Q: I am writing about the restrooms at Kokua Pool still being closed. Using the portable toilets is getting old, and portable toilets are not a proper changing room. When will something be done to get them reopened?

A: I have good news. I have received word from our parks department that repairs to the lift station have started. If everything goes as planned, we should have them open soon. We apologize for any inconvenience the delay may have caused, but the much-needed part for the repairs was back-ordered by the manufacturer. I would like to mention that the parks department will be installing an upgraded pump to accommodate the increase in pool usage. To prevent future delays, the department has ordered a second pump as backup, so if by chance the first pump goes out, we will have a pump on hand, which should minimize pool closure time.

Q: I am totally confused with all the terms out there for short-term rentals — B&B, STRH, TVR, VRBO. Some may just be categories or same names, but my understanding is that the county considers B&Bs and STRH/TVA as different entities since there are separate applications for them. They seem the same to me. Can you tell me the differences?

A: You are not the only one who has asked the same question. The terms are defined in section 19.04.040 of the Maui County Code. It can be found at library.municode.com/hi/county_of_maui/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT19ZO_ARTIICOZOPR_CH19.04GEPRDE_19.04.040DE. Bed-and-breakfast homes (B&Bs) and short-term rental homes (STRHs) are similar in that each has a specific permitting process, and each can occur in no more than two detached single-family dwellings per lot and in no more than a total of six bedrooms per lot. The key difference is that a B&B has to have the owner/proprietor living in one of the dwellings. An STRH does not have to have any long-term, on-site occupancy and can be managed by someone other than the owner. Transient vacation rentals (TVRs) are all other types of vacation or short-term rentals, whether hotels, timeshare or homes that do not meet the B&B or STRH standards and get conditional permits instead. VRBO (“vacation rental by owner”) is a website that offers various vacation rental opportunities, whether permitted or not, like Airbnb. These websites allow operations to be advertised and rented, but do not require their advertisers to have proper permits. It’s a problem across the country.

Q: I heard from a local Iao resident that the spring water at the park pavilion is now chlorinated tap water. They say the waterlines in Iao after the recent big storm were all changed, and we no longer have access to pure spring water. Is this true?

A: In answer to your question, the flash flooding of Iao Valley in September 2016 damaged the ultraviolet treatment equipment and sections of pipelines in the valley. One portion of the pipelines was completely gone and the rest of the pipe was filled with rocks and mud and had to be replaced completely. Due to the time to replace and cost, three ultraviolet units were not replaced, and the water is being treated with liquid chlorine, as per state Department of Health regulations. The water source is still the same, (Iao Tunnel). Iao Valley Road water has always been treated with chlorine from our well site in the valley. We are not aware of any untreated public springs approved for drinking on Maui. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has spring water at Polipoli Springs State Park, but it is not for drinking water. It is used for flushing toilets and nonpotable washing.

* Want to Ask the Mayor? Submit your Maui County related questions to Mayor Alan Arakawa by email at askthemayor@mauicounty.gov, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail at 200 S. High St., ninth floor, Wailuku 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column; to request a personal response to a concern, email mayors.office@mauicounty.gov.