U.S. Water News Online
WAILUKU, Hawaii -- Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa is pushing to obtain control of four streams above an aquifer to meet a growing demand for water on the island.
Wailuku Agribusiness has controlled the streams above the Iao aquifer for at least a century.
The company, which recently stopped its farming activities, has continued to divert water from the four streams to sell it to golf courses and plantations, including Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. and Maui Pineapple Co.
Arakawa said he would first ask Wailuku Agribusiness to voluntarily divert some of its waters to other streams. If the company refuses, Arakawa said, it could cost about $7 million to obtain control of the streams through condemnation .
Arakawa said increasing water rates on the island could be one way of getting the money.
But Wailuku Agribusiness President Avery Chumbley said the county would also have to buy more than 13,000 acres of watershed land around the water system's ditches.
"I don't know how you can separate the system from the land. You can't do that," Chumbley said, adding that he offered to sell the land to the county for $27.8 million in 2003 and that he is open to negotiations.
The water dispute began when the state Water Commission, answering to homeowners complaints that the county was mismanaging the resource, took over the aquifer in July 2003 and required all users, including the county, to apply for permits.
Soon after, Earthjustice and the Office of Hawaii Affairs objected to the permits and requested a contested case hearing before the Water Commission.
But following Arakawa's promise to restore the aquifer, the groups said they would drop the case against the county.
Arakawa said the county has been talking with small farmers who are saying they cannot get enough water to work their farms.
In a separate petition before the Water Commission, Earthjustice accused Wailuku Agribusiness of illegally "wasting" water from stream diversions. The environmental law firm's attorney, Kapua Sproat, claims 30 million gallons coming from the four streams are being unused.
Arakawa has supported the group, saying most of the water is being wasted because there's little farming on former plantation lands.
But Chumbley said the mayor is making "misleading statements."
"Does he want agriculture on the island of Maui to cease?" he asked, adding that all the water is being used by plantations, diversified farming and golf courses.
Arakawa said an initial appraisal to acquire the surface water system will be included in his budget proposal for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
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