MEDIA RELEASE

Clean drinking water will be more easily available to county residents when six new water spigot stations are built by the County of Hawaii over the next 20 months.

Three of the new water stations will be installed in the District of Puna, where the largest percentage of Hawaii Island residents live who are not connected to the county’s water supply system. These stations will be located at the Nanawale Estates Subdivision, Keaau Transfer Station and Kurtistown Ballpark.

Spigot stations also will be installed at Papaaloa Gymnasium in North Hilo, Honaunau Rodeo Arena in South Kona, and at the Waiohinu Transfer Station in Ka`u.

As many as 60,000 residents county-wide rely on rainfall for their potable water needs, according to the most recent estimates.

The need for these spigots was highlighted earlier this year in Bill 239, introduced by 6th District Councilman Guy Enriques, which recognized residents’ needs for access to this water by transferring maintenance and operations of the county’s public water spigots from the Civil Defense Agency to the Department of Public Works. Bill 239 was adopted by the County Council and signed by Mayor Billy Kenoi in June.

“We recognize the critical need for these spigots on our island, not just for emergencies, but on a continuing basis,” said Mayor Kenoi. “Our residents deserve to have clean, accessible and convenient places to obtain the water necessary to provide for their families’ home use.”

Approximately 35 percent of all households on the island are not connected to the county municipal water supply system and rely largely on water catchment systems for their household water supply. Some have private wells and water purification systems, but most households with catchment tanks get their drinking water from the county’s public water spigots. The majority of these households are located in the Puna, North Kona and South Hilo districts.

These six new water spigot stations will be well-lighted, safe for vehicle traffic and accessible to disabled persons.

Projected construction costs for the project are anticipated to be $120,000 per site. The project is being funded by a grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency with 45 percent matching funds from the County of Hawaii. The county Department of Water Supply is expected solicit bids for construction of the water spigot stations in September. Construction of the spigot stations is expected to be completed by April 2012.