16.50 feet.  A review of the National Weather Service (NWS) precipitation records reflect that Molokai has received only 4.65 inches of rainfall year-to-date which represents approximately 18.2% of normal rainfall.  The NWS is forecasting continuing mild northeast winds and shattered showers for the mauka and windward areas over the next week.

The Molokai Irrigaiton System has declaredthat water conservation measures are warranted to forestall a water shortage and pursuant to §4-157-4, HAwaii Administrative Rules, Conservation measures and interruption of water supply, a Phase II, Conservation level will be implemented effective June 1, 2008, requiring a 20% cutback in the monthly consumption of irrigation water.

In July 2006, the M.I.S. requested that large, non-homestead water users develop and maintain a Conservation Plan in anticipation of annual drought emergencies.  The Conservation Plan should reflect the user's plans to cutback, at least, 20% monthly water use.  It is now time to implement the Conservation Plans for the summer as abnormally dry weather conditions exist and are expected to continue through September 2008.

M.I.S. staff will begin 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 reasonalbe diligence and care to deliver an adequate supply of water to teh 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.