I am sorry that my concerns about the Piiholo Well have generated criticism of my point of view (Viewpoints, April 20, 23), rather than an informed discussion of the agreement itself.
My understanding is that wells are generally run at 45 percent of capacity. The county is granting Maui Land &Pineapple Co. a “source reservation equal to 75 percent of the net well capacity” where the “net well capacity is defined as 45 percent of the department estimated capacity” — Page 8 of the agreement.
If, indeed, the county pumps more, the agreement looks better except for pumping costs — the well is at 1,800 foot elevation — and treatment costs — the well is located at the bottom of numerous pineapple fields — are factored in, along with the county’s commitment to provide 120,000 gallons a day from “the department’s sources” in the Upper Kula and Lower Kula Systems, where water is already severely limited.
The Department of Water Supply is the largest single user of electricity in the County of Maui and the cost of electricity has become the department’s greatest single expense.
Source development and water storage have always been weak points of the department’s activities, especially in the face of the county’s reluctance to use eminent domain to take control of public trust waters in both West and East Maui.
The public would be better served if these agreements saw the light of day before the county was committed to them. I would ask the department to publish this agreement on its Web site so we can all better understand what sort of agreements the county has made in our name.
Michael Howden
Kula
